Google's upcoming music subscription service via YouTube is expected to be called YouTube Music Key, complete with offline listening, ad-free playback and lot more.
Rumors of Google's upcoming music subscription service via YouTube have been doing the rounds for quite some time now.. Even as the details on the launch of the service are scanty, new leaks are giving more details about the service itself. Android Police exclusively reports that the new YouTube music subscription service will be called YouTube Music Key and will feature several unique elements.
The YouTube Music Key will also offer features similar to other subscription services such as saving songs and videos for offline playback, audio only interface for multitasking and uninterrupted service for $9.99 a month. The monthly subscription price for YouTube's new music service is similar to Google's own Play Music All Access service. But with the $9.99 fee, subscribers will be able to access both YouTube Music Key and Google Play Music Key, which is reportedly the rebranded version of Google Play All Access.
YouTube Music Key will not be limited to just artist catalogues, in fact it will cover concert footage and remixes as well.
YouTube is a free music sources for millions but the video in the background has anchored the service from competing against others like Rdio, Spotify and Beats.
The launch of YouTube Music Key raises several questions like how the web giant plans to overcome the obstacles of splitting revenue with content owners. YouTube relies on content owned by third party companies like music labels and Google must find a way to compensate content owners.
Another issue Google might face with its YouTube music subscription is availability. Google Play All Access is limited to just 34 countries and the company needs to think on a global scale before competing against giants like Spotify, which operates in more than 60 countries worldwide, Tech2 reports.
Earlier last month, the web giant snapped Pandora-like streaming service Songza for about $15 million. The acquisition could be a way to improve its upcoming music service.
