Google Play Music
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YouTube Music finally lets users filter out liked YouTube videos
The forced transition from Google Play Music to YouTube Music is upon us, and for those making the switch, one annoying aspect of the new service has been how it blends random videos from YouTube in with music.
Richard Lawler10.29.2020
Google stops selling music through the Play Store
We knew it was coming, but as of this week, you can no longer buy individual music tracks and albums through the Google Play Store.
Igor Bonifacic10.13.2020
Google Play Music will start shutting down in September
It’s been a long time coming, but Google is in the final stages of shutting down its longstanding Google Play Music app and service in favor of YouTube Music. At that point, you won’t be able to stream from the Google Play Music app at all; streaming on the web will stop then as well. While Google Play Music will stop functioning sometime in October, former users will have until December of this year to transfer all their music and data out of the service.
Nathan Ingraham08.04.2020
Google offers a free Nest Mini to YouTube Premium subscribers
Google is once again giving away a free smart speaker to YouTube Premium subscribers, though this time around the offer is available to a greater number of people.
Igor Bonifacic05.28.2020
YouTube Music will transfer your Google Play songs with one click
If you haven’t downloaded the app yet, Google Play Music will alert you to the new transition tool and prompt you to install YouTube Music. In fact, all of your Google Play Music history that built the recommendations for you on that one service will also make it to YouTube Music.
Nathan Ingraham05.12.2020
YouTube Music explains how its long-overdue cloud locker will work
Earlier this month it came to light that YouTube was finally working on a way to let you upload your own music to its library. Now, that feature is almost good to go. Google has published a support document explaining how users will be able to add their personal music collection to their library, either by dragging files to any surface on music.youtube.com, or by tapping "upload music" within the profile menu. The feature supports FLAC, M4A, MP3, OGG and WMA files.
Rachel England02.20.2020
YouTube Music might finally let you upload your own music library
Google has spent the past couple of years merging elements of Google Play Music into YouTube Music, but one absence has been a dealbreaker for some: the cloud locker that lets you play uploaded songs wherever you like. You might not have to forego that convenience in the near future, though. Two 9to5Google sources claim Google is testing an internal beta of YouTube Music that supports the locker. There could be a public launch "sooner rather than later," with Google Play Music devotees asked to import their collections within a few months.
Jon Fingas02.07.2020
YouTube Music will come pre-installed on all Android 10 phones
While it was only a matter of time, YouTube Music, instead of Google Play Music, is now Android's official music app. Moving forward, Google says YouTube Music will come pre-installed on all new Android smartphones that ship with Android 10 and Android 9 Pie.
Igor Bonifacic09.27.2019
Recommended Reading: The redesigned WWE Network
WWE Network 2.0: How WWE rebuilt its streaming service after a split with Disney Chris Welch, The Verge After a flashy reveal at CES a few years ago, the WWE Network is by all accounts a success, amassing well over a million subscribers by early 2019. Disney threw a wrench in the plans when it bought BAMTech, the company that had successfully constructed streaming services for the likes of Major League Baseball and HBO Now. It was also what WWE relied on for its 24/7 buffet of choke slams and live events. WWE saw the writing on the wall, and rebuilt its streaming library from the ground up.
Billy Steele09.14.2019
Google's subscription music numbers reportedly top 15 million
Even as subscription services eat up an ever-growing portion of the overall music business, Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal report that Google's packages are not expanding at the same rate. RIAA numbers showed subscription services added more than a million customers a month during 2018, meanwhile the Wall Street Journal cites sources claiming YouTube Music and Google Play Music subscriptions have been "essentially flat" over four recent months. While Spotify has over 100 million customers, the reported numbers put Google's music offerings at 15 - 16 million. Google told the outlets that subscription numbers and the reports of flat growth are inaccurate, and that as of March, combined subscribers to YouTube Premium and YouTube Music are up 60 percent over last year. Still, the numbers claimed by the sources paint an interesting picture as Google continues to slowly shift from Google Play Music to YouTube Music. A year after launching the YouTube-branded service, it's only just adding features like the ability to play locally-stored songs and still has not replaced GPM's cloud locker for user's own music files. Meanwhile, YouTube continues to be a way many people access music and music videos for free with Google's ads. While it would certainly like to turn those folks into more paying subscribers, having that backdrop means that even with fewer customers, its potential is a bit different than the offerings from Apple, Spotify and Amazon.
Richard Lawler05.09.2019
Google Play Music's Artist Hub shuts down on April 30th
Google is shutting down another component of Google Play Music as it transitions to its sole music streaming service, YouTube Music. The latest casualty is the Artist Hub which, in case you missed it, allows independent musicians to upload and sell their music on the Google Play store and Google Play Music. Much like Spotify for Artists, users can also track their plays and receive royalty payments.
