YouTube Music Introduces AI Playlist Creation Tool for Premium Users

YouTube Music has launched an AI-powered playlist generator for Premium subscribers.

How it works:

• Users can create playlists by describing their preferences with text or voice prompts.

• The feature can be accessed through the Library tab’s “New” button.

On trend:

• Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer each launched a similar tool recently.

• As Music Business Worldwide (MBW) points out, the move comes as YouTube Music looks to enhance its Premium subscription offering, with YouTube’s subscription business – which includes YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV and NFL Sunday Ticket – generating around $20 billion annually.

• In a recent earnings call by owners Alphabet Inc., CFO Anat Ashkenazi said the jump in revenues for subscription platforms and devices was down to an “increased demand for AI plans,” as per MBW.

• Last year YouTube launched an AI-powered music commentary feature that adds AI voice commentary between songs on a playlist, providing context, trivia or commentary on the music playing; in 2024 it began testing an AI-generated radio feature and a song recognition tool that allows users to search for songs by humming, singing or playing a tune.