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Nest Mini has stopped playing my uploaded music (YouTube library)

Larches
Community Member
Having recently swapped an Echo Dot for a Nest Mini, one of the main benefits was being able to play music that I had uploaded to my YouTube library. This worked perfectly at first, but now whenever I ask to play a track that I know I have bought and uploaded, Google Assistant either tells me I need YouTube Premium or just plays a YouTube Music channel based on the artist. This is not a welcome development!
 
I have referred to the following page, which appears to confirm that even with the free YouTube Music membership, I should be able to play music that I have uploaded to my library:
 
Listen to music on speakers and displays
 
I have YouTube Music set as my default music provider, and personal results are enabled.
 
Can anyone advise on how to rectify this please?
1 Recommended Answer

OK, owned and uploaded is a bit convoluted. Since you've managed to mention the other provider in both posts, let's suppose for a minute you purchased those songs from that other provider. It might contain digital rights management (DRM) code from that provider, (Clocks is a great album btw) -- it was released in 2002, way before everyone did away with DRM-free play in 2009 thus letting people play purchased stuff anywhere. So that album might have the metadata/DRM for your other service if purchased before 2009 and not unlocked. When you ask to play it shows you don't own it. Why is that?

Google isn't going to your library at all, it never has and will only do so in limited instances - it uses what's called content match or at least it did, in Google Play days, but doubt that would have changed -- it's how everyone does it -- it saves bandwidth for the user, blah, blah. So, if it can match what you "own" with what's in its library it'll play -- if it can't match due to it being DRM'd it spits out suggestions and won't play what you're asking for so you get the hiccup. So, when you say "play from my library" you're giving it permission to check your library for the unlock key, oversimplification of course and if it can't see it, it fails.

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13 REPLIES 13

GothamNY
Bronze
Bronze

Have you turned on personal results? Are you using the command "Play [song name/Album] from my library”?

Larches
Community Member

Hi again @GothamNY, thanks for getting back to me.

Yes, as mentioned I do have personal results enabled.

If I say (for example) "Hey Google, play Clocks by Coldplay from my library", it responds with "Alright, check out this Clocks station on YouTube Music", despite me owning and having uploaded this track to my library.

OK, owned and uploaded is a bit convoluted. Since you've managed to mention the other provider in both posts, let's suppose for a minute you purchased those songs from that other provider. It might contain digital rights management (DRM) code from that provider, (Clocks is a great album btw) -- it was released in 2002, way before everyone did away with DRM-free play in 2009 thus letting people play purchased stuff anywhere. So that album might have the metadata/DRM for your other service if purchased before 2009 and not unlocked. When you ask to play it shows you don't own it. Why is that?

Google isn't going to your library at all, it never has and will only do so in limited instances - it uses what's called content match or at least it did, in Google Play days, but doubt that would have changed -- it's how everyone does it -- it saves bandwidth for the user, blah, blah. So, if it can match what you "own" with what's in its library it'll play -- if it can't match due to it being DRM'd it spits out suggestions and won't play what you're asking for so you get the hiccup. So, when you say "play from my library" you're giving it permission to check your library for the unlock key, oversimplification of course and if it can't see it, it fails.

Larches
Community Member

Wow, OK, yes that is somewhat more complicated than I realised... thank you for educating me! Perhaps that explains it, I'll have a look at those tracks. I have had problems with other music too, but it turns out that is at least partly explained by some files not being uploaded as I expected 😦🙃 and in one or two cases I think it's simply down to the device not interpreting what I've said correctly (which seems a particular issue when there is ambient noise like the microwave or extractor fan - but I should add that the other provider's device was just as bad in that regard!).

Thanks again for your help.

 

No problem, glad you were able to follow that, it can be a bit confusing because everyone seems to think their music is on the server.

If you have a CD that you've ripped, that album should play and if it's obscure, that's one example when Google will actually upload the album/song to its server (your personal music locker) for you to play using commands. It will not upload songs that have somehow not been paid for using music-swapping services and torrents. DRM and HDCP are used for both music and video content to guard against copy/theft. 😊

Larches
Community Member

Now that you mention it, yes it would be ridiculous to store a separate copy of each track per user just because they 'uploaded' it, when all you need is one copy and some way of verifying ownership. I hadn't really contemplated that mechanism before. As for uploading files from non-legitimate sources, that wouldn't seem like a smart move to me, but no doubt some people try it anyway so it makes sense that these checks are built in.

@Larches I had a thought this morning: Can you open YT Music on your computer or handheld, go to your library and try and play one of the songs giving you fits? I'm wondering if parts of the album show, e.g. album art, tracklist, etc. If so, try playing one of the songs; what's the result?

Larches
Community Member

Hi, pretty sure I tried that and it worked fine on Android, but now seem to be getting on OK with the speaker - I did remove and re-add some files. I didn't note all I had a problem with (took me a while to get round to posting) but seem to be running smoothly for now. Thanks anyway for following up!

frances
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi All, 

 

First, thank you GothamNY for answering this post. I appreciate your help!

 

Hello Larches, thanks for your post. I just wanted to double check, has your issue been resolved? I look forward to your response, thanks!

Larches
Community Member

Hi @frances, yes I think I'm all good with this now, thank you. I do seem have another problem with the speaker not listening well (sometimes repeatedly failing to recognise clear commands) but that is rightly one for another thread!

frances
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi @Larches

 

Thanks for the reply back! No worries! For that issue, since it deals with Google Assistant voice commands, I recommend you posting your next question to the Google Assistant Help Community Forums. A specialist there should be able to look into this issue and help you.

 

Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns, thanks. We're here to help!

Larches
Community Member

Thanks, will do.

frances
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi Larches,

 

Thanks! I will now go ahead and lock this thread. As always, if you have any new questions or concerns, please feel free to make a new post. Have a nice day.