YouTube Music tests lyrics cap for free listeners

YouTube Music is once again experimenting with limits for free listeners. The platform now partially locks lyrics, nudging people to upgrade to Premium after several views. Spotify tried a similar move earlier but scrapped the paywall following a backlash from users.

YouTube Music relies on LyricFind and MusixMatch to display lyrics, which carries costs, so a cap looks like a straightforward way to monetize the feature. From the user side, the change is grating, especially if you’re used to a free service. At the same time, a Premium plan unlocks extra perks, including ad-free YouTube video and family sharing.