YouTube Music just rolled out a fan-friendly update to celebrate its 10th birthday — headlined by Taste Match, a shared, auto-updating playlist that blends the listening tastes of everyone who joins. The release also brings comments on albums and playlists, concert listings via Bandsintown, alerts for new releases and shows, and fan badges to recognise top listeners. (Features are rolling out gradually worldwide.)
What is Taste Match?
Taste Match is a collaborative playlist that updates daily based on the overlap of everyone in the group. It’s YouTube Music’s spin on blended listening, powered by YouTube’s vast catalogue — from official tracks to live cuts, covers and remixes.
How to start a Taste Match
- Open YouTube Music (latest app version).
- Look for the Taste Match card in your Home feed (appearing as rollout progresses).
- Create your playlist and share the invite link with friends.
- As everyone listens, the playlist refreshes automatically each day.
Other features in this release
- Comments on albums & playlists: Join discussions directly in YouTube Music. Comments follow YouTube’s community rules.
- Concert discovery with Bandsintown: Listings show on artist pages, music videos and Shorts.
- Smarter alerts for fans: Opt-in notifications for releases, tour dates and merch.
- Fan badges: Earn recognition such as Top Listener or First to Watch. These are gradually rolling out.
Tips to get the most from Taste Match
- Create focused groups (e.g., Gym Crew, Flatmates, Indie Fridays).
- Seed before sharing: Play a few tracks so the first version reflects your taste.
- Adjust membership — the playlist adapts with each daily refresh.
Taste Match vs Spotify Blend
Both create group playlists. YouTube Music’s advantage is its broader content pool — live versions, remixes and covers, alongside official releases.
YouTube Music’s Update in 2025: Final Thoughts
Taste Match makes collaborative listening effortless, while comments, concert listings, alerts and badges push YouTube Music further into social, fan-first territory. If you’re a subscriber, it’s a free upgrade that helps you stay close to your favourite artists.
