How to Add Artists in YouTube Music

In 2015, Google joined the Spotify and Apple Music throw-down with a streaming service of their own. YouTube Music is a fantastic app that comes with two subscription plans: free and paid. Once you sign in, you get access to both Google Play Music and YouTube’s endless music and video library.

In this article, we’ll show you how to customize your YouTube Music profile by adding artists, liking songs, creating playlists, and more. Keep reading for step-by-step instructions and more insight into how the streaming service works.

How to Add Artist?

When you first access YouTube Music, the streaming service will ask you to pick five artists from a list of recommendations. The query is meant to narrow down the music genres it’ll select for you. Then, all you have to do is scroll through the provided list and tap on the artist or band whose music you enjoy. It’s a great way to get a personalized streaming experience right off the bat.

Of course, you can always expand your YouTube Music library by adding more artists. You can support your favorite musicians by subscribing to their profiles. Here’s how to do it:

1. Launch the YouTube Music app or go to music.youtube.com. If you’re using the web app, check if you’re logged into your Google Account.
   
2. Click on the search dialog box at the top of the page. Type the name of the artist you wish to add.
   
3. From the search results, click on the artist’s profile image or thumbnail.
   
4. Click the red button right beneath the artist’s name to subscribe.
   

Once you’ve subscribed to an artist, they’ll automatically be added to your Library in the “Artist” section.

Since YouTube Music is connected to your Google Account, your YouTube subscriptions are synced with the streaming service. Unfortunately, as of now, there’s no way to separate the two. In other words, you can’t follow an artist on YouTube Music without them popping up on your YouTube feed.

How to Add Songs?

You can also add individual songs from a particular artist to further customize your music library. Again, it’s pretty straightforward and only requires a few steps:

1. Go to music.youtube.com or launch the mobile app and play the song you want to add.
   
2. Click on the three vertical dots in the bottom-right corner of the screen. For Android users, the three-dot menu is located in the top-right corner.
   
3. From the drop-down options panel, click “Add to Playlist.”
   
4. Scroll through the list of playlists and pick one to add the song.
   

Afterward, the song will automatically show up on your chosen playlists. However, keep in mind that it’s not yet possible to add more than one song at a time.

Also, like other popular streaming services, YouTube Music has a “Your Likes” section. When you tap on the tiny “like” button next to the track title, it’ll automatically add the song to the playlist. Of course, in keeping with YouTube culture, there’s also a “dislike” button.

If you accidentally “liked” a random track, you can always remove it from the playlist. Here’s how:

1. Open the “Library” section on your home page.
   
2. Scroll to the “Playlist” section and find the song you want to remove.
   
3. Click on the three dots in the bottom-right (or top-right if you’re on your phone) corner. Next, select “Remove from Playlist” from the list of options.
   

How to Add Albums?

YouTube Music enables you to add entire albums to your Library for a more comprehensive streaming experience. The feature is perfect for when you want to comb through the entire discography of a particular artist. Also, it’s a way to work around not being able to add multiple songs at once.

Here’s how to add albums with YouTube Music:

1. Open YouTube Music. As always, make sure you’re logged into your Google Account.
   
2. Type the album title or the name of the artist in the search dialog box at the top of the page.
   
3. Click on the “Albums” tab beneath the search bar to narrow down the search results.
   
4. Find the album you want to add and open it. Then, click on the three vertical dots next to the title.
   
5. From the drop-down list, choose “Add to Playlist.” Next, choose an existing playlist or create a new one for the album.
   

Another way to do this is to go to the album information page and click on the title’s “+” icon.

How to Create a Playlist?

Once you’ve gathered enough material for your Library, you can now create personalized playlists with your favorite tracks. You don’t have to rely on generic YouTube Music mixes or go through one album at a time.

Since there’s both an online and mobile version of the app available, we included separate instructions for different devices. However, the interface is pretty similar, so the steps are more or less the same.

Computer

In this case, it doesn’t matter if you have a Mac or a PC since you’ll be using the web app. So here’s how to create a playlist:

1. Open your preferred browser and visit music.youtube.com.
   
2. Click on the “Library” icon at the top of the page.
   
3. Scroll down to the “Playlists” section. Then, click on the “+” box to create a new playlist.
   
4. A pop-up box will appear. Enter the title of the playlist and add a description if you like. Determine whether you want your playlist to be public or private. Hit “Save” once you’re done.
   
5. Scroll through the list of songs and click the “Add” button on the right-hand side.
   

Android

You can get the official YouTube Music app for Android from the Google Play Store if you haven’t already. The app itself is free for download, albeit with ads and in-app purchases. We’ll talk about how to avoid it in another section.

The interface is almost identical to the online version, so navigating the mobile app is a piece of cake. That includes learning how to create a playlist:

1. Launch the YouTube Music app.
   
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap the “Library” icon.
   
3. A new window will open. Tap the little arrow next to “Playlists” on the right-hand side.
   
4. Tap the” +” button at the top of the screen to create a new playlist.
   
5. A small pop-up box will appear. Enter the title and set the preferred Privacy configuration.
   
6. Add songs by tapping the “+” button under the playlist info.
   

iPhone

The App Store also has a free mobile version available, allowing you to download the app in a matter of seconds. Since the app interface is identical to the Android version, you can follow the same steps from the previous section.

There’s another way to curate your Library in YouTube Music. If a song is particularly inspirational, you can create a new playlist while still listening to it. Here’s how to do it:

1. Tap on the three vertical dots to access a drop-down menu.
   
2. Select “Add to Playlist” from the list of options.
   
3. Instead of choosing a pre-existing list, tap “New Playlist.”
   
4. Add the title, description, and preferred Privacy setting, then hit “Save.”
   

The song you were listening to will automatically be included, and you can also add new ones.

Additional FAQs

Is YouTube Music Free?

As mentioned, there’s both a free and paid version of YouTube Music available for multiple devices. If you go for a free subscription, you’ll have access to the same amount of streaming content. However, that also means you’ll have to deal with ads.

If you want to enjoy your favorite music without interruption, consider upgrading to a paid subscription. For $11.99 per month, YouTube Premium offers an ad-free streaming experience. You’ll also be able to download songs while offline and minimize the app without pausing the song. Several other perks come with the paid version, so it’s not a bad idea to look into it.

Let the Music Play

YouTube Music is a solid contender for the title of most popular streaming service. Much like Spotify and Apple Music, it allows you to curate your Library for optimal immersion. And since it’s a Google product, the amount of available content is astounding.

Regardless of the subscription plan, the customization features are always the same. You’re free to add artists, songs, and even entire albums to endless personalized playlists. The only downside of the free version is the pesky ads. Luckily, signing up for YouTube Music Premium isn’t that costly.

What do you think of Google’s streaming service? Have you considered subscribing to YouTube Music Premium? Feel free to share your favorite playlists in the comments below.