YouTube Announces Layoffs For 100 Employees In Music And Media Teams

The tech and media industry, which witnessed significant layoffs last year, is continuing the trend in 2024. According to data from layoffs.fyi, a platform tracking job losses in the tech sector, nearly 7,800 employees have been laid off in January alone. Major players like Amazon and Google are among the companies implementing workforce reductions.

Amazon, having previously initiated layoffs in its music streaming division in November, is bidding farewell to several hundred employees in its Twitch and studio operations. Meanwhile, Google is cutting approximately 1,000 jobs across its engineering, hardware, and voice-assistant teams.

Apple is also making organizational changes, informing a team of 121 individuals working on Siri and AI that their jobs will be relocated from San Diego to Austin, Texas. Employees who choose not to relocate or secure alternative positions within the company will face layoffs.

In a similar vein, Google-owned YouTube is reportedly undergoing a reorganization that involves around 100 job cuts. The move aims to streamline operations as YouTube manages a growing number of content creators and shifts its focus towards emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

Tubefilter was the first to report this development, citing inside sources. Subsequently, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed the news through a spokesperson for YouTube. As part of the reorganization, YouTube is consolidating its music teams into a single unit reporting to Lyor Cohen, the Global Head of Music at Google and YouTube. Additionally, the platform's TV, film, sports, and media teams will be merged into a cohesive group. This restructuring reflects the industry's ongoing efforts to adapt to changing dynamics and technological advancements.