YouTube Music is testing a lyrics paywall for users on the free tier, sparking controversy
YouTube Music is reportedly experimenting with shifting access to song lyrics behind its premium subscription, a move that has already drawn attention and comparisons to a similar policy by Spotify last year, that was quickly reverted following user backlash. Some users are seeing a message in the YouTube Music app that warns, “You have 3 views remaining. Unlock lyrics with Premium”, indicating that lyrics will no longer be displayed after a set number of uses without upgrading to a paid subscription.
While all YouTube Music users can currently view lyrics during playback regardless of their subscription status, this trial suggests a potential shift that impacts how free users engage with the service. At the moment, the restriction does not appear to be rolled out globally, signaling that YouTube may be running a limited test with select users.
Google has not made an official statement regarding the lyrics paywall, and it's unclear if it will become a permanent feature. The situation mirrors Spotify’s previous attempt to restrict lyrics, a decision the company abandoned after user backlash. For users seeking alternative platforms with lyrics support, options such as Spotify, Deezer, Qobuz, TIDAL, and Apple Music remain available.
- Music Streaming Service
- Freemium • Proprietary
Related news
External links
- These GREEDY ASS fucking losers have seriously lost it.Reddit
- YouTube Music: Google trying to make lyrics a Premium plan exclusivegHacks
- YouTube Music is now limiting lyrics on its free tier. Is it a mistake?Android Authority
- YouTube Music might limit lyrics viewing for free usersAndroid Police
- YouTube Music locks song lyrics behind a paywallPCWorld
- YouTube accused of putting song lyrics behind a Premium paywallDexerto
Comments
And within weeks (if not months), it officially becomes an official feature for YouTube. "Fun!"
Google has at least a trillion dollars in valuation at this point; the firm is being too chicken to lose any money at this point, especially since it's earning more money than it is losing it (thanks to a majority of the billions of average, run-of-the-mill users showing little to no significant care for privacy on the internet). Yes, the billions of dollars-per-year cost is mandatory for healthy management of the servers but come on. You gotta let a few cents go every once in a while. It's not exactly helping for us privacy-centric users now after the antitrust ruling that, to us, simply meant "Google can continue being a monopoly" (Along with the fact that Google's stock gained a bit of a boost as well).
Again, knowing Google, the experiment may as well go through and there's nothing we can do about it (except maybe switch to another music streaming service that's not Spotify). You should probably also make way for the Genius train too while we're at it.
This is all just dangerous territory that Google is crossing since that ruling, and Google has been travelling there for a while now even before then. It can't keep getting away with it all.
Ya know Screwtoob, I can just look up lyrics using my favorite search engine (which sure as hell ain't Google) instead of paying you pricks.
Proprietary malware, filled with JavaScript traps, with unjust power under the DMCA to coerce the end-user to own nothing and be happy about it. It's blatant communism, thanks to the "Pay the Artist" nonsense.
It's the reason why sharing returns, the one that copyright holders try to smear as kidnapping and murdering its creators.