Music streaming service users are familiar with the automatic selection of tracks based on their preferences and the “sharing” of personal playlists. Google’s new technology for YouTube Music will soon combine both of these features, offering a unique way to share music tastes. The Verge recently showcased how this innovative feature works.
One of the first to discuss this new development was a Reddit user known as Rolan_Albarico. He discovered a public playlist in YouTube Music that updates automatically based on another user’s musical preferences. This feature essentially takes the concept of a periodically updated personal selection and makes it accessible to other people. Currently, this “Personal Radio” feature is not available in all YouTube Music profiles, but we’ll keep you updated as it rolls out to more users.
How It Works and How to Enable It
When accessing someone else’s “Personal Radio” playlist, users will see a message stating, “Made for sharing. Based on [his] recent music and always updated.” This indicates that the playlist is dynamic, reflecting the owner’s current music tastes and listening habits.
For those who have access to this feature (which is currently limited to a small number of users), you can find your shareable playlist in the service settings. To enable it, follow these steps:
- Click on your avatar in the upper right corner of the YouTube Music interface.
- Select “Channel settings” from the dropdown menu.
- Activate two functions: “Enable statistics for everyone” and “Enable public personal radio.”
Once these settings are enabled, your “Personal Radio” station will be automatically shared with others, allowing them to explore and enjoy your music preferences.
This new feature represents an interesting evolution in music sharing and discovery. It combines the personalized nature of algorithmic playlists with the social aspect of sharing music with friends and followers. As streaming services continue to innovate, we’re seeing more ways for users to connect through music and share their tastes effortlessly.
NIX Solutions notes that while this feature offers an exciting new way to share music, it also raises questions about privacy and control over one’s listening data. Users who choose to enable this feature should be aware that their listening habits will be more publicly visible.
As YouTube Music continues to develop and refine this feature, we can expect to see more detailed controls and options for users to customize their shared “Personal Radio” stations. We’ll keep you updated on any new developments or wider rollouts of this feature as they become available.
For now, if you’re one of the lucky users with access to this feature, it presents an interesting opportunity to share your music tastes with friends and discover new tracks through the listening habits of others. As always, the world of music streaming continues to evolve, offering new ways to experience and share the joy of music.