According to a leaked screenshot, Google appears to be preparing a new YouTube feature called YouTube Radio, as seen on a Google-watch blog called Google Operating System.
In the graphic, YouTube Radio is described as “A non-stop radio station based on the current video.” That description matches an existing YouTube Music experience called YouTube Mix — an endless stream of videos based on a YouTube Music search result.
A further description says this: “You can like, dislike, and dismiss videos to tailor your Radio Station to your taste.” The existing YouTube Mix allows you to remove videos from the playlist, but liking and disliking (a standard feature of Internet radio) are not options.
On the face of it, YouTube Radio would not be a breakthrough new feature — more an enhancement of the product, with a bit of added interactivity. Possibly, YouTube Mix will merely be renamed YouTube Radio.
But a curation change is also conceivable. In our experience of YouTube Mix, the playlist of top-heavy with the artist which generated the Mix. The following screenshot illustrates a YouTube Mix for blues rocker Albert Cummings. The first five tracks are Albert Cummings, before the Mix tears itself away from that anchor.
Typical Internet radio is different, starting with one track (rarely two) by the “seed” artist, then returns to that artist occasionally during the stream. Most Internet radio streams seek a sweet spot of variety and relatedness.
In contrast, YouTube Mix flaunts its profound archive of live clips. That is a key differentiator, richly rewarding. Possibly, YouTube Radio will offer an experience aiming more at artist discovery, than bingeing on a selected artist.
YouTube Music is available to all registered YouTube users. A subscription plan (free to those already subscribed to Google All Access) removes advertisements, and permits downloading of music videos for offline listening.
cool i like the idea