Alphabet Inc. is taking one of its biggest steps yet toward permanently phasing out Google Play Music in favor of the company’s newer YouTube Music service.The shutting down which is set to take place later this year will see YouTube Music become the default music service of the tech giant.
Users can finally transfer their entire Google Play Music library — artists, albums, songs, playlists, purchased music, personal uploads, and recommendations — over to YouTube Music with just a few taps. This is a crucial process that some subscribers of Google Play Music have been waiting for before they’re comfortable making the transition that Google wants to see.
YouTube Music will be your only streaming music option from the company later this year when Google Play Music is fully shut down. Google isn’t specifying exactly when that will occur, but it says customers will receive plenty of warning ahead of time.
For many users of the soon-to-be-defunct platform, this means they will have to either port to another service/music player or, if they are willing to remain in the Google ecosystem, change to YouTube Music.
For those who will be choosing the latter, Google has rolled out a new tool that will enable them transfer their libraries to YouTube Music.
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HOW TO TRANSFER YOUR GOOGLE PLAY MUSIC LIBRARY TO YOUTUBE MUSIC
If you don’t see the option yet, it’s because Google is doing a gradual rollout of this feature as it has taken a very long time to get to this point, but Google has made the process of moving your stuff about as simple and as all-encompassing as possible.
First, users will need to download the YouTube Music app or update it if they already have.
Once the user opens the app, there will be a notification for them to “Transfer your Play Music library.” If that doesn’t pop up, users can head to the app’s settings where they will see a new “Transfer from Google Play Music” option. This is another way of initiating the process.
Once users complete the process, their uploads, purchases, added songs and albums, personal and subscribed playlists, likes and dislikes, curated stations and personal preferences will move right over to the YouTube app.
Once this is done, all users will need to get used to is the app’s design. Beyond their Library of songs, users will also be able to stream songs on the YouTube Music app. This can either be with ad-supported version for free or the Premium version for $9.99 a month.
The entire transfer happens in the background, and users are able to continue using YouTube Music like normal while it’s in process.
YouTube Music was designed to blend the best of on-demand music streaming with all of the music videos and live performances that can be found only on YouTube. In recent months, Google has continued improving the service by integrating more features from Google Play Music — like uploads — and by adding a new “explore” tab to the mobile app, where you can find new releases, top tracks, or a playlist to dive into. Song lyrics are now easy to get to from the now playing screen as well. This shift is an important step if Google wants the service to build any kind of momentum.
Yetunde Adegoke
