While Google’s determination to establish YouTube as a premier Android app is evident, some perceive this shift to YouTube Music as potentially detrimental to users. The absence of a free tier on YouTube Music means that former Google Play Music users who made the switch may find themselves obligated to pay for access to a product they had previously purchased.
It’s worth noting that Google’s financial motivations are apparent, with statistics from Edison indicating that a mere 4% of weekly podcast users in the U.S. prefer Google Podcasts, in contrast to 23% who favor YouTube. Consequently, Google’s aim appears to be the complete conversion of the remaining users into a revenue source for its new service, incentivizing this transition with additional features and tools.
