YouTube Music is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a fantastic update that introduces a host of new features, bringing it closer to competitors like Spotify.
One of the standout additions is the innovative “Taste Match” playlists. This feature curates shared playlists based on the musical preferences of multiple users, similar to Spotify’s Blend. Users can expect daily updates with songs that embody everyone’s shared musical tastes, making music discovery a collaborative experience.
In addition to this, YouTube Music is enhancing its social capabilities. Users can now comment on albums and playlists directly within the app, fostering a sense of community among music lovers. The platform is also rolling out loyalty badges such as “First to Watch” and “Top Listener,” with even more exciting badges on the horizon. Artists will receive recognition when their music videos achieve significant milestones, like reaching 100,000, 1 million, or even 1 billion views.
Furthermore, YouTube Music is teaming up with Bandsintown. Fans watching music videos and Shorts on YouTube will now receive updates about concerts, new releases, and merchandise, enhancing their connection with the artists they love.
YouTube also shared impressive statistics to illustrate the platform’s growth. The music catalog now boasts over 300 million tracks, which is three times the size of Spotify’s 100 million. Additionally, there are more than 4 billion user-created playlists, with 1.8 billion available to the public.
In terms of user growth, YouTube Music has witnessed remarkable increases, reaching 100 million users in early 2024. By March 2025, that number surged to over 125 million across YouTube Music and YouTube Premium.
With these exciting new features, YouTube Music aims to transcend the role of a typical streaming app. It seeks to blend music discovery, social interaction, and fan engagement into a cohesive experience for all music enthusiasts.
