This is the ultimate statistics-research about YouTube Music, the app provided by YouTube.
Key Facts: YouTube Music
- Market Share & Revenue: YouTube Music’s market share increased from 8% in 2021 to 8.9% in 2023, projected to exceed 9% by January 2024. Revenue reached $1.1 billion in February 2024, up from $1.07 billion in December 2023.
- User Base & Subscribers: By December 2023, YouTube Music had 868.4 million users, with an expectation to hit 1 billion by 2026. YouTube Premium, which offers ad-free music, had over 100 million paid subscribers by February 2024, with 27.9 million in the US.
- Subscriber Growth: US subscribers increased from 20 million in 2020 to 27.9 million in 2024. Total subscribers doubled from 50 million in September 2021 to 100 million by February 2024.
- Top Tracks & Genres: The year 2023 saw hits like Toosii’s “Favorite Song” and Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers.” R&B/Hip-Hop is the most popular genre, followed by Rock and Pop.
- Playlists & Artists: The “Pop Music Playlist” leads with over 1 billion views. Top artists include Karol G and Bad Bunny, with billions of listeners.
- Demographics & Traffic: Majority of users are male (61.13%), with the largest age group being 25-34 years old. Most traffic is direct, with significant referrals from social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
Overview of YouTube Music (Ownership)
| Key Stat | Key Info |
|---|---|
| Owner | YouTube |
| Type of site | Music and Video Streaming |
| Launch | November 12, 2015 |
| Area served | 104 countries, mostly in the Americas, Europe and Oceania, and in parts of Africa and Asia |
| Parent Company | Google LLC (2006–present) |
| Key people | Neal Mohan (YouTube CEO) T. Jay Fowler (Director of Product Management) Lyor Cohen (YouTube Global Head of Music) |
| Monthly Active Users | 100 million MAU ( Jan. 2024) |
| Revenue | $1.1 billion (Feb. 2024) |
| Website | music.youtube.com |
What is the YouTube Music market share in the online music streaming industry?
A recent report shows that YouTube Music’s market share increased from 8% in 2021 and 8.6% in 2022 to 8.9% in 2023. As of January 2024, YouTube Music’s market share in the online music streaming industry is likely to be over 9%.
| Year | Market Share |
|---|---|
| 2024 (Jan.) | 9% |
| 2023 | 8.9% |
| 2022 | 8.6% |
| 2021 | 8% |
Source: Statista, Business Trumpet, Mintel Store
How Many Users of YouTube Music are there?
As of December 2023, the number of active users on YouTube music was 868.4 million. It is predicted that YouTube will reach a milestone of 1 billion active music users by the end of 2026.
As of December 31, 2022, there were 786.37 million active users on YouTube music. The number of YouTube music users is expected to surpass 868.4 million by the end of 2023. The total number of YouTube music users has consistently increased over the years.
Every YouTube account automatically has access to YouTube Music and is therefore considered a platform user.
| Year | Number of YouTube Active Users Worldwide |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 868.4 million active users |
| 2022 | 785.39 million active users |
| 2021 | 709.1 million active users |
| 2020 | 608.64 million active users |
| 2019 | 532.61 million active users |
Number of YouTube Music Paying Users
Every user of YouTube Premium has access to YouTube Music without ads. As of February 1st, 2024, YouTube Music has over 100 million subscribers who are paid members through the premium subscription. This number includes individuals who are currently on a one-month free trial.
Approximately 27.9 million of the premium-paying subscribers reside in the United States. As of the end of 2023, YouTube Music had around 80 million paid subscribers. As of November 2022, YouTube Music had about 80 million paid subscribers.
