i dont want to get mp3s and switch those out, i used cobalt for prior stuff but since that doesnt support youtube anymore i really dont know of an alternative for that either
Freetube or NewPipe are youtube front ends that pull videos straight from the API without the cookies and stuff so don't confer views or streaming royalties. for downloads, 4k YouTube to MP3, I have a crack for it on /miscellanea/techystuff
you could also link to Invidious (web based YouTube front end) although you might have to change instances periodically; some of them aren't reliable. piped is another web option and you can just find and replace YouTube with them; they use the same watch=whatever URLs
you could also check soundcloud; some artists have official copies there and even if they don't someone has probably reuploaded. I haven't used it since, like, 2020, though, so IDK how good it still is.
i have checked soundcloud but i simply just dont like them for "bigger" artists
probably electric angel butttttttttt i also really like love ward and its my website
its now love ward