Users slam YouTube for locking song lyrics behind premium subscription

YouTube is reportedly testing a controversial new feature on its music app, placing song lyrics behind a Premium paywall. This move mirrors Spotify's 2024 attempt to charge for lyrics, which it later reversed due to user backlash. The change has sparked frustration among YouTube Music users, many of whom are now seeing pop-ups warning that they’ll need a Premium subscription to continue viewing lyrics after a limited number of free views.

YouTube Music, which has long competed with Spotify and Apple Music, offers a unique advantage for Premium subscribers. Not only does it remove ads from YouTube’s video library, but it also provides ad-free access to YouTube Music, which rivals competitors in catalog size. However, this new restriction may alienate free users, as song lyrics—provided by third-party services like LyricFind and MusixMatch—are now locked behind a paywall.

The decision to limit access to lyrics has drawn criticism, with many users accusing YouTube of using the feature as a cash grab. Some have pointed out that lyrics come from licensed third-party sources, which could explain the change, but many fans see it as another example of YouTube pushing for more Premium subscriptions.

So far, the rollout appears to be experimental or regional, as not all users are encountering the limit. The backlash could prompt YouTube to reconsider, as Spotify did last year. With growing frustration over other Premium push tactics, lyrics may become the latest point of contention in the subscription war.