In 2020, there were approximately 20 million paying subscribers to YouTube Music services in the United States. According to estimates, the number of subscribers in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 is expected to be 23.6 million, 25.5 million, 26.7 million, and 27.9 million respectively.
| Year | Number of YouTube Music Subscribers worldwide | Number of YouTube Music Subscribers in the U.S |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 (Feb.) | 100 million premium paying subscribers | ~27.9 million premium paying subscribers |
| 2023 | 96.8 million premium paying subscribers | ~26.7 million premium paying subscribers |
| 2022 | 80 million premium paying subscribers | ~25.5 million premium paying subscribers |
| 2021 | 50 million premium paying subscribers | ~23.6 million premium paying subscribers |
| 2020 | 30 million premium paying subscribers | 20 million premium paying subscribers |
| 2019 | 800,000 premium paying subscribers | – |
Source: Statista 1, TechCrunch, YouTube, Statista 2, TechCrunch
YouTube Music Paying Subscribers
According to a recent report in February 2024, YouTube had 100 million subscribers who paid for its Music and Premium services. This is twice as many as the 50 million subscribers it had in September 2021.
| Year | Paying subscribers |
|---|---|
| 2024 (Feb.) | 100 million |
| 2023 | ~98 million |
| 2022 | 80 million |
| 2021 | 50 million |
| 2020 | 30 million |
Source: Statista
YouTube Music Revenue
As of February 2024, the estimated revenue generated by YouTube Music saw a significant increase. Compared to the previous year, in December 2023, the estimated revenue rose from $1.07 billion to approximately $1.1 billion.
This growth reflects the platform’s continued popularity and success in the music streaming industry.
| Year | Revenue |
|---|---|
| 2024 (Feb.) | $1.1 billion |
| 2023 | $1.07 billion |
| 2022 | $880 million |
| 2021 | $550 million |
| 2020 | $330 million |
YouTube Music brand awareness, usage, popularity, loyalty, and buzz among digital music users
In the UK, 89% of digital music users are aware of and like YouTube Music. Among these users, 38% have a favourable opinion of the brand. Additionally, 34% actually use YouTube Music, and 28% are likely to use it again, indicating brand loyalty among 82% of users. Approximately 16% have recently heard about YouTube Music through media, social media, or advertising.
In the United States, 87% of digital music users are aware of YouTube Music, with 46% liking it. Moreover, 40% actively use YouTube Music, and 35% express a likelihood of using it again, indicating user loyalty. About 22% have encountered mentions of YouTube Music in media, social media, or advertising.
In Germany, 89% of digital music users are aware of YouTube Music, with 49% liking the brand. Overall, 39% use YouTube Music, and 33% are likely to use it again, showing a loyalty rate of 85%. Recently, 20% have heard about YouTube Music through media, social media, or advertising.
In Brazil, 97% of digital music consumers are aware of YouTube Music, with 64% using it and 55% likely to use it again. Additionally, 68% like YouTube Music. According to a recent survey, about 95% of digital music consumers in Brazil are aware of YouTube Music. Around 63% claim to use the music-focused version, while 54% are likely to use it again. Additionally, about 67% said they liked YouTube Music.
| Country | Awareness | Popularity | Usage Share | Loyalty | Music Buzz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 89% | 34% | 34% | 28% | 16% |
| United States | 87% | 40% | 40% | 35% | 22% |
| Germany | 89% | 44% | 39% | 33% | 20% |
| Brazil | 97% | 68% | 64% | 55% | 53% |
| Mexico | 95% | 67% | 63% | 54% | 57% |
Sources: Statista 1, Statista 2, Statista 3, Statista 4, Statista 5
What are the song genre preferences on YouTube Music?
Most played songs on YouTube Music.
In 2023, YouTube Music showcased various artists and their top hits. Toosii’s “Favorite Song” led the charts, followed by Miley Cyrus’ “Flowers” and Eslabon Armado’s “Ella Baila Sola.” Other notable entries included Yng Lvcas’ “La Bebe (Remix)” and Morgan Wallen’s “Last Night.”
| Rank | Artist(s) | Song Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toosii | Favorite Song |
| 2 | Miley Cyrus | Flowers |
| 3 | Eslabon Armado, Peso Pluma | Ella Baila Sola |
| 4 | Yng Lvcas, Peso Pluma | La Bebe (Remix) |
| 5 | Morgan Wallen | Last Night |
| 6 | Fuerza Regida, Grupo Frontera | Bebe Dame |
| 7 | Rema, Selena Gomez | Calm Down |
| 8 | Carin León, Grupo Frontera | QUE VUELVAS |
| 9 | SZA | Snooze |
| 10 | Lil Durk | All My Life ft. J. Cole |
Source: Youtube
What are the 10 most popular genres on YouTube Music?
