Google Follows Amazon With Free Ad-Supported YouTube Music

In the wake of reports that Amazon is planning to introduce an ad-supported free music streaming service, Google has announced its own free version of YouTube Music on Google Home speakers and other Google Assistant-powered speakers.

Youtube Music is reportedly taking over Google Play Music as the default music app on most Android devices.

The ad-supported free version of YouTube Music is available in Australia, the US, as well as numerous European countries with more to be added in the future.

Like Spotify, the ads delivered in the free service will likely push users to upgrade to the YouTube Music Premium subscription that will allow users to download tracks for offline listening, request specific albums, songs, artists, and playlists on-demand.

It also offers useful player controls, such as unlimited skips and song replay and allows users to play music in the background via the YouTube Music app while using other apps.

The free version will respond to requests for specific songs or artists, but instead of playing the song/artist itself, it will offer a variety of songs inspired by or related to the request.

However, although restrictive, listeners will have access to YouTube Music’s full library of tracks for free.

Amazon and Google have begun to co-operate agreeing to offer YouTube on Amazon devices and Prime Video on Chromecast, as well as their respective ad-supported music services.

After the news broke about Amazon shares in Spotify dived 4%, with this extra competition lining up, the outlook doesn’t look great for the Swedish streaming giant.