YouTube Music and Premium Hits 100 Million Subscribers, Embracing Diverse Music Genres including Afrobeats

YouTube Music and Premium has hit 100 Million Subscribers, embracing diverse music genres including Afrobeats.

NewsOnline Nigeria reports that YouTube has announced a significant achievement in its digital streaming service, with YouTube Music and Premium surpassing 100 million subscribers worldwide, including trial. This milestone underscores the platform’s enduring appeal and the comprehensive entertainment experience it offers to a global audience, including the vibrant and diverse user base in Nigeria.

 

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Speaking on the milestone,  Adam Smith, Vice President of Product Management at YouTube said – In 2015, we believed that there was an appetite for a YouTube experience that benefited not only our users but the creator and artist community as well, and we announced a new subscription service alongside a brand new app, YouTube Music. This offering was designed for music lovers and YouTube fans who wanted more choice in how they spent time on YouTube, allowing them to enjoy YouTube without interruptions, background play and downloads, and a full music service with the world’s largest catalogue. Along the way, we learned a lot, made a few pivots (and even rebranded), expanded our offerings and plans, and made YouTube Music and Premium available in over 100 countries and regions.

 

And through it all, we’ve remained focused on delivering a best-in-class experience to our global YouTube community.

 

In fact, in the past year alone we enhanced the Premium playback experience including adding the ability to continue watching YouTube across different devices like your smart TVs and tablets and introduced an enhanced version of 1080p HD. We also experimented with new generative AI features that Premium users were among the first to try. And for listeners, we introduced the Samples tab, a lightning-fast way to discover new music, a completely customised radio building experience, and brought podcasts to YouTube Music.

 

Beyond features, we know what truly makes viewers and listeners keep choosing YouTube – it’s the incredible content from our creators and artists. YouTube Premium helps maintain a thriving creator and artist community, providing them with an additional source of revenue from subscriptions.

 

Highlighting the importance of local engagement, Addy Awofisayo, Head of Music for Africa at YouTube, shared insights into the platform’s impact in Nigeria. “The success of YouTube Music and Premium extends deeply into Nigeria, where music and content creators have found a global stage for their talent,” Awofisayo remarked. “Our platform has not only facilitated unparalleled access to a world of music and content but has also played a pivotal role in the growth of the Nigerian music industry by providing artists with valuable exposure and revenue streams. This milestone celebrates not just our global achievements but the individual stories of creators and artists in Nigeria who contribute to our rich and diverse community.”

 

From small beginnings to a community of 100M across more than 100 countries, we’re grateful to our subscribers for their support!