In a move that mirrors past controversial shifts in the streaming industry, YouTube Music has begun moving its lyrics feature behind its Premium paywall. Previously available for free since its introduction in 2020, the “Lyrics” tab now presents free-tier users with a stark warning: “Unlock lyrics with Premium.”
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According to reports from 9to5Google and various social media users, the new restriction follows a “limited view” model:
- The Five-Song Cap: Free users are reportedly granted full lyrics for only five songs.
- The “Blur” Effect: Once the limit is reached, users can only see the first few lines of a track before the remaining text is blurred out.
- The Premium Push: To regain full access, users are prompted to subscribe to YouTube Music Premium for $10.99 per month.
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Google’s decision follows a similar, ill-fated attempt by Spotify in 2024. Spotify initially paywalled its lyrics to offset costs from aggregators like Musixmatch, but a massive user backlash eventually forced the platform to reinstate the feature for its free tier.
Industry analysts speculate that YouTube’s change is also aimed at recuperating licensing costs paid to lyric providers. While Google has not officially confirmed if this is a permanent global rollout or a broad-scale test, the feature appears to be appearing for an increasing number of users across the U.S. and other regions.
