How to Use Yandex Music for Free and Premium Streaming
Yandex created the Russian music streaming service Yandex Music (Russian: Яндекс Музыкa, romanized: Yandeks Muzyka). In addition to receiving tailored recommendations, users may choose which musical compositions, albums, or collections of tracks to stream on demand to their device. The service may also be accessed using a web browser. Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are among the countries where it is accessible. Only the aforementioned supported countries are able to pay for subscriptions; all other nations can then access the service.
There were more than 40 million songs on Yandex Music as of October 2017. The service is used at least once a month by about 20 million individuals.
The smart playlists, which are updated daily for each user and include recently played songs, music that is comparable to their favorites, and a variety of tunes depending on their preferences, are Yandex Music’s most well-liked feature.
User options
- Music on demand;
- Personal recommendations;
- Directory search and category structuring;
- Making playlists and transferring them between accounts and devices;
- Offline playback of downloaded tracks (paid subscription only);
- Saving music in personal library;
- Streaming video;
- Adding tracks to blogs and web-sites;
- Scrobbling – transfer of information about the streamed tracks to the Last.fm site for later use;
- Import of music from Spotify, VK Music and Apple Music;
- Search for music by text and text “tunes”;
- Buying concert tickets;
- Lyrics and literary translations of foreign song lyrics;
- Music selections by the editorial staff, by brands, media, musicians, bloggers, labels, etc.;
- Notifications of new compositions by favorite artists;
- Gift subscriptions for 3, 6 or 12 months;
- Maximum bitrate playback up to 320 kbit/s and the sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo;
Users with premium memberships get access to high quality HQ sound mode.
The past
On September 22, 2010, Yandex announced the introduction of Yandex Music, a stand-alone service that let users to stream songs, albums, and compilations from a variety of artists to their devices whenever they wanted. The service featured content from over 50 rightsholders, including Universal Music Publishing, EMI, Warner Music Group, Sony Music, First Music Publishing, Monolit, SBA Production, and others.
The repertoire has 800,000 tracks by 58,000 artists when it was first released. Yandex published the Yandex Music iOS app on May 30, 2012. The Yandex Music app for Android was made available in May 2013.
Yandex began utilizing the personal recommendation system in September 2014. On Facebook and Vkontakte, playlist creation became responsive to the user’s and his friends’ individual musical tastes. There were also major changes to the UI.
Yandex completely redesigned the service in October 2017. The sections “New Releases”, “Playlists with New Compositions”, “Mood and Genres” and “Charts” were added to the main page. Additionally, the artist and player interfaces were altered.
In June 2018, Yandex Music was launched in Armenia. At the time of introduction, the service’s editorial staff created playlists featuring Armenian music, translated the interface into Armenian, and displayed regularly updated charts with Armenian hit songs on the home page.
Yandex Music was introduced in Israel in October 2018. There has been an update to the catalog. Well-known local performers have been included. The search began to comprehend Hebrew and English inquiries.
Several international copyright holders stopped working with Yandex Music after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which prevented customers from accessing certain foreign songs and caused the service to experience record losses.
Technology
The program makes use of artificial neural networks to create personalized suggestions. Computers may now comprehend music better and learn to perceive it similarly to humans thanks to algorithms built on the foundation of neural networks and other firms’ comparable breakthroughs.
| No. | Reference Title | Source / Notes | Retrieved Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Страны, в которых доступна Яндекс.Музыка | – | 2019-11-06 |
| 2 | Частые вопросы о Яндекс.Музыке | – | 2018-10-08 |
| 3 | Подписка | – | 2018-10-08 |
| 4 | How to listen to music when abroad | – | 2020-06-16 |
| 5 | В Facebook интегрируют контент “Яндекс.Музыки” | Interfax | 2018-10-08 |
| 6 | 15 скрытых функций “Яндекс.Музыки”, о которых вы могли не знать | – | 2018-10-08 |
| 7 | “Яндекс” научился искать музыку по “пу-пу-пи-ду” | Archived from the original | 2018-10-08 |
| 8 | На “Яндекс.Музыке” появился переводчик песен | – | 2018-10-08 |
| 9 | Подарить подписку | – | 2018-10-08 |
| 10 | Яндекс запустил бесплатный музыкальный сервис | Lenta.ru | 2018-10-08 |
| 11 | Вы только послушайте! | Habr, Archived from the original | 2018-10-08 |
| 12 | “Яндекс.Музыка” вышла на iPhone | Lenta.ru | 2018-10-08 |
| 13 | Яндекс.Музыка заиграла на Android | – | 2018-10-08 |
| 14 | “Яндекс” перезапустил сервис “Яндекс.Музыка” | Archived from the original | 2018-10-08 |
| 15 | Живая Яндекс.Музыка | – | 2018-10-08 |
| 16 | Хорошая музыка. Много. Яндекс.Музыка уже в Армении! | – | 2018-10-08 |
| 17 | Сервис “Яндекс.Музыка” стал доступен для пользователей в Израиле | – | 2018-10-08 |
| 18 | Бесправные. ТВ и медиасервисы лишаются возможности транслировать популярный контент | sobesednik.ru (in Russian) | 2023-11-03 |
| 19 | Цифровой слух: как “Яндекс” подбирает музыку под ваше настроение | – | 2018-10-08 |
