The youtube music way.
Google is so incredibly disrespectful to their paying customers, it's astounding.
I struggle to find any real reason to stick with YTM when Spotify does literally everything better. They've had proper android TV support for years, Spotify connect is world's better than the default Chromecast protocol, and they rolled out group sessions before YTM even though it's already a feature in YouTube. It's rumoured they're also working on music video support.
What the fuck is the YTM team even doing?
YTM free tier doesn't work with Android Auto, even for songs that I own. It's terrible.
I would only jump on board with this format or path forward... if they can get it so that I can control it seamlessly using the YTM app on my phone with output to the TV in a nice looking format. Currently, they don't even seem to recognize each other.
I actually like using the YouTube App on Roku TV for example where I can manage everything (queue, playlists, search) on my phone instead of a remote. But still play pause or back up and change what I am watching with the TV remote. I get that this is effectively casting it... but it kind of makes sense for the use case. I just think they need to make this cleaner over time. Right now it just doesn't work that way.
I do not really NEED to be able to use my TV remote to reorder playlists or make/delete them or search through all my albums... it's honestly easier with voice or a touch screen phone to do those things. the Cast interface is a viable solution... when it works.
But casting to the TV and operating the YTM app on the TV need to be the same interface. Right now if I cast YTM to my tv is is a simple player. It's not tied to the app. The TV app doesn't even get the music in it's history. That's not right.
So I guess I am saying, it's still clunky and obviously still in the works. I want music to play in the background when I close the app, especially if I am paying for premium... but I would not call this the "least elegant way possible" simply because I cannot use my TV remote and large screen interface to moderate playlists and do detailed searches. It's hopefully a step in the right direction.
I don't think it is the end of the world for YTM to live inside YT... so long as I can control it with my phone and give it a separate bar on the homescreen. And they keep cleaning it up.
YouTube music does everything in the least elegant way possible.
Can they just add a simple feature to repeat one track when play it on my google home? Every other app supports that except for google's own app. This is so annoying.
It's been in the YouTube app for a while.
Still terrible and should be its own app.
You are all concerned with Android TV... I can even play in a Google home without premium.
They are actually making it harder to want to use Android. If I'm buying content like apps, ebooks, audio books, movies, and music from Google, is it really better to have it spread out all around on completely different websites?
Actually it just occurred to me while writing this. Perhaps they are moving music so it will feel more accessible to iOS users.
How about changing to high quality streams? Spotify is MP3 as I am sure youtube is. Qobuz is all high quality streams. Stop listening to crap. Tidal is high quality too but you have to put up with Jay Z's gangster rappers.
I saw this the other day but was hoping this headline meant there was an actual standalone app they had launched. Disappointed to see this implementation, especially with no background playback. The competing apps on their own OS is able to do this. I would at least like a new channel to add to the home screen with my playlists to make getting to a playlist a bit quicker. It’s too many clicks with it integrated into the YouTube app.
They will release it first on Apple TV and 9 months later for Android TV users...
The whole switch from Play Music to YouTube Music is just the most baffling thing. At no point has Google tried to explain why they’re doing it or why it’s a good thing for me, just prompting me to “transfer my account” at random intervals.
The amount of wasted effort here is staggering.