YouTube Music is marking its 10th anniversary with a rollout of new features designed to enhance community engagement, connect listeners with artists, and highlight fan support.
New Features on YouTube Music
The updates were announced by T. Jay Fowler, Senior Director of Product at YouTube Music, in a blog post on Thursday.
Press Play on Community
Fowler said the best part of a perfect song is often the perfect track that follows it. On YouTube, fans have already created over 4 billion music playlists, including 1.8 billion public playlists, making it easy to find music for any mood or occasion. Soon, listeners will also be able to comment directly on albums and playlists, opening conversations around shared music.
Taste Match Playlists
A new feature called taste match playlists will allow users to connect through similar listening habits and discover new tracks together. These playlists are updated daily and reflect the combined preferences of all members. The feature resembles Spotify Blend, which also merges music tastes into joint playlists.
Front Row Access to Artists
YouTube Music hosts an extensive catalog of more than 300 million tracks, ranging from studio albums to live performances, remixes, and covers. Fowler noted that fans of artists like Chappell Roan can explore everything from music videos and albums to early covers and award show performances directly within the app.
The platform is also expanding access to live shows. Through a partnership with Bandsintown, users will see nearby and upcoming concerts from their favorite artists while watching videos, Shorts, or browsing official artist channels. New notifications will also alert fans about album announcements, event dates, and merchandise releases.
Show Off Your Fandom
Fowler highlighted new fan badges introduced on YouTube Music, such as First to Watch and Top Listener. These give listeners a way to showcase their dedication, with more badge types to be added in the future.
Additionally, YouTube Music is rolling out artist video milestone highlights. Fans will see official videos approaching major view counts—such as 100,000, 1 million, or 1 billion views—and can contribute to helping artists achieve those milestones.
Availability
Most of these features are already being introduced, with wider rollout expected in the coming weeks.
Speaking on the launch, T. Jay Fowler, Senior Director, Product, YouTube Music, said:
These updates mark the beginning of our next chapter at YouTube Music, where we’re focused on bringing fans even closer to the artists they love. We look forward to seeing listeners dive in and explore.