delete the app. Open your browser. Download an ad-blocker. Add the youtube homepage to whatever a phone’s desktop is called. Open a video, minimize the browser, and play audio from your notifications taskbar.
No more ads. No more needing the app to remain open to play audio.
Also you can buy Huawei phones from Newegg. The P50 is shiney if anyone wants to know.
They gave a pamphlet with all the carriers it doesn’t work on. I don’t remember if Verizon was one of them. Call and ask if they support it. If they support an older generation they’ll support it.
I know cricket willfully refuses to allow certain phones on its network despite compatibility, but cricket is a shit provider I’ve stayed with out of habit more than loyalty, so it wasn’t an issue for me to switch to a network that was willing to do what I expected