YouTube is launching a revamped, standalone streaming music service as part of an effort to step up competition against fast-growing rivals like Spotify and Apple Music.
The new YouTube Music is set to launch next week in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and South Korea, with more markets coming online soon.
The move enables the Google-owned service to separate its paid, premium video plan from the music service, offering a variety of free and paid options.
The free, ad-supported version of the music service will be available along with an ad-free subscription membership at USD 9.99 per month.
The standalone music service, which will be two dollars more expensive than its current plan, includes "a reimagined mobile app and brand new desktop player" along with "thousands of playlists, the official versions of millions of songs, albums, artist radio and more."