YouTube Music has hit a major milestone, reaching 125 million paid subscribers worldwide, including trials. This marks a significant growth of 25 million subscribers in just 12 months, averaging over 2 million new subscribers every month. The platform, which also offers YouTube Premium, has become one of the fastest-growing players in the subscription music industry.
This achievement was confirmed by Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s Global Head of Music, who celebrated the platform’s growth in a letter to the music industry. He emphasized that YouTube’s success was unexpected when the service first launched, but it has now become a leader in global music streaming.
While YouTube’s growth is impressive, questions have been raised about how it compares to Spotify, the world’s largest subscription music platform. In 2024, Spotify added 27 million subscribers, bringing its total to 263 million paying users.
YouTube’s growth has been powered by several new initiatives, including the expansion of its Premium Lite tier, which offers a more affordable subscription option for users in the U.S. This lower-priced plan costs $7.99 per month, while a full YouTube Premium plan costs $13.99. Cohen explained that the Premium Lite plan is helping to attract more subscribers and expand YouTube’s reach.
Looking ahead, YouTube continues to focus on visual storytelling, with a strong emphasis on the “rebirth” of the music video. Cohen also highlighted the role of AI in enhancing content creation, particularly through YouTube Shorts, where users can now generate AI-powered backgrounds with the Dream Screen feature.
YouTube is also expanding its presence on connected TVs, which have become a major viewing platform for music content. The company reported that over 50% of Coachella’s live-stream viewership in 2024 was on connected TVs.
As YouTube celebrates its 20th anniversary, Cohen expressed confidence in the platform’s future and its ongoing efforts to lead the music industry in both subscription growth and innovation.