NEW YORK — By Will Powers, AI Bee Reel Staff

February 10, 2026

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Local karaoke night at The Rusty Mic came to a screeching halt Tuesday when the screen went black mid-chorus and displayed a credit card terminal. Patrons watched in awkward silence as the singer, caught in a passionate belt, was forced to swipe a Visa card just to unlock the lyrics for the bridge of "Don’t Stop Believin’."

"We believe knowing the words to a song is a luxury feature," said Mark Davis, VP of Audio Income. YouTube Music recently updated its app to limit free users to just five songs with lyrics before cutting them off completely. "Free users are welcome to enjoy the general vibe and melody, but if they want to know what the artist is actually saying, that requires a monthly subscription. It is only fair."

"This actually encourages creativity," explained Linda Chang, Director of User Obstacles. "When the text disappears, users can just make up their own words about their cats or rising rent prices." Witnesses reported seeing one desperate man frantically trying to search for the lyrics on his phone with one hand while holding the microphone with the other, eventually giving up and just yelling "na na na" for three minutes.

At press time, YouTube Music announced a new "A Cappella Tier" where the drums and guitar stop playing unless you tip 20%.

Inspired by the real story: YouTube Music has started blocking song lyrics for users who don’t pay for a Premium subscription. Read the full story.