YouTube, that giant video sharing website owned by Google, is reportedly working on a subscription service that may be ready before Christmas.
The service is being designed with mobile use very much at the forefront – which basically means Google wants to use as much of the video and music content it has to drive mobile ad impressions. YouTube is the perfect medium to do that, and a ‘freemium’ subscription service allowing for the caching of tracks to listen to / watch on mobiles would make massive waves in the increasingly crowded streaming market.
According to Billboard, who have apparently talked to several ‘insiders’ who have already been briefed by YouTube about its plans, the service “will have a free component and a premium tier that offers unlimited access to a full catalog of tracks similar to what’s already available via YouTube’s parent company, Google Inc., via its All Access subscription music service. Premium features would include the ability to cache music for offline listening and removing ads.”
The likes of Spotify and Rdio are naturally going to start getting a bit worried about Google deciding to flex its very considerable muscles in their market. But Google’s intentions go far beyond beating relative small-fry like Spotify – they’re after Apple and it’s ubiquitous iTunes service, which also kind of entered the streaming market recently with iTunes Radio, as well as Facebook – who are killing it in terms of mobile ad share.
For the time being YouTube are staying tight-lipped on the plans, releasing the following statement in response to the speculation:
We’re always working on new and better ways for people to enjoy YouTube content across all screens, and on giving partners more opportunities to reach their fans. However, we have nothing to announce at this time.
What do you think about a potential full-scale music streaming service from YouTube? Would you use it or are you set in your ways and loyal to Spotify? Or do you not believe in music streaming at all? Join the discussion in the comments below…
