I Ditched Spotify for YouTube Music and Found an Algorithm That Actually Gets Me

It’s not about getting endless suggestions; it’s about getting the right ones.
It’s not about getting endless suggestions; it’s about getting the right ones.

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The more I used YouTube Music, the more I realized just how limited Spotify’s recommendations were.

For years, I swore by Spotify for music discovery. Why not, when almost everyone says it has the ‘best music discovery algorithm’?

Over time, though, I grew tired of the repetitive recommendations and their bias toward popular artists. So, I decided to give YouTube Music a shot.

After a few months, I realized it was recommending songs that were somehow more “me” than anything Spotify had ever offered. It turns out, YouTube Music’s algorithm wasn’t just good; it was smarter.

YouTube Music Knows What I Want Before I Do

My first real surprise with YouTube Music came after trying its Discover Mix. After years of using Spotify’s Discover Weekly, I’d gotten used to its hit-or-miss recommendations. But, this time, something clicked as the mix served up exactly what I needed.

How did it do that?

YouTube Music's Discover Mix vs Spotify's Discover Weekly
YouTube Music’s Discover Mix vs Spotify’s Discover Weekly

The key lies in how YouTube Music uses Google’s expertise in AI.

It doesn’t just focus on the usual signals like artist, genre, or popularity. Instead, it digs deeper into the little things like the song’s energy and tempo, the instruments used, and even the emotional tone of the tracks.

Just last week, the algorithm noticed I’d been alternating between melancholic folk songs and upbeat electronic tracks depending on my mood. The next thing I know, I have a playlist that mixes both styles depending on what time of day or mood I’m in.

YouTube’s algorithm also links my music choices with my YouTube search and watch history. This helps it make smarter recommendations by spotting patterns in what I like, beyond just the YouTube Music platform.

In contrast, Spotify’s approach feels more… basic.

It tends to stick to genre boxes, which can make recommendations feel repetitive. Yes, it might recommend different artists within a genre, but that’s usually just how far it goes.

Basically, it’s as if Spotify knows what I listen to, but YouTube Music knows why I listen to it.

YouTube Music Gave Me New Favorites That Spotify Missed

When I started using YouTube Music, I was surprised at how quickly it introduced me to artists I’d never heard of but instantly liked. And I’m not just talking about new releases or trendy hits.

Last month, I stumbled upon an incredible acoustic version of Radiohead’s “Weird Fishes” by the MG3 (an acoustic trio I’ve never heard before). I wouldn’t have found it on Spotify, but now it’s one of my most-played tracks.
I've always loved 'Weird Fishes', but this cover just made it more ethereal.
I’ve always loved ‘Weird Fishes’, but this cover just made it more ethereal.

That’s the beauty of YouTube Music’s approach.

While Spotify tends to focus on trending artists and popular hits, YouTube Music isn’t afraid to go off the beaten path.

With Google’s extensive data pool, it digs deeper into YouTube’s massive library, pulling out obscure live performances, fan covers, and hidden B-sides.

As such, it can surprise me with tracks I didn’t even know I wanted to hear. And, that’s what keeps my playlists feeling fresh and exciting.

YouTube Music Lets Me Fine-Tune My Recommendations

Unlike Spotify, which mostly relies on passive signals like likes or dislikes, YouTube Music lets me adjust my preferences actively.

Why don't most streaming platforms have this feature?
Why don’t most streaming platforms have this feature?

With Music Tuner (A.K.A. Create a radio), I can fully customize my radio experience. I can control the variety of artists and even apply filters like tempo, popularity, and mood to personalize it more.

I also love that I can shape my “Up Next” queue to match exactly what I want to hear after playing any song. If I’m loving the current vibe, I can tell the algorithm to keep it going. If I want to explore something different, I can nudge it in a new direction.

I can select different themes depending on the mood I'm in that are still somewhat related or similar to what I'm currently listening to.
I can select different themes depending on the mood I’m in that are still somewhat related or similar to what I’m currently listening to.

The system also learns quickly from my actions.

For example, I was listening to some acoustic covers of musicals when it played a cover of a song from Grease. It technically matched what I was listening to, but I didn’t particularly like that musical, so I skipped it. Throughout the next three hours, it never brought up a song from that musical again.

The best part? Any playlist the algorithm creates can be saved with one tap. And, I’ve built quite a collection of perfectly tailored mixes this way.

In comparison, Spotify doesn’t offer the same flexibility. Sure, I can like or skip songs, but that’s about it. Plus, even when I blocked artists I don’t like on Spotify, they sometimes sneaked back into my playlists, which is a huge headache!

Why I’m Sticking With YouTube Music for Music Discovery

After months of using both platforms, what started as a curious experiment has turned into a clear choice. YouTube Music has completely changed how I discover new music, and there’s no going back to my Spotify days.

One thing that really stands out is how responsive YouTube Music is to my actions.

If I skip a song, add it to a playlist, or give it a thumbs up, the algorithm takes note and immediately reflects that in future recommendations.

This makes it feel like the platform is genuinely learning with me.

The more feedback I give, the better it gets at predicting what I want to hear.

Spotify’s trying to catch up with features like AI DJ, but they still feel more like fun gimmicks than useful tools. Their suggestions often loop back to the same popular tracks, while YouTube Music consistently serves up fresh discoveries that feel personally picked for me.

It’s not like it’s perfect. Sometimes it misses the mark completely by suggesting songs I’ve already heard or repeating tracks more often than I’d like. The UI could definitely use some work too.

But, these hiccups are fairly rare compared to when I used Spotify.

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