YouTube has jumped into the subscription-based music service, which could heat up an industry where Joox and Spotify are the key players.
YouTube has jumped into the subscription-based music service, which could heat up an industry. (YouTube photo)
The streaming giant launched the YouTube Music app on Wednesday in Thailand, along with several other countries in Asean. The service is provided in 71 countries worldwide.
The app is free with advertising, but there is also a premium version with a paid membership so users can play songs and music videos without ads. The songs can be played in the background while users run other apps on their phones.
YouTube Music Premium, which also offers downloads for offline use, comes with a subscription fee of 129 baht per month per person and 199 baht for a family plan that lets a user share the YouTube paid membership with up to five other family members aged 13 and up.
“YouTube’s service is growing rapidly in Thailand, particularly entertainment — the largest category that involves music and TV,” said Mukpim Anantachai, head of YouTube partnerships in Thailand.
The growth stems from the rise of internet users in Thailand — from 28 million to 47 million between 2014 and 2018, she said. The 47 million users account for 70% of the population.
