YouTube Music Moves Lyrics Feature Behind Paywall
Recent updates to YouTube Music have restricted free accounts from accessing full lyrics. Reports indicate that Google is implementing these changes after initially testing the feature among Premium users in September.
YouTube Music Lyrics Feature Overview
The changes to YouTube Music’s lyrics functionality are significant for users lacking a Premium subscription. As the rollout expands, here are the key details:
- Free accounts can access full lyrics for only five songs each month.
- After reaching this limit, users will only see the first few lines of lyrics.
- Remaining lyrics will be blurred and accompanied by a prompt to upgrade to Premium for full access.
Implementation Timeline
The testing phase for this feature began in September. Google appears to have concluded that the limited access should now be more widely applied.
Notifications and User Experience
As part of the user experience, free account holders will receive clear notifications about their limited lyrics access. A banner will display a countdown of remaining lyric views when users enter the lyrics tab.
For those wishing to unlock complete lyrics, upgrading to YouTube Music Premium will become necessary. This move indicates a shift in how YouTube Music is monetizing its services, potentially impacting user engagement.
Overall, the changes to the YouTube Music lyrics feature mark a significant transition for its free-tier users, emphasizing the value of Premium subscriptions.
