By Jane Doe, March 10, 2026

Australian Recording Industry Association

When YouTube Music relaunched in May 2018, it prompted a wave of curiosity among music enthusiasts. As a music lover and an avid user of streaming services, I was eager to explore its features and assess whether it would meet my needs. However, after giving it a whirl during the free trial, I found myself disappointed with its performance and ultimately canceled my subscription.

Fast forward to mid-2019, I found myself with a new Home Hub from Google that included six months of free YouTube Premium—a package that encompassed YouTube Music. Yet, owing to my previous cancellation, I was unable to take advantage of this opportunity. This situation left a sour taste in my mouth, as I felt the platform was withholding something valuable from me due to my initial dissatisfaction.

As we entered January 2020, whispers suggested that YouTube Music had made significant improvements. Intrigued by these claims and with another free month potentially at my disposal, I decided to give the service another shot. It was now pre-installed on all new Android phones, which seemed to indicate an upgrade in quality over its predecessor, Google Play Music.

The Good Aspects of YouTube Music

YouTube Music appears to be targeting a younger demographic, a marked difference from Spotify’s approach. This focus is evident in its emphasis on curated playlists rather than traditional albums. Playlists cater to various moods and activities; for instance, while driving, users can access driving playlists, and a chill-out list becomes available for relaxing at home. This dynamic approach reflects the preferences of a younger audience, making it more relevant to their listening habits.

One standout feature for me was the algorithmic playlists tailored to my music tastes. The “Your mix” list curates tracks that align with my preferences, while the “Discover Mix” shares new music similar to what I already enjoy. The addition of a “New Release mix” and a “liked songs” mix enrich my listening experience. I took the liberty of creating a personalized list of around 250 favored tracks, and within no time, the algorithms began introducing me to songs that resonated deeply with my musical inclinations.

What truly distinguishes YouTube Music from others is its nuanced way of handling music libraries. Unlike Spotify, which merely categorizes songs as either ‘in your library or not,’ YouTube Music offers the option to ‘like’ songs individually. This lets you maintain an organized collection, ensuring that only your favorite tracks are highlighted while allowing entire albums to coexist in your library without cluttering your liked songs. This feature is a game-changer, particularly for listeners who often skip tracks. For instance, you can include an album by the Beatles and only like the songs you actually enjoy, far more practical than Spotify’s all-or-nothing classification.

Moreover, YouTube Music does an exceptional job of categorizing different versions of the same album. For instance, if you search for Archive’s With Us Until You’re Dead, the platform displays the main version prominently while relegating alternate versions to a separate section, providing clarity and ease of access.

Offline Listening Functionality

YouTube Music’s offline listening capabilities are another highlight. The ability to download playlists, albums, and even an “offline mix” means that users are always prepared, even when internet access is a concern. Previously, I struggled with the offline functionality in Spotify, but YouTube Music simplifies this by providing a straightforward screen that showcases all downloaded content and a big button for shuffling everything. This feature appears particularly advantageous for travelers, as I was able to rely solely on YouTube Music during a 23-hour flight to Europe.

Video vs. Audio: A Unique Approach

One peculiar aspect of YouTube Music is its integration of video with audio content. The free version plays video versions of songs, which I found entertaining, as much of my previous listening on Spotify involved casting music videos to a TV. However, YouTube Music Premium defaults to audio versions, with an option to switch to video. This limitation is perplexing, especially since users casting to a television are denied a visual experience despite the platform’s video-centric origins.

The experience on a TV when casting audio is limited; it displays a full-screen album cover without any additional information. While it is acceptable on a Home Hub, the lack of a dedicated app for Android TV feels like a missed opportunity for providing a more engaging visual setup.

Assessing the Play Queue and Shuffle Functionality

Transitioning to the play queue, my experience has been somewhat erratic. Occasionally, after listening to a few tracks from an album, I switch to a playlist, but the app sometimes defaults back to my previous selection. The intricacies of when autoplay is activated remain unclear, leading to a disjointed listening experience. However, YouTube Music’s shuffle feature emerges as a strong positive. Unlike Spotify’s sticky shuffle option, YouTube Music allows users to shuffle the entire playlist effectively, retaining greater control over the order of tracks.

The one downside is that, despite shuffle functioning smoothly, the application consistently reveals what’s queued next, which could hinder the surprise element of discovering music organically.

What I Miss from Spotify

Despite several appealing features, I find myself missing one of Spotify’s key functionalities: synchronized playback across devices. The seamless nature of Spotify’s user experience allows for controlling music on multiple devices simultaneously—whether on a computer, phone, or television. This capability adds an essential layer of convenience that YouTube Music currently lacks. The process of liking a song becomes cumbersome if you are listening through a speaker rather than your phone.

Moreover, the voice activation feature with Spotify, enabled by commands such as “Hey, Google, play some music,” allowed me to control playback effortlessly, regardless of the device. With YouTube Music, control seemingly must initiate from a mobile device, which detracts from the overall user experience. The web app does support Chromecast, yet suffers from stuttering issues if you attempt to multitask—an inconvenience not present in Spotify’s more robust offering.

Is YouTube Music Ready to Replace Spotify?

As I evaluate my overall experience with YouTube Music, it becomes clear that while there are aspects I genuinely appreciate—such as enhanced algorithmic playlists and superior offline functionality—there is still room for improvement. Spotify continues to excel in personalized album recommendations, while YouTube Music lacks this comprehensive feature. That said, my personal experience with album recommendations on Spotify has often yielded a list of unfamiliar tracks rather than meaningful suggestions.

Ultimately, the absence of the full YouTube experience when casting to a TV is a glaring deficiency. This oversight undermines the unique selling point of the platform and is something I hope will be addressed in future updates. With a subscription price of AUD$14.99, the service needs to justify its value beyond mere ad removal to keep users engaged. For now, it remains a balancing act between new features and usability that will determine its place in a competitive streaming landscape.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while YouTube Music showcases significant progress and innovative features, there are still critical aspects that require refinement for it to rival established platforms like Spotify. Improvements in functionality, user experience, and feature integration will be essential in winning over long-term listeners.

For those interested in learning more, visit the official Australian Recording Industry Association website for further insights and information.

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Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial or professional advice.