Apple Music vs YouTube Music:Which is more popular by branded search in New Zealand?
In August 2026, YouTube Music had more branded searches than Apple Music among music streaming services in New Zealand. YouTube Music was estimated to have 115K branded searches compared to Apple Music’s 14.2K, and held a 22.2% Share of Search versus Apple Music’s 2.7%.
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Which is more popular in search, Apple Music or YouTube Music?
Compare the music streaming services New Zealanders subscribe to. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of Search by month for YouTube Music, Apple Music. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of search table
| Month | Spotify | YouTube Music | SoundCloud | Apple Music | Amazon Music | Deezer | Tidal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 67.4% | 19.5% | 9.4% | 2.5% | 0.56% | 0.31% | 0.36% |
| Nov 2025 | 68% | 19.5% | 9.2% | 2.4% | 0.51% | 0.24% | 0.23% |
| Dec 2025 | 65.5% | 22.1% | 8.7% | 2.4% | 0.68% | 0.28% | 0.43% |
| Jan 2026 | 62.7% | 25.4% | 8.5% | 2% | 0.69% | 0.32% | 0.39% |
| Feb 2026 | 69.5% | 19.8% | 7.8% | 2% | 0.51% | 0.21% | 0.23% |
| Mar 2026 | 69.1% | 19.8% | 7.8% | 2.4% | 0.53% | 0.2% | 0.19% |
| Apr 2026 | 65.2% | 22.4% | 8.8% | 2.4% | 0.68% | 0.27% | 0.32% |
| May 2026 | 69.4% | 19.6% | 7.7% | 2.2% | 0.63% | 0.2% | 0.23% |
| Jun 2026 | 69.4% | 19.4% | 7.8% | 2.5% | 0.57% | 0.17% | 0.16% |
| Jul 2026 | 65.8% | 22% | 8.6% | 2.4% | 0.68% | 0.27% | 0.22% |
| Aug 2026 | 65.5% | 22.2% | 8.7% | 2.7% | 0.59% | 0.2% | 0.17% |
| Sep 2026 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
How has the Apple Music and YouTube Music comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- YouTube Music was ahead of Apple Music in every measured month of the 11 months ending August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Apple Music’s estimated Share of Search among music streaming services in New Zealand moved from 2.5% to 2.7%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.2K to 14.2K.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, YouTube Music’s estimated Share of Search among music streaming services in New Zealand moved from 19.5% to 22.2%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 96.2K to 115K.
How did search popularity change for New Zealand music streaming services in August 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for YouTube Music in New Zealand rose 19.5% over 11 measured months, from 96.2K to 115K in August 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Apple Music in New Zealand rose 16.1% over 11 measured months, from 12.2K to 14.2K in August 2026.
How each brand is measured
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Apple Music’s and YouTube Music’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Apple Music
20 branded search terms
- apple music
- apple music app
- apple music classical
- apple music cost
- apple music download
- apple music family
- apple music in android
- apple music music
- apple music nz
- apple music online
- apple music pod
- apple music premium
- apple music web player
- apple music windows app
- applemusic
- applemusic app
- applemusic subscription
- download music from apple music
- download song from apple music
- free apple music
YouTube Music
28 branded search terms
- music youtube com
- my youtube music
- open youtube music
- youtube music
- youtube music app
- youtube music app windows
- youtube music channel
- youtube music chart
- youtube music cost
- youtube music downloads
- youtube music for work
- youtube music free
- youtube music free app
- youtube music music
- youtube music near me
- youtube music new zealand
- youtube music nz
- youtube music online
- youtube music playlists
- youtube music premium
- youtube music price
- youtube music subscription
- youtube music videos free songs
- youtubemusic
- youtubemusic app
- youtubemusic com
- youtubemusic music
- youtubemusic premium
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.