YouTube Music debuts in India

Makes the world of music easier to explore; gives listeners access to exclusive music videos and a personalized feed catering to their preferences

The wait is over! Whether you want to find more of the music you love or effortlessly discover new favorites -- it’s all here! YouTube today announced the launch of its new music streaming app -- YouTube Music, in India.

YouTube Music is a reimagined, made-for-music app and web player with official songs, albums, thousands of playlists and artist radio plus YouTube’s tremendous catalog of remixes, live performances, covers and music videos that you can’t find anywhere else - all simply organized and personalized. For the first time, all the ways music moves you can be found in one place.

While all this is available for free in the ad-supported version of YouTube Music, the company has also announced YouTube Music Premium, a paid membership that allows users to play songs and videos in the background, while they toggle between apps, write a text message or lock their phone during a run. YouTube Music Premium also offers offline downloads and a completely ad-free experience -- all starting at just ₹99 a month*.

Announcing the launch of YouTube Music in India, Lyor Cohen, Global Head of Music, YouTube said,“India is where the multi-lingual music scene thrives. It’s interesting to note how Indian artists have consistently claimed top spots over the last few months in the Global YouTube Top Artists chart. With YouTube Music, we are hoping to bring the best in global and Indian music to millions of fans across India, and give them an immersive music experience, with the magic of music on YouTube.”

T.Jay Fowler, Director of Product Management, Music Products, YouTube said, “We know that India loves watching music videos on YouTube -- be it the vibrancy, choreography, stars and glamour. Music from India has always been so much more than just the audio. Therefore for us, with the launch of YouTube Music, all the emphasis is on the familiar and to make every user experience richer as they start using the service. From recommended music videos, live performances, covers, to new videos -- it’s all here, and only here."

Subscribers of Google Play Music will get YouTube Music Premium membership as part of their subscription each month. And for them nothing will change -- they will still be able to access all of their purchased music, uploads and playlists in Google Play Music just like always.

ALSO READ: Stars of the YouTube universe

Additionally, YouTube is also bringing YouTube Premium to India. YouTube Premium will be available for ₹129 a month, will include membership to YouTube Music Premium, and offer an ad-free experience with background play and offline downloads for millions of videos on YouTube, as well as access to all YouTube Originals, including Cobra Kai, BTS: Burn The Stage.

Samsung Galaxy S10 users can enjoy 4 months of free, uninterrupted, ad-free access to YouTube Premium, which includes access to YouTube Music Premium*.