INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Like Google messaging focus, YouTube efforts to spin out successful streaming and music products has felt confusing and haphazard
Now the company is simplifying and consolidating that play by decoupling the music and film components with the launch of a new
service.
YouTube Music is, as the name suggests, a music streaming service that will launch on May 22
Aimed squarely at competing with Apple Music and Spotify, it&ll cost $9.99 per month following a free trial period as is standard in the
industry.
An ad-supported version will be available for free also, but it won&t include premium features such as background listening, song
downloads and music discovery features
(It worth noting that this new service will replace the existingGoogle Play Music service.)
YouTube Music was originally part of YouTube
Red, the company subscription video streaming service, and though it is being decoupled, customers will be able to subscribe to both
services if they buy a YouTube Red subscription, which is now priced at $11.99 per month
Except that YouTube Red will now be known as YouTube Premium since it covers both music and video.
Confused Well, essentially YouTube has
made it possible for customers to opt for music only
But it is also dangling the carrot of the full video service for just $2 more
Or, if you prefer a more negative slant, YouTube Red now costs $2 more than it did before
Take your pick.
The split makes a lot of sense when you consider how many people use YouTube for playing music for free despite a plethora
of excellent streaming experiences like Spotify and Apple Music
It particularly popular in emerging markets where you can see YouTube listeners on public transport or other moments that Spotify and co
would want to own.
That said, the new YouTube services are being focused on first-world markets initially
The company said the first stops will be U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Korea
Further down the line, it willexpand toAustria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
