6 Things YouTube Music Does Better Than Spotify
6 Things YouTube Music Does Better Than Spotify
Music streaming has transformed the way we consume audio entertainment, and two of the biggest platforms in this space are YouTube Music and Spotify. While Spotify is often hailed as the gold standard of music streaming services, YouTube Music has several advantages that set it apart from its competitor.
In this article, we’ll explore six key areas where YouTube Music outperforms Spotify, diving deep into the unique benefits and features that make it a compelling choice for music lovers.
Highlights
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Seamless Integration with YouTube
- Better Selection of Unofficial & Rare Music
- Background Play & Offline Access (With Premium)
-
Superior Algorithm for Music Discovery
- Lyric Search Functionality
- Easier User-Uploaded Music Library
Seamless Integration with YouTube
One of YouTube Music’s biggest strengths is its seamless integration with YouTube itself. Since YouTube is the largest video-sharing platform in the world, this gives YouTube Music an incredible advantage.
Switch Effortlessly Between Video and Audio
YouTube Music allows users to switch between the music video and the audio version of a song with a single tap. This feature is particularly useful for those who enjoy watching live performances, official music videos, or even alternative versions of their favorite songs.
For example, if you’re listening to a song and want to see how the artist performs it live, you can instantly switch to the video version. Spotify, on the other hand, does not offer this feature. It focuses purely on audio, making it less flexible for those who also enjoy music videos.
More Exclusive Content
Because of its YouTube connection, YouTube Music has access to a vast library of exclusive content, including:
Live concerts and performances
Official music videos
Remixes and covers
Fan-uploaded content that isn’t available on Spotify
Spotify is limited to official audio tracks, which means YouTube Music offers a much richer and more diverse experience.
Better Selection of Unofficial & Rare Music
If you love discovering rare music, bootlegs, or underground tracks, YouTube Music is far superior to Spotify.
More Variety in Music Selection
YouTube Music includes not only official releases but also:
Unreleased tracks and leaks
DJ sets and mashups
User-uploaded content
Rare live recordings and remixes
Many artists and DJs upload exclusive remixes and extended versions of their tracks to YouTube, which are often missing from Spotify due to licensing restrictions. This means YouTube Music provides access to a much wider range of music, including hard-to-find and independent tracks.
Nostalgia Factor: Old and Deleted Songs
Sometimes, older songs get removed from streaming platforms due to copyright issues or record label disputes. However, on YouTube Music, these tracks often remain available because they exist as user uploads or unofficial versions.
This is especially useful for fans of classic music or rare indie songs that are no longer accessible on platforms like Spotify.
Background Play & Offline Access (With Premium)
One of the biggest frustrations of free YouTube users is that when they exit the app, the music stops playing. However, with a YouTube Music Premium subscription, this issue is eliminated.
Background Play Advantage
With YouTube Music Premium, you can:
Continue playing music even when the app is minimized or your phone screen is off.
Seamlessly switch between apps while listening to music.
While Spotify also offers background play, it doesn’t provide the video component. YouTube Music allows you to listen to just the audio from a YouTube video while keeping your phone screen off.
This is a game-changer for people who listen to long DJ sets, live performances, or podcasts that are only available on YouTube.
Offline Downloads: More Content Flexibility
Both YouTube Music and Spotify Premium allow users to download music for offline listening, but YouTube Music takes it a step further by letting users download:
Audio-only versions of songs
Music videos
Playlists and albums
This makes YouTube Music a better choice for users who want to save both songs and music videos for offline playback.
Superior Algorithm for Music Discovery
Spotify is well-known for its personalized playlists and recommendation algorithms, but YouTube Music takes it to the next level.
AI-Powered Recommendations Based on YouTube History
YouTube Music’s recommendation engine is unique because it doesn’t just track what music you listen to—it also considers:
Your YouTube watch history
The types of videos you engage with
Your search habits on YouTube
This allows YouTube Music to offer even more personalized recommendations compared to Spotify. If you frequently watch concert videos, music documentaries, or related content, YouTube Music will factor that into your music suggestions.
More Accurate Playlists and Radio Stations
While Spotify has great playlists like Discover Weekly and Release Radar, YouTube Music’s ability to analyze both video and music consumption habits gives it an edge in providing:
Hyper-personalized music mixes
Better-curated radio stations
More relevant song suggestions
For example, if you watched a documentary about jazz music, YouTube Music might recommend rare jazz recordings that Spotify would never suggest.
Lyric Search Functionality
Have you ever had a song stuck in your head but couldn’t remember the name or artist? YouTube Music solves this problem with its lyric search feature.
Find Songs Just by Typing Lyrics
With YouTube Music, you can:
Type a few lyrics into the search bar
Find the correct song, even if you don’t know the title
This is a game-changer for users who remember parts of a song but struggle to recall its name.
Spotify does have a lyrics feature, but it’s limited to showing lyrics while playing a song. It doesn’t allow users to search for songs using lyrics.
Easier User-Uploaded Music Library
For people who have a personal collection of MP3s or rare tracks, YouTube Music is the better choice.
Upload and Stream Your Own Music Files
YouTube Music allows users to upload their own music files (MP3, FLAC, etc.) to their library. This means you can:
Store rare or unavailable songs in the cloud
Access your personal music collection from any device
Stream your own music alongside YouTube Music’s catalog
Spotify used to allow music uploads, but now it only supports local files on desktop. This means that with Spotify, you can’t upload your own music and sync it across devices, making YouTube Music the superior option for people with personalized music collections.
Final Verdict: Should You Switch to YouTube Music?
While Spotify remains the dominant streaming service, YouTube Music offers several advantages that make it worth considering. If you value music video integration, a wider selection of rare tracks, superior recommendations, and the ability to upload your own music, YouTube Music is the better choice.
Here’s a quick recap of what YouTube Music does better than Spotify:
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your preferences. If you prioritize a massive music library, podcasts, and social sharing features, Spotify is still a fantastic option. However, if you want a more versatile experience that includes video, rare music, and better recommendations, YouTube Music is the way to go.
Would you consider switching to YouTube Music, or do you think Spotify still holds the edge? Let us know your thoughts!
