YouTube Music is YouTube/Google’s music streaming service and is the successor to the streaming service and download store Google Play. YouTube Music is currently available in 62 countries and has accrued 30 million subscribers for YouTube’s premium offering (as of December 2020).

YouTube Music is a paid streaming service, which puts a stronger emphasize on algorithms and personalization rather than curated playlists. Additionally users can switch between mere audio playback and video.

YouTube Content ID registers your music in the YouTube Content ID database. An audio fingerprint for your release will be generated. If a YouTube User uploads your music in a video (this applies also to yourself), YouTube will detect a match with the fingerprint in the database. YouTube may then show advertising before or during the video, in which case you will be paid for the play.