Google currently has two music streaming services running, but that’s going to change soon. The company confirmed on the Official YouTube Blog that Google Play Music is shutting down by the end of 2020. Instead, Google will shift all of its focus over to YouTube Music.
It’s a move that makes sense for Google. Operating two different streaming services is unnecessary. YouTube Music comes bundled with YouTube Premium, making it the more logical service to keep alive.
When Is Google Play Music Shutting Down?
Google is killing Play Music gradually in different parts of the world.
First, Google will moonlight the service in New Zealand and South Africa starting in September. The rest of the world won’t have access to Play Music for much longer, as Google will retire it in October in all other countries. This means that all streaming functionality will go away, and Google Play Music will no longer work.
Thankfully, music libraries will stick around until December. This gives users extra time to transfer their collection from Google Play Music to YouTube Music. This means that playlists, uploads, purchases, likes, and other features will still be available until the end of 2020. After that, Google will delete everything. Users who want to stick with Google for music streaming shouldn’t procrastinate for too long.
As part of this shuttering, starting in August, users will no longer be able to purchase and pre-order music or upload and download music from Play Music through Music Manager.
How to Transfer From Play Music to YouTube Music
Phasing out a product as beloved as Google Play Music isn’t easy, but it seems that Google is making the process as painless as possible. The company has tools that make switching easy, as it obviously hopes to keep users in the Google system.
If you’re a Google Play Music user looking to make the switch, here’s how to migrate from Google Play Music to YouTube Music.
Read the full article: Google Play Music Shutting Down by the End of 2020