FAQ
1. What is Yandex Music?
Yandex Music (Яндекс Музыка) is a Russian music streaming service that allows users to stream individual songs, albums, or playlists on-demand. It also provides personalized recommendations and can be accessed through web browsers and mobile apps.
2. In which countries is Yandex Music available?
Yandex Music is accessible in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Paid subscriptions are only available in these countries.
3. How many songs are available on Yandex Music?
As of October 2017, Yandex Music had over 40 million songs. The platform continues to expand its library.
4. How popular is Yandex Music?
The service is used at least once a month by around 20 million users. Its smart playlists, which update daily based on user preferences, are the most popular feature.
5. What features does Yandex Music offer?
Music on demand
Personal recommendations
Playlist creation and transfer across devices
Offline playback (premium feature)
Saving tracks to personal library
Streaming video
Adding tracks to blogs and websites
Scrobbling to Last.fm
Importing music from Spotify, VK Music, and Apple Music
Search by lyrics or melody
Concert ticket purchases
Lyrics and translations of foreign songs
Editorial and curated playlists
Notifications for new releases
Gift subscriptions (3, 6, 12 months)
HQ sound mode up to 320 kbit/s
6. What is required to access high-quality audio?
Premium subscribers can stream music in HQ sound mode, offering maximum bitrate playback at 320 kbit/s and 44.1 kHz sampling frequency, 16-bit stereo.
7. When was Yandex Music launched?
Yandex Music was officially launched on September 22, 2010, initially offering 800,000 tracks by 58,000 artists.
8. When were the mobile apps released?
iOS app: May 30, 2012
Android app: May 2013
9. What updates have been made to the platform?
September 2014: Introduced personal recommendations using social connections on Facebook and VK.
October 2017: Full redesign with new sections like “New Releases,” “Mood and Genres,” “Charts,” and improved artist/player interfaces.
2018: Launched in Armenia (June) and Israel (October) with local music and interface updates.
10. How does Yandex Music personalize recommendations?
The platform uses artificial neural networks to analyze user preferences and suggest music based on listening habits, moods, and similar tracks.
11. What happened to Yandex Music after the Russian invasion of Ukraine?
Several international copyright holders ceased collaboration, limiting access to some foreign songs and causing revenue losses.
12. Can I access Yandex Music outside the supported countries?
Yes, but users outside the supported countries cannot pay for subscriptions. They can only use the free features or access limited content depending on availability.
13. Can I gift a subscription on Yandex Music?
Yes, subscriptions can be gifted for 3, 6, or 12 months.
14. Can Yandex Music integrate with other platforms?
Yes, it supports importing playlists from Spotify, VK Music, and Apple Music, and scrobbling to Last.fm.
15. How can I search for songs on Yandex Music?
You can search by song title, lyrics, or even by humming the melody (“text tunes” feature).
16. Is Yandex Music free to use?
Yes, Yandex Music offers a free tier with limited features, including standard-quality streaming, playlist creation, and access to curated playlists. Premium subscriptions unlock offline playback, high-quality audio, and additional features.
17. What subscription plans are available on Yandex Music?
Yandex Music offers monthly and yearly premium subscriptions. Pricing varies by country. Premium features include:
Offline downloads
HQ audio (up to 320 kbit/s)
Unlimited skips
Ad-free listening
18. Can I listen to Yandex Music offline?
Yes, offline playback is available for premium subscribers. You can download tracks and playlists to your device for listening without an internet connection.
19. What devices support Yandex Music?
iOS and Android smartphones
Web browsers (desktop and mobile)
Smart TVs and streaming devices (Fire Stick, Roku, Apple TV)
20. Does Yandex Music support video content?
Yes, Yandex Music also allows streaming of music videos and video playlists curated by the editorial team.
21. How does Yandex Music’s playlist system work?
Yandex Music creates smart playlists personalized for each user, updated daily with:
Recently played songs
Tracks similar to your favorites
Editorial and curated content from brands, artists, and media
22. Can I transfer my playlists between devices?
Yes, Yandex Music allows users to sync and transfer playlists across multiple devices using the same account.
23. Does Yandex Music provide lyrics and translations?
Yes, users can view lyrics and even translations for foreign songs directly within the app.
24. Can I buy concert tickets via Yandex Music?
Yes, the platform allows you to browse and purchase concert tickets for artists and events featured on Yandex Music.
