Google’s music streaming efforts are muddled to say the least.
Google Play Music is a traditional streaming service, while a US-only YouTube Red (previously YouTube Key) sub gives you access to ad-free music videos, offline playback, background audio and a free subscription to… Google Play Music.
Now reports suggest YouTube is about to revamp its offering with a new service called Remix. At least that’s said to be the internal name.
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According to Bloomberg sources, it’ll be a a paid streaming service designed to placate the record labels who’ve been seeking more revenue from YouTube streams.
The report says Warner Music has already signed on, while Alphabet remains in talks with Sony, Universal and the Merlin consortium of indie labels.
How will it differ?
It’s not yet clear how the Remix service would differ from Google’s existing offerings.
The sources say Remix would have “Spotify-like” on demand streaming with YouTube videos incorporated.
It doesn’t seem like that different from the current platforms, but perhaps it’s designed more to appease the stakeholders than consumers?
According to the report, record labels feel music streaming revenues would be much greater if not for YouTube.
Part of the issue is Google’s unwillingness to offer the same compensation for streams as the likes of Apple Music and Spotify.
Another gripe, the report says, is Google’s inability to convert free visitors into paid customers.
Do you think Google needs a streaming Remix? Drop us a line with your thoughts @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
