Watch Out Subscription Music Services, YouTube Just Entered the Game

[[Coi] Mr.CLuBBeR]

YouTube Music Key is a slightly better name than Google Play Music All Access

Google has figured out there's big potential in the streaming music business, it just has a hard time coming up with names that don't roll around the mouth like a fistful of chipped marbles rubbed in hot sauce. By that we mean first there was Google Play Music All Access, and coming soon, Google is getting its YouTube subsidiary into the subscription music game with YouTube Music Key.
To Google's credit, it isn't the only company having a difficult time naming its music services (Samsung Milk Music, anyone?), and Google Play Music All Access is now just Google Play Music, which sounds much better. But whatever, this about the content and not the name. So, beginning today, there will be a new home just for music in your YouTube app for Android and iOS, and on YouTube's website. It will show your favorite music videos, recommended music playlists, and playlists of trending music across YouTube. You'll find all this under a new Music tab.
As for YouTube Music Key, it's an ad-free subscription service that's rolling out in beta form. Like Google Play Music, it will debut at the promotional price of $7.99 per month before going up to $9.99 per month. It will include background play, offline viewing, and a subscription to Google Play Music with its catalog of over 30 million songs.
"Thanks to your music videos, remixes, covers, and more, you’ve made YouTube the biggest music service on the planet. To turn YouTube into your perfect music service, we’re launching YouTube Music Key as a beta with our biggest music fans first, and then we’ll bring YouTube Music Key to the whole world together," YouTube says. "So, if you see an invite in your app or email, try it out for six months for free."

While we haven't been able to confirm this yet, CNET claims that a subscription to either service includes access to both, so if you're currently a Google Play Music subscriber, you'll get YouTube Music Key at no additional cost. If that's the case, it will be interesting to see if those who are paying $9.99/month for Google Play Music will be dropped down to $7.99, or if that will only happen by cancelling service and re-upping through YouTube Music Key's promotional period (which is currently by invite only).
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