YouTube launches subscription music service, renames Red YouTube Premium

News Broadband Global 17 MAY 2018
YouTube launches subscription music service, renames Red YouTube Premium

YouTube announced the expansion of its ad-free subscription service to new countries as well as a new dedicated music platform. YouTube Red, the ad-free video service, will be renamed YouTube Premium, and include the music experience for an extra USD 2 in monthly price. 

YouTube Premium is rolling out in the existing markets with Red - the US, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Korea, where existing subscribers can continue to pay the old price of USD 9.99 per month. It’s also coming soon to the new markets Austria, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK, where the service will cost the equivalent of USD 11.99 per month. 

In addition to no ads, YouTube Premium provides access to downloads, background playing and all the YouTube Originals. The company said it plans to add more Originals, also from other countries, including comedies, dramas, reality series and action adventure shows from the UK, Germany, France, Mexico and other places.

New music player

The new YouTube Music follows a similar model to Spotify, with a free, ad-based version or a Premium subscription for USD 9.99 per month. Both come with a new mobile app and desktop player designed around listening to music and watching music videos, where users can set up play lists and also get recommendations based on previous listening and location. 

The YouTube Music Premium subscription removes the ads and also gives access to background listening and downloads. It will be included free both with YouTube Premium and Google Play Music subscriptions. 

Categories:

Internet,  Mobile

Companies:

Google,  YouTube,  Spotify

Regions:

Global

Tags:

Launch, Product specifications & quality, Pricing, Digital Music, Advertising services

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