ROLE
Product Manager
SKILLS
Product Management
UI/UX Design
THE CONTEXT
Organizing music should feel as effortless as enjoying it.
At Google, YouTube Music houses one of the world’s most extensive music databases, drawing directly from YouTube itself. But with so much content, users struggle to manage their libraries and find what they love. Despite Google’s reputation for powerful search, the platform’s library management system lags behind competitors. By improving filters, search, and personalization, I saw an opportunity to turn overwhelming choice into a seamless, personal music experience.
USER REVIEWS
Listening to users to uncover pain points.
To understand how listeners felt about YouTube Music’s library management, I reviewed user feedback and app store comments. The reviews highlighted frustration with the lack of filtering and personalization options, especially compared to competitors. These insights helped validate the need for stronger organization tools and guided my design priorities.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Exploring how leading platforms organize music.
Competitors like Spotify and Apple Music showcase how flexible filtering and personalized search can deepen engagement and make libraries feel truly personal. Market research also shows that listeners want more control over how they organize and discover music. With YouTube Music’s vast catalog and Google’s expertise in search, I saw an opportunity to explore how stronger library tools could unlock a richer, more customized listening experience.
Pandora
Spotify
Apple Music
Pandora
Spotify
Apple Music
THE CHALLENGE
Organizing music can become more intuitive and personal.
YouTube Music’s extensive library gives listeners incredible choice, yet many want easier ways to filter and search within their collections. Since most people listen while working, efficiency matters, and user feedback highlights the desire for more personalization. By improving these tools, YouTube Music has the chance to transform music management into a smoother and more engaging experience.
Listening to Music While Working
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Listening to Music While Working
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USER PERSONAS
Different listeners, different needs.
Music means something unique to everyone, so I explored how various types of listeners might use an improved library system. From the casual listener looking for a mood-based playlist, to the power user managing detailed filters, to the on-the-go listener relying on quick voice search, these personas helped me design features that reflect real use cases and diverse listening habits.
THE SOLUTION
Making music libraries smarter and more personal.
I proposed enhancements to YouTube Music’s library management system that make organization feel intuitive and flexible. Advanced filters would let listeners combine categories like mood, genre, and release year, while refined search would surface results based on personal history and favorites. Together, these improvements create a library that adapts to the way people actually listen to music.
THE SCOPE
Focusing on what creates the most impact.
To keep the project achievable, I defined a clear scope: improvements to filtering and search within albums and playlists. Out-of-scope items included algorithm-driven personalization and large-scale UI changes, since the design needed to blend seamlessly with YouTube Music’s existing interface. This focus ensured meaningful enhancements without overextending the project.
vs.
vs.
THE GOALS
Defining what success looks like.
The goal of this project was to make music discovery and organization faster, more personal, and more enjoyable. Success would be measured by higher engagement, smoother search experiences, and stronger user satisfaction. Key metrics included increases in average session time, adoption of advanced filters, improved survey scores, and a reduction in the steps needed to find content.
RISKS & MITIGATION
Anticipating risks and ensuring a smooth user experience.
While redesigning YouTube Music, I examined areas where the interface could disrupt users, encounter technical challenges, or become too complex. This process involved considering multiple approaches to guide users, maintain performance, and balance simplicity with advanced functionality, allowing me to anticipate challenges and shape more thoughtful design decisions.
CONCLUSION & NEXT STEPS
Summarizing insights and planning the path forward.
Enhancing YouTube Music’s library management requires thoughtful refinement of filtering, search, and personalization to improve discoverability and reduce user frustration. The next steps involve developing high-fidelity designs, conducting usability tests, implementing and monitoring new features, and gradually rolling them out to users. Ongoing analysis and feedback will guide iterative improvements, ensuring the system continues to meet evolving user needs and aligns with their experiences.
ROLE
Product Manager
SKILLS
Product Management
UI/UX Design
THE CONTEXT
Organizing music should feel as effortless as enjoying it.
At Google, YouTube Music houses one of the world’s most extensive music databases, drawing directly from YouTube itself. But with so much content, users struggle to manage their libraries and find what they love. Despite Google’s reputation for powerful search, the platform’s library management system lags behind competitors. By improving filters, search, and personalization, I saw an opportunity to turn overwhelming choice into a seamless, personal music experience.
USER REVIEWS
Listening to users to uncover pain points.
To understand how listeners felt about YouTube Music’s library management, I reviewed user feedback and app store comments. The reviews highlighted frustration with the lack of filtering and personalization options, especially compared to competitors. These insights helped validate the need for stronger organization tools and guided my design priorities.
COMPETITIVE ANALYSIS
Exploring how leading platforms organize music.
Competitors like Spotify and Apple Music showcase how flexible filtering and personalized search can deepen engagement and make libraries feel truly personal. Market research also shows that listeners want more control over how they organize and discover music. With YouTube Music’s vast catalog and Google’s expertise in search, I saw an opportunity to explore how stronger library tools could unlock a richer, more customized listening experience.
Pandora
Spotify
Apple Music
THE CHALLENGE
Organizing music can become more intuitive and personal.
YouTube Music’s extensive library gives listeners incredible choice, yet many want easier ways to filter and search within their collections. Since most people listen while working, efficiency matters, and user feedback highlights the desire for more personalization. By improving these tools, YouTube Music has the chance to transform music management into a smoother and more engaging experience.
Listening to Music While Working
0%
0%
USER PERSONAS
Different listeners, different needs.
Music means something unique to everyone, so I explored how various types of listeners might use an improved library system. From the casual listener looking for a mood-based playlist, to the power user managing detailed filters, to the on-the-go listener relying on quick voice search, these personas helped me design features that reflect real use cases and diverse listening habits.
THE SOLUTION
Making music libraries smarter and more personal.
I proposed enhancements to YouTube Music’s library management system that make organization feel intuitive and flexible. Advanced filters would let listeners combine categories like mood, genre, and release year, while refined search would surface results based on personal history and favorites. Together, these improvements create a library that adapts to the way people actually listen to music.
THE SCOPE
Focusing on what creates the most impact.
To keep the project achievable, I defined a clear scope: improvements to filtering and search within albums and playlists. Out-of-scope items included algorithm-driven personalization and large-scale UI changes, since the design needed to blend seamlessly with YouTube Music’s existing interface. This focus ensured meaningful enhancements without overextending the project.
vs.
THE GOALS
Defining what success looks like.
The goal of this project was to make music discovery and organization faster, more personal, and more enjoyable. Success would be measured by higher engagement, smoother search experiences, and stronger user satisfaction. Key metrics included increases in average session time, adoption of advanced filters, improved survey scores, and a reduction in the steps needed to find content.
RISKS & MITIGATION
Anticipating risks and ensuring a smooth user experience.
While redesigning YouTube Music, I examined areas where the interface could disrupt users, encounter technical challenges, or become too complex. This process involved considering multiple approaches to guide users, maintain performance, and balance simplicity with advanced functionality, allowing me to anticipate challenges and shape more thoughtful design decisions.
CONCLUSION & NEXT STEPS
Summarizing insights and planning the path forward.
Enhancing YouTube Music’s library management requires thoughtful refinement of filtering, search, and personalization to improve discoverability and reduce user frustration. The next steps involve developing high-fidelity designs, conducting usability tests, implementing and monitoring new features, and gradually rolling them out to users. Ongoing analysis and feedback will guide iterative improvements, ensuring the system continues to meet evolving user needs and aligns with their experiences.