Google Brings Free Ad-Supported YouTube Music Streaming to Google Assistant Speakers

[MacRumors]

In lockstep with Amazon, Google has announced a free, ad-supported music streaming option for use with smart speakers that feature its voice-activated assistant.

The new "free" streaming tier means owners of Google Home or other Google Assistant-powered speakers can listen to tracks from the YouTube Music catalog, albeit interspersed with ads.

Listening to music on your Google Home speaker right out-of-the-box seems too good to be true, right? It's not! Starting today, YouTube Music is offering a free, ad-supported experience on Google Home speakers (or other Google Assistant-powered speakers).

Free, ad-supported YouTube Music is available on smart speakers in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands, and Austria. Google says it will be available in more countries soon.

Note that the ad-supported streaming tier isn't supported on computers or phones. On that note, Google appears to be using the free offering to entice people to upgrade to YouTube Music Premium ($9.99/month), which enables listening on both supporting smart speakers and the YouTube Music mobile app, which also lets users background play music while using other apps and download tracks for offline listening.

Amazon on Thursday also announced the debut of a free music option for Amazon Alexa users in the United States alongside its Prime music service, which provides access to more than two million songs, and Amazon Music Unlimited, Amazon's on-demand music service priced starting at $9.99 per month ($7.99 for Prime members).

Article Link: Google Brings Free Ad-Supported YouTube Music Streaming to Google Assistant Speakers

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Nice feature! I’m going to wait until the 2nd generation Google Home gets released to get one...

 

[Christoffee]

For now...

Let’s play How Long Will This Google Service Last?

 

[busuan]

Speaker playing music with ads... isn’t it called a Radio?

 

[Glasgowuk]

The world is splitting in two. Those who don’t care about privacy and quality and those who buy apple products and services

 

[User 6502]

So now Apple Music is the only widespread music service not offering a free tier. Yet another reason to stay off it.
[doublepost=1555679850][/doublepost]

Speaker playing music with ads... isn’t it called a Radio?

Not really, unless you can tell the radio which song you want to hear.

 

[Justanotherfanboy]

Wow!!!
So, now you can listen to music on YouTube, interspersed with ads??!!!

Ummmmmmmmmm..... so this is different from the way YouTube has been for the last 5 years, how??
[doublepost=1555684068][/doublepost]

So now Apple Music is the only widespread music service not offering a free tier. Yet another reason to stay off it.

Lol, yup- unless Apple offers the same garbage, ad-riddled, sneaky & sleazy experience as others- you probably want to stay away!

Apple doesn’t harvest my info & give me a “free” social network, like Facebook does- better stay away from it!
Apple doesn’t build out a wildly detailed profile of me to make me a more valuable asset to advertisers & give me “free” email & web search for it, like Google does- better stay away from it!

Etc, etc.

 

[EatinPonies]

Isn't this just Google Play Music? I'm pretty sure this is exactly how that works...

 

[lunarworks]

Not really, unless you can tell the radio which song you want to hear.

Remembering the old days of the "request hour", when the only way to hear a song you liked, if you didn't own it on tape or CD, was to try to call in to request it... and lines jammed with people asking for songs they played 10 times a day anyway.

 

[0982786]

The world is splitting in two. Those who don’t care about privacy and quality and those who buy apple products and services

The number of people who are tired of being taken advantage of by Apple is growing too. There was a good discussion about it on MacBreak Weekly this week. Apple as a religion is doing fine, but Apple for regular consumers is not as hot as we’ve seen with iPhone this past year.

 

[Glasgowuk]

The number of people who are tired of being taken advantage of by Apple is growing too. There was a good discussion about it on MacBreak Weekly this week. Apple as a religion is doing fine, but Apple for regular consumers is not as hot as we’ve seen with iPhone this past year.

I look at both companies profits. With Apple, I know where they are coming from

 

[gotluck]

Isn't this just Google Play Music? I'm pretty sure this is exactly how that works...

Curious if this plays specific songs or related songs as a ‘station’

If it’s the station method it’s just google play music

 

[jamesrick80]

Isn't this just Google Play Music? I'm pretty sure this is exactly how that works...

No it's not....Google play music and YouTube music are two separate and distinct music services and the playlists and radio stations for both are totally different .......Google will end Google play music in the future and YouTube Music will be the main music service. I currently have both as premium music services and find things I like about both but YouTube Music is slowly becoming my go to music application.

 

[Tiger8]

Pandora has a cool feature actually, you can listen to any album (up to 45 minutes) or song by watching a video ad which will unlock premium. You can do this as many times as you want, no ads during the 45 minutes

Good for the gym, or a drive (just watch the ad before you start driving and then off you go)

 

[Shanghaichica]

I really despise adverts. Who wants to have their music listening experience constantly interrupted.