Is YouTube Music available in the US?
YouTube Music is a streaming music and audio service developed by YouTube. It was launched in 2015 as YouTube Music Key and relaunched in 2018 as YouTube Music Premium. The service offers streaming of official songs, albums, thousands of playlists, and artist radio stations, as well as YouTube’s catalog of remixes, live performances, covers and music videos. YouTube Music is available for free with ads, or as a paid subscription without ads called YouTube Music Premium.
YouTube Music is now available in over 70 countries and regions globally, making it one of the most widely available music streaming services. This includes availability across North America, South America, Europe, parts of Asia and Australia. One major country where YouTube Music is available is the United States. YouTube Music launched in the US in 2018 and has grown rapidly in usage and subscribers since then.
YouTube Music Basics
YouTube Music is a music streaming service owned by YouTube and its parent company Google (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube_Music). It offers on-demand streaming of official songs, albums, playlists, and music videos, similar to services like Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Some key features of YouTube Music include:
- Access to YouTube’s catalog of over 60 million official songs, albums, playlists, and music videos
- Curated playlists and radio stations based on your preferences and listening history
- Ability to upload your own music library for streaming
- Offline listening for when you don’t have an internet connection
- Background play on mobile so you can listen while using other apps
- Ad-free listening with a paid YouTube Music Premium subscription
Overall, YouTube Music aims to be a convenient destination for music fans to stream all their favorite tunes, both official and user-generated content, in one place.
YouTube Music Availability in the US
Yes, YouTube Music is available in the United States. YouTube Music first launched in the US and 16 other countries on June 18, 2018 (1). This initial launch made YouTube Music available in the US on iOS and Android devices through the YouTube Music app, as well as on desktop at music.youtube.com (2).
The YouTube Music launch in the US introduced both the free, ad-supported version of YouTube Music, as well as the paid YouTube Music Premium subscription. This gave US users access to the full YouTube Music catalog of official songs, albums, thousands of playlists, and artist radio stations (3).
Since its US launch in 2018, YouTube Music has continued expanding device support and features for American users. It is now accessible across mobile, desktop, speakers, TVs, and more. YouTube Music caters to US listeners with customized recommendations, intelligent search, playlists based on location, and more.
Sources:
(1) https://www.theverge.com/2018/6/18/17475122/youtube-music-premium-launch-us-canada-uk
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube_Music
(3) https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/companies/youtube/youtube-music/
Accessing YouTube Music in the US
YouTube Music is available to access in a variety of ways for users in the United States.
The main way to access YouTube Music is by downloading the YouTube Music app on your mobile device. The app is available for Android and iOS devices. Once downloaded, you can sign up for a YouTube Music membership or listen for free with ads.
You can also access YouTube Music by going to music.youtube.com on your web browser. Again, you’ll be able to sign up for a paid membership or listen for free with limitations.
Finally, YouTube Music is integrated into YouTube’s main app and website. So existing YouTube users can easily switch over to the YouTube Music tab to start listening.
In summary, YouTube Music is widely available across mobile, desktop, and web for users located in the United States.
YouTube Music Subscription Plans
YouTube Music offers both free and paid subscription options. The free version allows access to the full music catalog and playlists, but with advertisements and limited features. Paid subscriptions remove ads and unlock additional functionality.
The main paid option is YouTube Music Premium, which costs $9.99/month for an individual plan or $14.99 for a family plan up to 5 members. Premium enables features like offline downloads, background listening, and ad-free music. There is also a Student plan for $4.99/month providing similar benefits.
For families, the YouTube Music family plan allows up to 5 household members to access Premium features for $14.99/month total. Family members can also get their own personal music recommendations and playlists. This provides an affordable way for families to enjoy ad-free music together.
YouTube Music also offers some geographic specific plans like annual subscriptions and prepaid options. But in general, users can choose between the free ad-supported version or Premium monthly subscriptions to suit their budget and needs.
YouTube Music Library and Catalog
YouTube Music provides access to an extensive library of audio content, including over 60 million official songs, albums, live performances, and music videos (Source). This rivals the libraries of top competitors like Spotify and Apple Music, which also boast catalogs with over 60 million tracks.
In addition to official releases, YouTube Music also incorporates user-uploaded content, remixes, and live performances, providing an especially deep well of content for finding rare or obscure recordings not available on other services (Source). However, the extent of “unofficial” content means YouTube Music’s total catalog size is harder to quantify.
