Want to understand how to get the most out of YouTube Music for your everyday music listening? With over 80 million tracks available and features such as personalized playlists and offline listening, this music streaming service stands apart from its big brother YouTube classic. Let’s find out everything you need to know about how YouTube Music works, its different versions and its key benefits.
Introduction to YouTube Music
YouTube Music is a music streaming service perfectly integrated into the YouTube ecosystem. The application is available on Android and iOS for mobile listening, as well as via a web browser on a computer. This flexibility enables users to access their favorite music wherever they are.
How does YouTube Music work?
YouTube Music works very intuitively. Once you’ve launched it, you’ll be offered different ways of listening to your tracks.
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You can create your own playlists by adding your favorite tracks. It’s handy for grouping your songs by mood or activity. It also goes further: it automatically generates playlists based on your musical tastes. These suggestions are refined over time, the more music you listen to.
Audio quality control is another highlight. In the settings, you can select the sound level that suits you best. If you’re watching your mobile data consumption, activate the data saving mode. It will automatically reduce streaming quality to reduce consumption.
The application adapts to the way you listen to music. You can :
- Queue songs for later listening
- Loop your favorite songs
- Skip titles you don’t like
- Control your music from the lock screen
YouTube Music is also compatible with a wide range of devices. Whether you’re in the car with Android Auto, on your connected watch, or even on your smart speaker, the service adapts to give you the best possible experience.
But what about the additional features offered by YouTube Music Premium? To understand what sets these two versions apart, it’s essential to explore their differences.
Application navigation
Navigating YouTube Music is super-simple. The app is organized around a menu bar that contains the essentials. At the top, you’ll find the search bar to find your favorite tracks. Below, the home screen displays your most listened-to content, thanks to the “Speed Dial”. Conveniently, you can see at a glance up to 27 of your favorite tracks, artists or albums.
A simple tap is all it takes to launch a song. Want more options? Press a title a little longer. The current track is easy to spot with its white frame. And if you’re using YouTube Music on your computer, a few keyboard shortcuts make life easier: space bar for play/pause, j and l to go backwards or forwards by 10 seconds.
Download music for offline listening
With a Premium subscription, you can download your favorite tracks and listen to them without a connection. Super convenient on the subway or when traveling. YouTube Music even offers a smart download option: the app automatically selects and downloads up to 200 tracks based on your tastes. To download manually, simply press the download button next to a track, album or playlist. A small detail to note: you’ll need to reconnect to the Internet at least once a month to retain access to your downloaded tracks. If you’re running out of space, don’t panic. It’s easy to delete downloads from the settings.
Differences between YouTube Music and YouTube Music Premium
The free version of YouTube Music is nice, but it has its limits. Let’s talk about the differences with the paid version, so you know what you get when you upgrade to a subscription.
First big plus: no more ads! With subscription, your music is no longer interrupted by advertisements. It’s a real convenience when you’re listening to your favorite playlists or discovering new artists.
The other major advantage is background playback. With the free version, the sound stops as soon as you close the application or lock your phone. With Premium, it continues to play while you’re using other apps or while your phone is on standby. Super handy when you’re exercising or working.
The paid version also lets you listen to your music without an Internet connection. You choose which tracks, albums or playlists to download, and they remain available even without a network. Perfect for air travel or areas with poor connections.
One last interesting point: audio quality is better in Premium. You can choose a higher quality for your streams and downloads, which makes a real difference if you use good headphones or high-performance speakers.
All these premium features show that YouTube Music is a music application in its own right, with its own advantages. Speaking of which, what makes YouTube Music different from the classic YouTube platform?
What’s the difference between the video platform and YouTube Music?
The video platform and YouTube Music are not at all the same thing. The difference is simple: YouTube Music focuses solely on music, whereas YouTube offers all kinds of videos.
YouTube Music has been designed specifically for music lovers. The application offers dedicated features such as :
- Personalized playlists based on your tastes
- Intelligent music recommendations
- Better audio quality (up to 256 kbps for Premium subscribers)
- Personalized radio stations based on your favorite artists
On classic YouTube, you’ll find music, of course, but also tutorials, vlogs, documentaries… In short, all kinds of video content. The platform is not optimized for music listening: audio quality is more limited (128 kbps) and you don’t benefit from YouTube Music’s special features.
But to take full advantage of these benefits, you also need to understand the subscription options and rates offered by YouTube Music.
YouTube Music subscriptions and rates
YouTube Music offers several subscription options. There’s no need to worry: let’s take a look at the different options.
The standard subscription is YouTube Music Premium. It costs €9.99 per month. Simple and effective. You can stop whenever you like, and there’s no commitment.
Are you a student? Good news for you. A special rate is available at €4.99 per month. However, you’ll need to prove your student status every year. That’s normal, it’s to keep out the smart guys.
The family package, on the other hand, is perfect if you want to share. For €14.99 a month, up to 5 people can enjoy the service. The only condition? Live under the same roof.
A nice little extra: all new subscribers are entitled to a one-month free trial. It’s a great way to test things out before you decide.
Subscribing is simple. Just open the YouTube Music application, log in with your Google account and choose your package. A few clicks and you’re set.
FAQ
YouTube Music is a music streaming platform developed by YouTube. It allows you to listen to millions of tracks, access personalized playlists, watch music videos and discover new releases thanks to recommendations based on your tastes and habits.
YouTube Music is a music-only application, while YouTube Premium offers an ad-free experience across the whole of YouTube, including access to YouTube Music Premium. The latter lets you listen to music offline, ad-free and in the background.
Yes, YouTube Music offers a free version. However, it includes ads, and certain features such as background and offline listening are reserved for paying subscribers.
Yes, with a YouTube Music Premium subscription, you can download songs and playlists to listen to offline, ideal for travel or areas without a network.
YouTube Music offers a wide variety of content: official songs, complete albums, remixes, live versions, mashups and even exclusive content not available on other streaming platforms.
The platform analyzes your listening, your searches and the songs you like to propose playlists and suggestions tailored to your tastes. You can also choose your favorite artists when you set up your account, to refine your recommendations right from the start.
Yes, YouTube Music is compatible with multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets, computers and connected speakers. Your account automatically synchronizes your playlists and preferences across all your connected devices.
YouTube Music stands out for its integration of music videos, exclusive content such as remixes or mashups, and access to a vast catalog. What’s more, YouTube’s artificial intelligence means that recommendations are often even more refined.
