Google is looking to take on the likes of JB Hi Fi Now and Spotify with a paid subscription music-streaming service that will “easily” stream content to Android and Chrome devices.The Financial Times has reported that Google was negotiating with music companies about a music streaming subscription service.
If deals ultimately are struck for the Spotify-like subscription service, it would serve as a complement to Google Music, which lets people store their previously purchased songs online as well as buy new songs. Users of Google Music, which competes with Apple iTunes, can stream the songs through any Web-connected PC and mobile device, though the service works best on devices powered by Google’s Android mobile operating system.
Speaking to people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal reported Apple has been in talks to license music for a custom-radio service similar to the popular one operated by Pandora Media.
Spotify charges people $9.99 per month to listen to as many songs as they would like on any device. It also has a free, ad-supported version.
It isn’t clear how the potential new YouTube music-video subscription service would work, but people at the site have been talking to various online-video creators about creating paid subscription services for their videos.
Also unclear is what the potential new service would mean for Vevo LLC, which lets YouTube visitors watch videos from most of the major music labels. The service has said it gets 4 billion video views per month and has paid out more $200 million in royalties during its first three years of business.
