YouTube Premium and YouTube Music have made their debut in Pakistan, as announced by YouTube on August 2, 2023. With the introduction of YouTube Premium, users can now enhance their viewing experience on YouTube by subscribing to a paid membership that offers benefits such as ad-free viewing, offline play, and background play.
Additionally, YouTube Music, a new music streaming app, is now available, providing users with an immersive music experience.
YouTube Premium provides an uninterrupted viewing experience by eliminating ads and allows background play for multi-tasking or listening to educational content. Users can also download their favorite shows and content creators’ videos for offline viewing during long flights or commutes with limited access. The package also includes YouTube Music Premium, which offers ad-free music streaming, background play, and downloads on YouTube Music.
YouTube Music is a specially designed app and web player dedicated to music, offering official songs, albums, playlists, artist radio, and a vast catalog of remixes, live performances, covers, and music videos from YouTube. Users can listen to the latest hits, discover new music, and stay connected to the music world on their devices. While an ad-supported version of YouTube Music is available for free, users can choose to upgrade to YouTube Music Premium for an ad-free music experience.
Farhan S. Qureshi, Google’s Director for Pakistan, expressed his excitement about YouTube Premium and YouTube Music being introduced in Pakistan. He highlighted the significant growth in the country’s YouTube community, with over 400 channels having more than 1 million subscribers and over 6,000 channels with over 100,000 subscribers. This indicates the platform’s popularity and its potential to support Pakistani creators and artists.
YouTube aims to bring the ultimate entertainment experience to Pakistani viewers, especially those interested in music video content. The platform has seen an increase in local artists sharing their works, premiering music videos, and featuring exclusive content on YouTube, which helps them expand their fanbase globally.
Various subscription plans are available for YouTube Premium and YouTube Music. YouTube Premium starts from 479.00 PKR and includes membership to YouTube Music Premium, providing ad-free viewing and offline downloads for millions of YouTube videos. A Premium Family Plan is also available for 899.00 PKR, allowing up to five household members to share the Premium membership. YouTube Music Premium starts from 299.00 PKR and offers ad-free music, background play, and downloads on YouTube Music. A Music Premium Family Plan is available for 479.00 PKR. Additionally, eligible students can opt for the Premium Student Plan, starting from 329.00 PKR, and the Music Premium Student Plan, available for 149.00 PKR on the web and Android.
Zeeshan Chaudhry, Chief Operating Officer of EMI Pakistan, sees the launch of YouTube Music and YouTube Music Premium as a significant development for Pakistan’s music industry. He believes the advanced features offered by these platforms will provide great opportunities for artists to expand their audience and promote Pakistani music on a global scale.
Xulfi, Curator, and Producer of Coke Studio Pakistan, expressed his appreciation for YouTube as both a viewer and a music producer. He believes YouTube serves as a bridge connecting the Pakistani music community with the world, allowing artists to reach new audiences and gain relevance with music fans worldwide. With YouTube Music’s arrival in Pakistan, Xulfi sees it as a blessing for musicians, artists, and music fans in the country, eagerly anticipating how the Pakistani music industry will thrive on YouTube and surprise the world.
