YouTube Music just announced a handful of new features making it easier for fans to connect, discover music, and for artists to grow their communities. Here’s what’s coming…
Comments on Albums and Playlists
YouTube has always been a hub for conversation, whether that’s in the comment section under videos or inside their new Communities tab. Now, YouTube Music is taking that energy directly into albums and playlists. Fans will be able to drop comments on full projects, not just single track uploads, which means artists get feedback on their work as a whole.
Taste Match Playlists
You can join a Taste Match playlist, and YouTube will automatically add songs that match the group’s overall music taste. It’s a simple way to discover new tracks and for artists to reach fresh ears, targeting listeners who are likely to enjoy their music.
Fan Badges
To make the community feel even more personal, YouTube is rolling out fan badges. Icons that show up next to your name in comments or live chats. They’re unlocked by hitting certain milestones, like the First To Watch Club badge (for early birds on new music videos) or the Top Listener badge (for the listeners who play an artist on repeat). It’s a fun way to show love and get recognized as part of an artist’s core fanbase.
Bandsintown Partnership
Artists are also getting new tools to connect directly with fans. Through a partnership with Bandsintown, upcoming concerts will now be highlighted on official artist channels, Shorts, and videos. Fans will even get notifications about nearby shows, merch drops, and event updates.
Watch Milestones
Finally, YouTube is adding Watch Milestones, which spotlight music videos that are about to cross big view counts like 100K, 1M, or even 1B. It’s a little nudge for fans to rally together and push their favorite videos over the finish line.
It’s great to see YouTube doubling down on both sides of the equation: giving artists better tools to grow and giving fans more ways to connect. We’re excited to see how they roll out!
If you have any questions about this or anything YouTube, feel free to reach out.