The most popular genre on YouTube Music among users is R&B/Hip-Hop, with a listener distribution of 27.30%.
Rock follows this at 16.50% and Pop at 12.80%. Latin, Country, Dance/Electronic, World Music, Christian/Gospel, Classical, and Jazz are also among the popular genres on the platform.
| Rank | Genre | Listeners Distribution |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | R&B/Hip-Hop | 27.30% |
| 2 | Rock | 16.50% |
| 3 | Pop | 12.80% |
| 4 | Latin | 8.10% |
| 5 | Country | 7.90% |
| 6 | Dance/Electronic | 3.70% |
| 7 | World Music | 2.50% |
| 8 | Christian/Gospel | 1.70% |
| 9 | Classical | 0.80% |
| 10 | Jazz | 0.70% |
Source: Digital music news
What are the top Playlists on YouTube Music?
The top 5 playlists on YouTube Music based on views are “Pop Music Playlist – Timeless Pop Songs (Updated Weekly 2024)” with over 1 billion views, “TikTok Songs 2024 – TikTok Songs Playlist – TikTok Music 2024” with over 603 million views, “Crazy Frog – Official Video Playlist” with over 115 million views, “Ultimate Disney Playlist – Disney Songs 2024 – Music For Kids 2024” with over 115 million views, and “Charts 2024 ♫ Top 100 Charts Germany 2024 Playlist” with over 316 million views.
| Playlist | Views |
|---|---|
| Pop Music Playlist – Timeless Pop Songs (Updated Weekly 2024) | Over 1 billion views |
| TikTok Songs 2024 – TikTok Songs Playlist – TikTok Music 2024 | Over 603 million views |
| Crazy Frog – Official Video Playlist | Over 115 million views |
| Ultimate Disney Playlist – Disney Songs 2024 – Music For Kids 2024 | Over 115 million views |
| Charts 2024 ♫ Top 100 Charts Germany 2024 Playlist | Over 316 million views |
Source: Youtube
What are the top Artists on YouTube Music?
The top five artists on YouTube Music include Karol G with 4.9 billion listeners, Bad Bunny with 4.09 billion listeners, Blackpink with 4.05 billion listeners, BTS with 3.18 billion listeners, and Shakira with 3.16 billion listeners.
| Artist | Views/Listen |
|---|---|
| Karol G | 4,994,309,036 |
| Bad Bunny | 4,094,447,966 |
| Blackpink | 4,053,427,452 |
| BTS | 3,180,592,091 |
| Shakira | 3,166,745,583 |
Source: Youtube
YouTube Music Users’ Demography
The audience composition of a website can provide valuable insights into its current market share across various demographics. As per recent data, music.youtube.com‘s user base is predominantly male, with 61.13% male users and 38.87% female users.
The largest age group of visitors to the platform is between 25 and 34 years old. This indicates the popularity and appeal of YouTube Music among this particular demographic. The gender distribution of its user base is essential in understanding the platform’s community composition.
Additionally, the preference for YouTube Music by individuals aged between 25 and 34 highlights the platform’s success in catering to this age group.
YouTube Music users’ by Gender
According to recent data, it has been found that the user base of YouTube Music consists of 61.13% male users and 38.87% female users. This gender distribution provides valuable insights into the demographic composition of the platform’s user community.
| Gender | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Female | 38.87% |
| Male | 61.13% |
Source: Similar Web
YouTube Music users’ by age
The largest age group of visitors to YouTube Music consists of individuals between the ages of 25 and 34. This particular age group visits the platform more frequently than other age groups.
Notably, the preference for YouTube Music among individuals in the 25 – 34 age range showcases the platform’s popularity and appeal to this demographic.
| Age Group | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 18 -24 | 89.83% |
| 25 – 34 | 30.93% |
| 35 – 44 | 17.97% |
| 45 – 54 | 10.92% |
| 55 – 64 | 6.55% |
| 65+ | 3.81% |
Source: Similar Web
YouTube Music Users’ Traffic in 2024
According to the data from February 2024, most traffic sources to music.youtube.com are Direct traffic, accounting for 77.45% of desktop visits last month.
