Google currently has two music streaming services — but the company plans to eventually phase out the older Google Play Music service and shift its resources to the newer YouTube Music, which launched nearly two years ago.
First, the company plans to bring some features from Google Play Music to YouTube Music — like the ability to upload songs you own to the cloud so you can stream them on any device, whether they’re normally available through Google’s streaming service or not.
The YouTube Music cloud locker/library feature isn’t live just yet — but a recently added YouTube Music support page suggests it’s coming soon.
The page explains how to upload your music to the cloud. You’ll be able to either visit music.youtube.com and drag-and-drop your file or files to the web browser, or click on your profile picture and then select the “Upload” music option.”
Supported file formats include:
- MP3
- M4A
- OGG
- WMA
- FLAC
Once your music is uploaded, it’ll be available in a new “Uploads” section of your YouTube Music library.
Google notes that only you’ll be able to play songs stored in your library — if you create a playlist and share it with other users, they won’t be able to stream content from your account. And uploaded music will not affect Google’s YouTube Music recommendations.
One nice feature that’s a carry-over from the Google Play Music cloud locker feature? You don’t need to be a paying YouTube Music subscriber to use the cloud library. Users can upload music for free, listen ad-free and offline, and cast content to supported devices including smart speakers.
There’s no word on when Google Play Music will shut down, but Google does say that before that happens the company will provide “plenty of advance notice.” Google is also planning to offer a way to “transfer your entire Google Play Music library” to YouTube Music, but it’s not ready just yet.
It’s unclear if there will be a desktop app for uploading large collections like the current Google Music Manager.
via Android Police and 9to5Google
This seems like one of those ideas that is designed for a world without data caps.
Meanwhile in our world… a MicroSDXC card still seems like the best option.
Yeah exactly.
Google doesn’t see the world as it is, Google sees the world as it wants. Sort of tunnel vision by people in San Francisco/Cali.
Not to mention the embarrassment that is Play Music, YouTube Red, and pretty much anything Google does besides their core business. The best experience still seems to be to take control and do things yourself, which means downloading/managing your music locally, and running the programs and software of your choosing.
Ok cool, suddenly I’m less upset about them shutting down play music. The added ability to upload lossless is nice too. If only the UI of YouTube music wasn’t worse.
Currently, on my Android phone, I can listen to music on the Google Play Music app while doing something else in another app. If I open the YouTube app and start a video then switch to another app, the YouTube app stops playing the video. If I can’t listen to music, especially mine that I already own, in the background with the YouTube Music app you can forget about me using it.