YouTube Music Preparing To Replace Google Play Music - PCMag.com

Sooner rather than later, Google appears set on transitioning users away from Play Music and toward YouTube Music.

9to5Google reports that an internal version of YouTube Music offers the ability to store uploaded albums and songs in a digital library. Users can't do that with the public version, but an update due out in the near future should unlock the capability after nearly two years of waiting. It's one of the biggest reasons Play Music users aren't dropping the aging platform despite its lack of significant updates in recent months. The addition of a digital library will certainly attract users to YouTube Music.

Resources are focused on YouTube Music, between its consistent updates on mobile devices and the partnership with Dick Clark Productions to sponsor live events such as the American Music Awards. YouTube's name is well-known around the world, and Google wants to leverage that in building out a subscriber base. Combined, around 20 million people are subscribed to YouTube Premium and Music for $10 per month.

Debuting in 2018, YouTube Music sported a redesigned app that also streamed music videos and other artist-related clips. Still, users on Play Music ignored it for missing features and the inability to carry over digital libraries as well as liked artists and songs. Nearly two years later, it seems that Google will finally let Play Music users port over their digital libraries to YouTube Music.

Play Music will not stick around forever. One source indicated to 9to5Google that Google intends to invite users to YouTube Music within the next few months. Sometime during the second half of 2020, Google would like to retire Play Music and discontinue its operations. So there might be some level of urgency in getting users to migrate their digital libraries to YouTube Music. If they don't, they'll likely lose out on access to thousands of songs uploaded over the years.

Google did not issue a statement in response to the report. In the past, the Mountain View-based company has only shared it plans on YouTube Music existing as its only music streaming service. Maybe in 2020 that'll finally happen, but until then users are stuck choosing between a half-baked option and its soon-retired sibling.