Google-owned YouTube, the well-known video streaming site, has revealed that it has over 100 million paying customers between its YouTube Music and YouTube Premium services, marking a significant milestone. Since November 2022, when the business reported 80 million paid customers, this achievement represents a fantastic expansion of over 20 million subscribers.
When YouTube Music first came out in 2015, a Red subscription cost $9.99 a month, giving users access to Play Music and an ad-free viewing experience. The Red membership was renamed YouTube Premium in 2018, Vice President of Product Management at YouTube, Adam Smith, announced in a blog post.
Smith said, “Today, we’re delighted and humbled to share that YouTube Music and Premium has crossed 100M subscribers, including trials.” He discussed how the platform had changed since 2015, highlighting its dedication to offering a complete experience for consumers, creators, and artists.
YouTube has been working to improve the Premium playback experience for the past year. This includes features like improved 1080p HD, new generative AI features that were tested by Premium customers, and the ability to seamlessly continue watching content across different platforms like smart TVs and tablets. The Samples tab, a quick way for users to find new music, a customized radio-building experience, and the incorporation of podcasts into the platform were all launched by YouTube Music.
YouTube significantly contributes to Google’s revenue, as Google’s Q4 2023 earnings call demonstrated. Google CEO Sundar Pichai disclosed that the company’s subscription business—which includes YouTube’s paid plans—has generated more than $15 billion in revenue yearly. YouTube alone made $9.2 billion in revenue in the same quarter, a significant rise above the $8 billion recorded for the same period last year.
