YouTube launches Red, music app, in Australia, NZ

Six months after its launch in the United States, Australia and New Zealand have today become the first international territories to get the YouTube Red subscription service. Also launched today is a dedicated app for listening to music.

Australia was chosen as a lead-off in the global roll-out because of its YouTube heavy user and content creation, says Gautam Anand, Director of YouTube Content and Operations, Asia Pacific.

He says Australia has 1 million subscribers and 28 channels. About 90% of YouTube content from Australia is watched abroad, compared to 60% of content from other countries.

For $11.99 per month ($9.99 introductory offer until June 6), YouTube Red deletes ads, allows users to save videos for offline playback. They can play videos in the background while they multi-task on their phone or tablet.

They also get access to Google Play Music (owned by YouTube’s parent company Google) as well as YouTube’s original video series, initially ten shows including content from Rooster Teeth and PewdiePie. YouTube is looking into using shows from Australian and New Zealand creators.

The YouTube Music app pulls together all of YouTube huge music video content to present as an audio experience. The app is set up not only to allow users not only to choose a song easily, but also to choose from a live, alternate recording, remix or cover version.

The app is split within three screens: Home which is a personal music station based on past preferences, and Today which curates popular or trending content of the day, and keeps abreast of the music videos that you’ve “liked”.

YouTube says that the “majority” of the money raised from subscription will go to music and video creators, similar to its ad-share revenue policy.