While core libraries are comparable in size, YouTube Music offers a broader selection of music videos, live concerts, remixes, and other audio-visual content. This gives YouTube Music an edge for music discovery (Source). However, some users may find it lacks the personalized playlists and curation that have become a trademark of Spotify.
YouTube Music Features for US Users
YouTube Music offers a variety of features for users in the US to take advantage of. Here are some of the key features:
Personalized recommendations – YouTube Music uses advanced algorithms to learn your taste and serve up customized playlists, albums, songs and artists tailored just for you. The more you listen, the better the recommendations get. You can also tap the thumbs up or thumbs down icons to further personalize the recommendations.
Playlists and radio stations – In addition to personalized playlists, you can access pre-made playlists for any mood, genre or activity. There are also thousands of official music playlists created by artists themselves. For a lean-back listening experience, you can pick radio stations based on your favorite artists, songs or genres.
Offline listening – You can download songs, albums, playlists and music videos to your mobile device so you can listen offline when you don’t have an internet connection. This is handy for plane rides, road trips, subway commutes or anytime you’ll be away from Wi-Fi.
Voice search – You can use voice commands to search for songs, artists, playlists and more. Just say “Hey Google” or tap the mic icon.
Lyrics – View synchronized lyrics as you listen so you can sing along to your favorite songs.
Live performances – Watch exclusive live performances, remixes and covers you won’t find anywhere else.
Music videos – Watch official music videos from your favorite artists with the option to switch seamlessly between the video and song.
Podcasts – In addition to music, YouTube Music gives you access to millions of podcast episodes.
Ad-free listening – With a YouTube Music Premium subscription, you get an ad-free experience across all devices.
Pros of YouTube Music for US Users
YouTube Music offers several key benefits and advantages for users in the United States:
Access to a vast music library – YouTube Music provides access to over 80 million official songs, albums, thousands of playlists and artist radio plus YouTube’s catalog of remixes, live performances, covers and music videos (PCMag). This huge catalog gives users extensive choice.
Ad-supported free tier – Unlike some competitors, YouTube Music has a free, ad-supported tier. This allows casual listeners to enjoy music without paying (MakeUseOf).
Background play – Paying YouTube Music subscribers can play music in the background on mobile, allowing seamless listening while multitasking (Reddit).
Music videos – YouTube Music makes it easy to switch from a song to its music video with just a tap. Music fans who value visuals can enjoy this feature.
Personalized recommendations – YouTube Music’s recommendation engine suggests new music based on a user’s listening history and preferences.
Integration with YouTube – Users can easily transition between music and other YouTube content like vlogs, tutorials, and more.
Cons of YouTube Music for US Users
While YouTube Music offers many benefits for users in the United States, there are some drawbacks and limitations to be aware of.
One major downside is that the free, ad-supported version of YouTube Music does not allow for background or offline listening 1. This means you can only listen to music through the app itself while it’s open on your device. Premium subscribers can listen in the background and download songs for offline listening.
Compared to leading services like Spotify, YouTube Music is seen as offering lower audio quality streaming even at high bitrates 2. For audiophiles seeking lossless quality, YouTube Music may not satisfy.
The library and catalog on YouTube Music is also not as extensive as some competitors for certain genres. The focus is more on mainstream popular music, so fans of niche genres may find the selection lacking.
Some users report frustrations with the mobile app and feel it lacks certain features offered by rivals like playlists and radio stations 3. The interface takes some getting used to.
Conclusion
In summary, YouTube Music is readily available to users across the United States. As one of the most popular music streaming services globally, Google has ensured broad availability of YouTube Music in the US market. Users in the US can easily access YouTube Music through the website, mobile apps, and integration with various smart devices and platforms.
For music listening, YouTube Music offers an extensive catalog of official songs, albums, playlists and music videos. The subscription plans are competitively priced and there are both free, ad-supported and premium options available. While no streaming service is perfect, YouTube Music provides a robust option for music fans in the US. With its massive catalog, personalized recommendations and unique YouTube integration, YouTube Music is a top choice for on-demand streaming in the US market.
Overall, YouTube Music is widely accessible across the United States and offers compelling features and value, making it a recommended streaming music service for US users. Whether you’re looking for mainstream hits, niche genres or unique YouTube content, YouTube Music has something for all American music listeners.