Whether you’re in the mood for a trip down memory lane or some soul-searching, music has this unique way of connecting you with your past. That’s where YouTube Music Recap comes into play, giving you a glimpse into your year-long musical journey.
Unlike Apple Music, YouTube Music and Spotify don’t offer year-round listening stats. But it’s that time of year when both platforms reveal their stats from the previous year. These insights help you discover your most-played tracks, artists, or albums, providing a fantastic way to recap your musical journey for the year. So, if you’re a YouTube Music user like me, you’ll be happy to know that YouTube Music Recap 2023 is now rolling out. Here’s how to unlock and access it!
How to Find Your Recap in YouTube Music?
Your YouTube Music Recap is a compilation of custom playlists and statistics showcasing your favorite songs, artists, and listening habits over the past year or a specific season. These Recaps are tailor-made for you, drawing from your listening history on the YouTube Music platform.
The best part is that your YouTube Music Recap can be found in the same spot on both iOS and Android devices, so you can follow our guide regardless of your phone’s operating system. Just ensure that you’ve streamed a minimum of 10 hours of music within the YouTube Music app.
1. To check out your annual recap on YouTube Music, start by launching the YouTube Music app on your iPhone or Android device. Then, tap your profile icon located at the top right of the screen.
2. Now, tap on Your Recap to access the recap menu. From there, simply tap “Get your Recap” to view your yearly recap.
3. The yearly recap is presented in a story-like format. You can navigate to the next or previous story by tapping the right or left edge of the screen, respectively.
Highlight:
- The YouTube Music Recap can only be accessed through the mobile app. Unfortunately, it is currently not available on the web, PC, or the desktop app. In contrast, some competitors offer the flexibility to view their annual recaps or replays on any device as long as you’re using the dedicated link and logged in to the same account.
- Your yearly recap will remain accessible until the end of the year and will continuously update the statistics as you listen to more songs and artists.
You can share your YouTube Music recap in two ways: through the share menu or by downloading it for more customization before sharing.
1. To share the recap via the Share menu, just tap Share while viewing it in the YouTube Music app.
2. In the Share menu, choose any app you like to send the recap to. For example, you can opt for Instagram or Snapchat to share it as a story or snap.
3. Alternatively, you can save the recap highlights to your phone using the Download button found in the bottom left corner. This allows you to easily share your recap on any platform and customize it to your liking. For instance, you can post your recap on Instagram as a Reel.
What does YouTube Recap reveal to you?
1. Total Listening Time
In the first recap highlight, you’ll find the total minutes of music you enjoyed over the past year, along with a pie chart depicting the duration of music played during that period. Another tile features a captivating animation revealing the number of artists you immersed yourself in throughout the preceding year.
As shown in the screenshot, my listening time tallied up to 12,297 minutes, encompassing songs from 924 different artists during the year.
2. The Top 5
Here are the top 5 artists whose songs resonated with me the most. It’s worth noting that while I can view the play duration for my top artist, this information is not available for the others on the list.
3. The Top Artist
This tile spotlights the artist who claimed the title for the most played songs and listening duration. In my case, Taylor Swift takes the spotlight, boasting a play duration of 9 hours and featuring 69 different songs from her collection.
4. The Stats
The following two tiles present unique statistics derived from your YouTube Music profile, shaped by your play history and musical interests. For instance, my play count for The Chainsmokers stands at 11, surpassing the average listener, while another artist has seen their popularity grow ninefold since I first started tuning in.
5. Top Tracks
Moving on to the standout track of the year, you can examine when you first enjoyed this particular song and how frequently it graced your ears. Additionally, a recap tile highlights the top 5 tracks that accompanied your musical journey throughout the year on YouTube Music.
Should you wish to engage in discussions about songs and videos on YouTube Music, this section guides you on how to do so. Additionally, you’ll find a personalized album cover from your music history, along with a mention of the total number of songs you’ve listened to.
6. Top Playlists and Albums of the Year
Your most cherished playlists and albums of the year earn a dedicated spot in the recap, with the top 5 selections receiving special mention.
7. Your Music Mood
A music mood calendar is provided, showcasing album art arranged according to the months in which they were played. Furthermore, a music mood tile offers insights into your musical preferences, analyzed based on your listening patterns.
8. Top Genres
YouTube Music Recap compiles your top 5 favorite genres in a vertical list, derived from your music listening history.
9. Summary Recap
The final tile in the recap furnishes a condensed overview of your top artists, tracks, and the total time spent immersed in music.
Final thoughts
Music remains, and will continue to be, the most impactful form of entertainment, without a doubt. Nostalgia plays a significant role in why folks hold onto their old-school physical records. That’s precisely why the YouTube Music recap is such a meaningful journey, allowing us to relive those cherished moments.