Overview
- Many free accounts now see a countdown in the Lyrics tab and, after the limit, only the opening lines remain visible with the rest blurred and a prompt to unlock with YouTube Music Premium or YouTube Premium.
- The free-view allowance is widely reported as five per period, though Google says totals can vary and that no final decision has been made.
- The rollout is staged and inconsistent by region and account, with some non-paying users still seeing full lyrics without limits.
- Unlimited lyrics are included with YouTube Music Premium at about $10.99 per month in the U.S. or full YouTube Premium at about $13.99, with lower regional pricing such as Rs 149 per month in India.
- Users have voiced criticism on social media, while competitors like Spotify continue to offer free lyrics after reversing a 2024 test, and reports cite licensing costs and subscription growth goals as likely motivations.