Google’s two subscription music services have now amassed 15 million paying members — including both its one-year-old YouTube Music platform as well as eight-year-old Google Play Music, which is in the process of being folded into the former.
While 15 million subscribers still pales in comparison to industry leaders like Spotify (100 million subscribers globally) and Apple Music (50 million subscribers), Bloomberg reports that it marks an impressive milestone for Google, which has struggled to build subscription businesses and traditionally derives revenues via ads. (The 15 million-count also includes customers who are on promo trials). YouTube’s other major subscription service is YouTube TV, which has reportedly amassed 1 million subscribers since its launch in Feb. 2017.
According to Bloomberg, YouTube Music has added 5 million more subscribers since its launch last May, with the other 10 million subs hailing from Google Play Music.
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A Google spokeswoman tells Tubefilter that subscriptions to its YouTube Music and YouTube Premium services grew 60% from March 2018 to March 2019. “Healthy subscription growth continued through Q1 of this year,” the spokeswoman added.
In March, YouTube Music and YouTube Premium also launched in India, where the video giant counts roughly 250 million monthly users. While YouTube Music is priced at $10 and comprises ad-free music streaming, YouTube Premium is priced at $12 and also includes access to YouTube Music as well as ad-free and offline viewing.
