In the current day and age, music streaming has become a lucrative business. Almost every Silicon Valley giant has jumped into the fray, expecting to take a piece of the pie, and the same can be said about Google’s creation, which is YouTube Music.
Founded in 2015, YouTube Music was created as a complementary service that was bundled with YouTube Red. For the uninitiated, YouTube Red was a subscription service that allowed ad-free viewing of YouTube videos. However, little did anyone know that it would be a direct competitor to market juggernauts such as Apple Music and Spotify.
It is no wonder that Google saw the potential of YouTube Music and thereby replaced its (then) flagship music service, Google Play Music, with YouTube Music. While the migration did make a lot of users unhappy, it also gained quite a lot. As a result, YouTube Music currently boasts a user base of more than 2.6 billion, with a subscriber count that crosses 80 million. Such steady growth also allowed the service to lap up a hefty market share of 8 per cent.
If you are a student who is an extensive user of Google’s web services, such as Gmail, YouTube, and Google Drive, it makes perfect sense to subscribe to YouTube Music Premium so that you can seamlessly stay inside the Google eEcosystem. That is why we have jotted down a step-by-step guide for you to follow and take advantage of the student subscription plan that YouTube Music offers throughout the year.
How Students Can Save on Subscription?
According to YouTube Music’s terms, student memberships are only available to full-time students at higher educational institutions in select countries. And the eligibility process will be handled by third-party verification services. Currently, YouTube Music Student Membership costs $5.49 per month (recurring billing) with a one-month free trial.
It should be known that the student membership will only be valid for up to four years (maximum), and at the end of every year, the respective student will need to re-verify his or her eligibility. In any case, if the student is not eligible for the discounted pricing, he or she will be transitioned to the standard YouTube Music Premium Subscription.
Users also have the option to cancel their subscriptions at any time. Lastly, keep in mind that only first-time YouTube Music Premium users will be eligible for trials, promotional pricing, or introductory offers. If you are satisfied with the above-mentioned student subscription policy and want to go ahead with your purchase, then you can follow the below-mentioned steps carefully.
- First, you need to visit the official website here.
- On the landing page, click on “Try It Free”.
- A notification window will pop up stating that you will be redirected to Sheer ID, where your student status will be verified. Click on “Continue”.
- A new web page will open where you will have to verify your student status. This can be done by first stating your country, the college or university name that you are studying at, your full name, your date of birth, and your Google account email address where you want to enjoy your YouTube Music Premium Student Subscription.
- Once done, click on “Verify My Student Status”.
- In the next step, you will be required to upload your school- or institution-issued document(s) that will showcase your full name, your institution name, and the date proving the enrollment for the current term (or within the last three months). Some of the acceptable examples include your ID card with an expiration date, your class schedule, or your tuition receipt.
- After that, click on “Continue”.
- Your application will be reviewed, and upon successful verification, a confirmation email will be sent to your Google account email address. If the verification remains unsuccessful, then you will be asked to upload a different document, which will be notified via your email address as well.
- Finally, you will be able to enjoy YouTube Music Premium at a discounted student rate.
Overview of Plans And Pricing
YouTube Music Premium is the ultimate way to enjoy your music on the go ad-free. You will be able to easily find music albums, remixes, and live performances of various artists simply by searching the lyrics or describing the song. Additionally, you will have your music personalised to fit your taste and mood, while also taking a sneak peek at what is trending currently in your specific region. Also, keep in mind that you will be able to download your favourite music tracks on your listening device, such as your smartphone, for offline listening.
Apart from the student membership plan, YouTube Music offers two other plans for the general public. Keep in mind that all of the below-mentioned plans (along with the student plan) carry the same benefits.
The Individual plan currently costs $10.99 per month with a one-month free trial. There is also an option to subscribe annually at a reduced price of $109.99 for 12 months (which will not renew automatically). The Family plan costs $16.99 per month with a one-month free trial. Up to five family members can be added to the YouTube Music Family Plan, and all of them should be aged 13 years or older.
