YouTube Music locks song lyrics behind a paywall

YouTube Music has recently introduced a new policy of locking song lyrics behind a paywall for its free users. According to reports, free users can now only access a limited number of lyrics, and to view more, they are prompted to upgrade to a YouTube Premium subscription. This move by YouTube Music is seen as a strategy to nudge free users toward a paid subscription. Similar attempts have been made by other music streaming platforms, such as Spotify, which tried a similar approach last year but quickly backed off after user backlash. The change has been met with frustration from users, who commonly use lyrics for karaoke, sing-alongs, or to learn new songs. They feel that this is a monetization tactic that takes away a previously free feature. YouTube Music has a substantial user base of over 125 million, and this new lyrics paywall could encourage some users to upgrade to a Premium subscription. However, it may also anger those who feel they are being forced to pay for something that was previously accessible for free. The industry is watching to see if other music streaming services follow suit or if enough user complaints prompt YouTube Music to reconsider its decision.