YouTube Details New Streaming Service, YouTube Music

On Thursday, YouTube announced the details of the newest version of its music streaming service, YouTube Music. The service will hone in on those already using YouTube to stream music, aiming to maximize their experience through a redesigned mobile app and new desktop play meant for music.

With streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music and Tidal currently dominating the market, YouTube Music comes in to offer access to its catalog of remixes, live performances, covers and music videos that aren’t available elsewhere. YouTube Music’s search feature will also allow users to use lyrics in place of a song title or describe what they’re looking for when searching.

Personalization is a notable aim of the new service. A personalized home screen will adapt to your listening history to provide not only better recommendations, but also more specific recommendations—for instance, a relaxing suggestion will be offered when at the airport or an up-tempo song suggested at the gym. Like other streaming services on the market, YouTube Music will also have playlists to help discover new music.

So, how much do these services cost? Well, for those of you accustomed to using YouTube for free, there will a free, ad-supported version of YouTube Music. You may have to combat more ads than you’d like to, though.

If you’re saying to yourself, “No thanks, I don’t want to battle through ads,” you’ll have to invest in YouTube Music Premium for $9.99 a month. YouTube Music Premium is ad-free, and offers background listening and downloads.

Current YouTube Red users, take note: YouTube Premium is YouTube Red rebranded. Going beyond just music, YouTube Premium includes ad-free, background play, and downloads across YouTube, as well as access to all YouTube Originals. YouTube Premium includes the YouTube Music Service, and the price for new members will be $11.99. However, since YouTube Premium is replacing YouTube Red, when YouTube Premium launches, YouTube Red members will automatically receive access at their current price level.

As for Google Play Music subscribers, a YouTube Music Premium membership will be included in your monthly Google Play Music subscription. Users of Google Play Music will still have access to their purchased music, uploads and playlists in Google Play Music.

YouTube Music will be available to residents of the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Korea starting on Tuesday, May 22. The service will be launched in other countries including Canada and the U.K. soon. You can sign up to receive more information about launch dates here.