Ahead of plans to shut down Google Play Music later this year (so unlike Google to just shut down services isn’t it?), starting now, Google Play Music users will be able to move their libraries, personal taste preferences and playlists to the newer YouTube Music service.
To do that, you’ll need to use the new “transfer” option which has popped up on the app. Google has been steadily working to make YouTube Music its default music service, eventually replacing Google Play Music. Last year, Google began pre-installing YouTube Music on Android smartphones.
I have been a user of Google Play Music for years now and I really didn’t relish the idea of of starting from scratch after building up years of history on Google Play Music. Moving personalization preferences, library and playlists to the new service wasn’t something I was looking forward to.
That’s where the transfer option comes in. This will move uploads, purchases, added songs and albums, personal and subscribed playlists, likes and dislikes, curated stations and personal taste preferences. After that, you’ll see an updated YouTube Music home screen with the new data. You’ll also get an email to confirm.
The YouTube Music service is still lagging behind ultra-popular services like Spotify or Apple, but it’s the same £9.99 per month subscription price as Google Play Music and you can switch up to the £11.99 monthly charge to get YouTube Premium.
Google didn’t provide an exact date for the shutdown of Google Play Music.
For now, users will continue to have access to both services, We want to ensure everyone has time to transfer their content and get used to YouTube Music, so we’ll provide plenty of notice ahead of users no longer having access to Google Play Music later this year.