Here’s a piece of news for all smart phone users. Come October 2020, Google will kick start the process of replacing its popular Google Play Music app with YouTube Music. In a communication sent out on Friday afternoon, the global technology giant said that, “Google Play Music is going away soon”.
“YouTube Music is replacing Google Play Music as your new destination for music listening and discovery. Between October and the end of this year, access to Google Play Music will be removed permanently. We know that you've spent time building your Google Play Music library, so we've made it easy to transfer your music library to YouTube Music with just one click, including playlists, uploads and recommendations,” Google said in the email.
While YouTube Music, according to Google, looks a bit different from Google Play Music, it has been built by the same team with the same passion. “It also offers more than 65 million official songs, albums and playlists, as well as many features that you love and expect from Google Play Music,” said Google adding that music can be transferred to YouTube Music app available for downloads on Google Play as well as App Store. Alternatively, music files can be transferred using the browser as well.
As for what happens to the user’s Google Play Music library and data, the technology giant said, “In addition to transferring your library to YouTube Music, you have the option to download any music that you've purchased or uploaded to Google Play Music, as well as a list of the tracks, playlists and radio stations in your library. We'll notify you before you lose access to your Google Play Music library and data. You can also delete your Google Play Music data.”
On Music Manager and uploads, Google said that uploading and downloading music with Music Manager will be discontinued starting in 30 days. “But don't worry – you can always upload your personal music collection to YouTube Music or download your existing tracks via Google Takeout,” said Google.
Also, starting in 30 days, the Music store on Google Play will go away. It will no longer be possible to purchase music on Google Play, and all pre-orders will be cancelled. So, when you transfer, your purchases will move with you to YouTube Music. Talking about ‘Radio and background play’, Google said that Background play is only available to paid users of YouTube Music. “However, the free version of the music app allows background play for your uploaded or purchased songs,” it said.
(The writer is a Mumbai-based independent business journalist and has extensively covered diversified consumer businesses over the last two decades. He can be reached at hello@ashishktiwari.com)
