If you are hanging on to your Google Play Music account — one of the few music streaming services that allows you to upload your own content for free — now might be the time to start thinking about finding a new service.
Today, Google revealed (via 9to5Google) that it will remove the Artist Hub on Google Play Music, which features up-and-coming bands and musicians. These indie acts could upload and sell their music through Google Play Music and the Google Play Store via the Artist Hub.
The service will no longer work as of April 30, 2019.
The shut down of this service is likely just the beginning. Although Google hasn’t said as much, it’s highly likely that it is going to shut down Google Play Music eventually and instead put all its focus on YouTube Music, the company’s more recent music service.
In fact, new submissions to Artist Hub already are no longer accepted. Artists interested in submitting are instead redirected to — you guessed it — YouTube.
Unfortunately, when the Artist Hub shuts down at the end of this month, all existing songs and albums uploaded through that service will no longer appear on Google Play at all. This is no doubt disappointing not only to the artists who sell their music through the hub but also to the fans who purchased it.
If you want to exit Google Play Music and bring your collection elsewhere, it’s advisable to start the process soon: our own experience in downloading our Play Music library was quite cumbersome.
YouTube Music costs $10 per month and also includes YouTube Premium, which gives you access to original content as well as removing ads throughout all of YouTube.
NEXT: You can now use YouTube Music with Android Auto