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Google is planning to launch its own music video subscription service through YouTube, which will include both a free and paid offering. The service will be available for both desktop and mobile platforms.

Google is planning to launch its own music subscription service, in a bid to compete against the likes of Spotify and Rdio. Sources cited by Billboard say the YouTube music service will offer both a free and a premium variant, with the main value added being the inclusion of videos alongside the music tracks.

According to the sources, the free service will be unlimited, which will offer on-demand access to popular music tracks and videos. This will be available across different platforms, including both desktop and mobile. Meanwhile, the premium offering will likely allow users expanded access to the service, such as through devices like Google Glass, with added functionality. Additionally, a subscription will allow offline caching of videos for offline viewing, which will help reduce battery and data consumption. The premium service will also be ad-free, thereby improving the user experience.

Google has declined to comment on the matter directly, although YouTube is set to launch a new offering within the year.

“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,” the official statement said.

“However, we have nothing to announce at this time,” it added.

The search giant has already secured licensing deals with major record companies, including Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group as part of its Google Play All Access service launched earlier this year.

YouTube has become the go-to place for users looking for songs and music videos to stream. Record labels and artists have actually launched video channels where they launch their own official music video releases. With the rumored YouTube music subscription service, Google will therefore need to justify the premium subscription, said to be a monthly fee of around US$9.99.

Source: Billboard