TORONTO – YouTube rolled out its YouTube Music and YouTube Premium streaming platforms to Canada on Monday.
The Google subsidiary bills YouTube Music as a new music streaming service “built on top of all the music on YouTube that you can't find anywhere else – personalized & all simply organized in one place”. Offering playlists, music videos, and recommendations, the ad-supported service also boasts a “smart search” feature to help users find a song even if they can’t remember exactly what it’s called.
YouTube Music Premium is ad-free, includes free downloads and the option to listen in the background. The service is free for the first three months and then $9.99 per month afterwards, while a family plan offers one month free and will then cost $14.99 per month for six family members (ages 13+) in the same household.
Current Google Play Music subscribers in Canada will automatically receive access to YouTube Music Premium at their current price as it becomes available.
“Nothing is changing with Google Play Music – you'll still be able to access all of your purchased music, uploads and playlists in Google Play Music just like always”, reads the announcement.
YouTube Premium (formerly YouTube Red) also launched Monday, offering subscribers the same benefits as Music Premium, plus access to all YouTube Originals shows and movies, such as Cobra Kai, Impulse, F2 Finding Football and The Sidemen Show. This service is free for three months and then priced at $11.99 per month or $17.99 per month for a family plan.
YouTube Music is available from the Google Play Store and iOS App Store and the new web player is available at music.youtube.com. YouTube Premium is available at youtube.com/premium.