Referrals make up 11.73% of the traffic. Facebook is the primary source of social media traffic to YouTube Music, followed by X (Twitter) and WhatsApp Webapp (Desktop).
YouTube Music Users’ traffic
The top traffic sources to music.youtube.com are Direct traffic, with 77.45% of desktop visits last month, followed by Referrals, with 11.73% of traffic.
| Traffic Channel | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Direct | 77.45% |
| Referrals | 11.73% |
| Organic Search | 9.64% |
| Paid Search | 0.01% |
| Social | 0.7% |
| 0.45% | |
| Display | 0.02% |
Source: Similar Web
YouTube Music Users’ traffic from social media
YouTube Music receives most of its social media traffic from Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp Webapp (Desktop).
| Social Media | Percentage |
|---|---|
| 36.41% | |
| X | 13.62% |
| 13.38% | |
| 7.36% | |
| 7.04% | |
| Others | 22.2% |
Source: Similar Web
YouTube Music FAQ
YouTube Music Premium Plan
Here are the details of the YouTube Music Premium Plan:
Individual Monthly Plan
- Price: $10.99/month
- Features: Ad-free music, offline listening, and background play.
Annual Individual Plan
- Price: $109.99 for 12 months (Save 15% vs. monthly plan)
- Features: Same as the monthly plan but doesn’t automatically renew.
Family Monthly Plan
- Price: $16.99/month
- Features: Add up to 5 family members (ages 13+) in your household.
Student Monthly Plan
- Price: $5.49/month
- Features: Same as the individual monthly plan. Eligible students only. Annual verification is required.
Annual YouTube Music Premium
- Price: $89.99 for 12 months (Save $2.50 every month)
- Features: Same as the individual monthly plan.
Please note that all plans only offer a 1-month free trial for eligible new members. Restrictions apply.
How Much Does YouTube Music Pay to Artists?
YouTube Music pays artists based on the number of streams they receive. The payment rates are as follows:
- YouTube Music: $0.008 per stream
- Musician’s Official Channel: $0.00164 per stream
- Content ID: $0.00087 per stream
Here’s what an artist could earn based on these rates:
- 1,000 streams on YouTube Music: $6 – $8
- 1,000 views on the musician’s official channel: $1.64
- 1,000 views on videos monetised within the Content ID: $0.87
And for larger numbers:
- 1 million streams on YouTube Music: $6,000 – $8,000
- 1 million views on the musician’s official channel: $1,640
- 1 million views on videos monetised within the Content ID: $870
Please note that these are average figures, and actual earnings can vary based on factors such as Adsense, the country of the stream, and the ratio of free to Premium users.
Can I listen to YouTube Music for free?
Yes, you can listen to YouTube Music for free with some limitations. The free access features include:
- Ad-supported streaming: You can listen to any song in the YouTube Music library, but you’ll encounter ads intermittently between songs or during music videos.
- Limited background playback: You can only use the app in the foreground on your mobile device. The music will stop if you switch to another app.
- No offline listening: You cannot download songs for offline listening without a subscription.
- Shuffle play only: You can’t choose specific songs within albums or playlists unless you upgrade.
Is YouTube Music just music?
YouTube Music offers more than just songs, providing podcasts, live performances, videos, and personalized recommendations for a complete music experience.
How can I download YouTube Music songs?
Downloading YouTube Music songs depends on your subscription status:
- Free users: Unfortunately, downloading songs for offline listening is unavailable with the free version of YouTube Music.
- YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium subscribers: You can download songs for offline listening by tapping the three dots next to a song or playlist and selecting “Download.”
Can YouTube Music play offline?
No, YouTube Music cannot play music offline in the free version. You need a paid subscription like YouTube Premium or YouTube Music Premium to download songs and playlists for offline listening.
With a paid subscription, you can download and enjoy your favourite music even without an internet connection. This is especially helpful for situations like travelling or commuting when data usage might be limited.
How many songs are on YouTube Music?
As of April 2023, YouTube Music has 100 million songs available to stream or download. The app also includes live performances, music videos, remixes, podcasts, and hard-to-find music.