Saqib Shah04.04.2019
Google Clock can now wake you up with YouTube Music and Pandora
Last year Google made the business of getting out of bed in the morning an altogether more pleasant affair when it introduced Spotify integration to the Google Clock app. The feature let Android users set a song or playlist as an alarm, rather than the usual odious beeping, and it was so well received that users were quick to ask when there would be similar support for other music services. That's finally arrived, and Google Clock 6.1 will now also let you pick music from Pandora and YouTube Music.
Rachel England02.28.2019
Apple Music vs. the competition: A streaming music cheat sheet
The past few years have seen a shift from owning music to accessing as much as you want on various streaming services. Why pay $9.99 for a new album each month when you can get a firehose of content for the same price? Now Apple looks to get in on the action with its newest offering, Apple Music. They made a big splash with the introduction of the iTunes store in 2003 but here in 2015 there's a lot more competition for your listening attention. Does Apple Music have what it takes to stand out from its more established rivals? We've stacked up some of the bigger names to see which one can give you the most for your money.
Kris Naudus06.08.2015
Google Play Music now lets you store 50,000 songs in the cloud
Even if you're not paying for All Access or YouTube Music Key, Google Play can be a useful way to stream your personal music collection. With its free "locker" service, you can store thousands of tunes online and stream them from the web, as well as your favorite Android and iOS devices. By keeping them in the cloud, they're quickly accessible across a range of hardware and won't clog up your precious onboard storage. Until now Google has set a limit of 20,000 tracks per user, but today it's raising that amount to 50,000. It's a significant increase, and one that might appeal if you have a mammoth music library full of EPs, remixes and B-sides that aren't available from the major streaming services.
Nick Summers02.25.2015
YouTube unveils Music Key subscription service, here's what you need to know
After over a year of rumors, YouTube today lays out details of its Music Key subscription service. So, what does it look like? Essentially it comes in two parts. Starting today, web and Android (iOS is coming soon -- Update: it's now here!) users will see a new music hub in YouTube. Here you'll find playlists, recommendations, trending songs/artists or just a quick route to that one darn track you can't (but please) stop playing -- all that usual stuff. Over the coming days, this will grow to include the ability to find, and play, artist discographies and full albums. This is the free part available globally, and mostly an attempt to organize what is already available on YouTube. It's the second part you're likely more curious about.
James Trew11.12.2014
Google optimizes web versions of Play Movies and Music for Chromecast
The Chromecast is the tiny dongle that just keeps on giving. A mere couple of days after announcing support for a number of new applications, Google has let it be known that its $35 streamer is now compatible with Play Movies and Music on the desktop in a more native way. What this means is you will no longer have to rely on casting a Chrome tab to watch videos or listen to tunes ; instead, a Cast icon shows up within the Google Play web player and allows content to seamlessly be pushed to the device. Of course, there's still a requirement to have the Google Cast extension installed on your Chrome browser -- but this is a small price to pay in exchange for such useful functionality.
Edgar Alvarez12.12.2013
Weekly Roundup: PlayStation 4 and Retina iPad mini reviews, Coin startup and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Andy Bowen11.17.2013
Daily Update for November 15, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Steve Sande11.15.2013
Google Play Music now available for iPhone
Hold onto your hats, music lovers, 'cause things just got a little crazy out there. Google just released Google Play Music for iPhone (free), an app that lets you "discover, play and share the music you love, anywhere." It actually surprises me a bit that Apple allowed this app onto the App Store, since it's a direct competitor to the company's own iTunes Music Store and iTunes Radio. Google's All Access service (US$9.99 per month) for Google Play will allow music buffs to listen to unlimited songs; create custom radio stations based on songs, artists or albums; get recommendations on music based on your tastes; and use playlists created by Google music experts. The free standard service provides a way to add up to 20,000 songs from your personal music library from Mac, Windows or Linux computers; listen through the app or Google's web player; and save favorite tunes to your device for offline playback. All of this is ad-free, and available in a variety of countries. But wait, there's more! Google is also offering a free month of All Access in order to (hopefully) get you hooked on the service. And if you have a Chromecast device, you'll be able to beam your music wirelessly to it thanks to built-in compatibility in the Google Play Music app.
Steve Sande11.15.2013
Google rolling out 'I'm feeling lucky radio' to Play Music on Android and the web
There's something special about that moment when you discover a new song or artists to love. Now, perhaps as a way to make more of these moments possible, Google is bringing a feature dubbed "I'm feeling lucky radio" to its Play Music website and Android app. The search giant says it "gives you music you love at the push of a button" -- essentially, it creates a radio station that chooses songs for you based on previous listening history. It's worth mentioning this instant mix tool appears to be limited to All Access subscribers at the moment. And fret not if you're not seeing the "I'm feeling lucky" option right now; it's just started rolling out and it might be a little while before it shows up on your account.
Edgar Alvarez10.17.2013