25. How does Yandex Music integrate with social media?
Playlists can be shared on VK, Facebook, and blogs
Listening activity can be scrobbled to Last.fm
Social sharing allows friends to see what you’re listening to
26. How accurate are Yandex Music’s recommendations?
The platform uses artificial neural networks to analyze listening behavior, preferences, and moods to deliver highly personalized recommendations.
27. Can I search for songs by humming or melody?
Yes, Yandex Music supports melody-based searches using the “text tune” feature, where you can hum or sing a tune to find a song.
28. Are there regional differences in Yandex Music content?
Yes, music catalogs, local artists, and playlists vary depending on the country. For example:
Armenian users see local Armenian playlists
Israeli users have content in Hebrew and English
29. What happened to Yandex Music after 2022?
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many international copyright holders stopped providing content, resulting in limited access to certain foreign songs and major revenue losses.
30. Can I gift a subscription on Yandex Music?
Yes, Yandex Music allows gifting subscriptions for 3, 6, or 12 months to other users.
31. How do I sign up for Yandex Music?
Visit Yandex Music website
Create a Yandex account or log in with an existing one
Choose a free or premium subscription plan
Start streaming immediately
32. Is there parental control on Yandex Music?
Yes, the app provides settings to restrict explicit content and manage what children can access.
33. Can I connect Yandex Music to smart home devices?
Yes, it supports smart speakers and devices compatible with Yandex’s ecosystem, as well as third-party devices like Google Home and Amazon Alexa.
34. Can I import playlists from other music services?
Yes, Yandex Music supports importing playlists from Spotify, Apple Music, and VK Music, allowing users to migrate their favorite tracks seamlessly.
35. What audio quality does Yandex Music support?
Standard: ~128 kbit/s (free)
High Quality (HQ): up to 320 kbit/s, 44.1 kHz, 16-bit stereo (premium)
36. Does Yandex Music offer podcasts?
Yes, the platform includes podcasts across various genres, accessible to both free and premium users.
37. Are there offline playlists for premium users?
Yes, premium subscribers can download entire playlists or albums for offline listening.
38. Can I customize notifications on Yandex Music?
Yes, users can enable notifications for:
New releases from favorite artists
Playlist updates
Concert announcements
39. How does Yandex Music recommend new music?
Yandex Music uses AI and neural networks to analyze:
Listening history
Liked/disliked tracks
User-created playlists
Global trends and editorial picks
40. Are there editorial and brand-curated playlists?
Yes, playlists are curated by:
Yandex Music editorial team
Brands and media outlets
Musicians, bloggers, and record labels
41. Can I use Yandex Music without a Yandex account?
No, you must create a Yandex account to access playlists, recommendations, and offline downloads.
42. Can I use Yandex Music abroad?
Yes, users can stream music abroad via a web browser, but subscriptions are only available in supported countries (Russia, Armenia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan).
43. Can I listen to Yandex Music on multiple devices simultaneously?
Yes, premium users can stream on multiple devices, but there may be limitations based on region and subscription type.
44. Does Yandex Music support lyrics synchronization?
Yes, lyrics are displayed in real-time while streaming, and translations are available for foreign tracks.
45. How often is Yandex Music’s catalog updated?
The catalog is updated daily with new releases, popular tracks, and curated playlists, ensuring fresh content.
46. Does Yandex Music support collaborative playlists?
Yes, users can create playlists and invite friends to contribute, share, and edit tracks collectively.
47. Can I create custom radio stations?
Yes, Yandex Music allows users to create personalized radio stations based on favorite artists, genres, or songs.
48. How does Yandex Music handle copyright issues?
Yandex Music partners with local and international copyright holders, ensuring licensed content. Some international tracks may be unavailable in certain regions due to licensing restrictions.
49. Does Yandex Music offer a free trial for premium features?
Yes, new users can often access a 7–30 day free trial of premium features depending on promotions in their region.
50. Can I access Yandex Music in multiple languages?
Yes, Yandex Music supports multiple languages, including Russian, Armenian, Hebrew, English, and others depending on the country.
51. Can I share music from Yandex Music to social media?
Yes, tracks and playlists can be shared on platforms like VK, Facebook, and Twitter.
52. How secure is Yandex Music?
Yandex Music uses secure encryption protocols for user data, payments, and streaming. Premium content is protected from unauthorized access.
53. Does Yandex Music support offline lyrics?
Yes, for downloaded tracks, lyrics are available offline in the app.
54. How do I cancel a Yandex Music subscription?
Log in to your Yandex account
Navigate to “Subscription Settings”
Select “Cancel Subscription”
Follow the prompts to confirm cancellation
55. Is there a family plan on Yandex Music?
Yes, select regions offer family subscription plans, allowing multiple accounts under one premium plan at a discounted rate.
