YouTube Music has just rolled out a slew of innovative features. These changes primarily aim to increase user engagement and allow the service to better compete with competitors such as Spotify. This announcement, made on the platform’s tenth anniversary, could be more perceptive than it appears at first glance given how rapidly the music streaming world is changing.
Explore the new “Taste Match” playlists! These aspects allow you to combine your musical taste with your friends, offering a unique and interactive listening experience reminiscent of Spotify’s Blend. This feature was designed in the spirit of building community among users through the lens of what we all love: music!
The new app will bring fun new milestones to artists and bands. Or they can aim for astounding music video milestones, such as 100k, 1 million or even 1 billion views! This gamification element is meant to increase both artist discoverability and fan experience at the same time.
We will be introducing loyalty badges for fans, to help recognize and reward them for their fandom. Achievements like “First to Watch” or “Top Listener” will badge users for helping their #1 artists with their daily listening activity. This new initiative is an exciting step forward in creating a deeper and more interactive relationship between artists and fans.
YouTube Music will start alerting listeners to new releases, killer merch, and shows, which will all improve the user experience. The music-focused video platform has teamed up with concerts platform Bandsintown to improve concert discovery while users are watching long or shortform videos on YouTube. This collaboration aims to make it easier for fans to connect with live music events related to their favorite artists.
Sarah Perez, my former colleague at TechCrunch, where she has reported since August 2011, on all these developments. Prior to coming to TechCrunch in 2010, she spent more than 3 years at ReadWriteWeb. Her extensive experience in information technology includes the banking, retail, and software development industries. If you’re interested in learning more or have any specific questions about her coverage, don’t hesitate to email her directly at sarahp@techcrunch.com. You can reach her via encrypted message on Signal at sarahperez.01.
Looking ahead, TechCrunch is set to host an event in San Francisco from October 27-29, 2025, which may further explore advancements in technology and their implications for the music industry.
