Google’s long-awaited YouTube music subscription service is finally taking shape, according to reports from Android Police. The blog reported Monday that Google is preparing to launch a service called YouTube Music Key and rebrand its Google Play Music All Access as Google Play Music Key to match. YouTube Music Key will give users music without ads, audio-only playback and offline playback. What may set it apart from the pack of streaming services is YouTube’s vast library of concert footage, covers and remixes, giving devoted fans much more than their favorite artists’ official discographies, according to Android Police.
Google has big plans for both YouTube and Google Play Music. We’ve heard a lot about YouTube’s potential subscription music playback service, background audio, and offline playback, and there’s been much speculation about what such an arrangement would mean for Play Music All Access. What we’ve got today gives those rumors and clues some clarity. Here’s the basic rundown – YouTube is set to launch a service called YouTube Music Key, and Google is set to rebrand Google Play Music All Access to Google Play Music Key. Specifically, it looks like YouTube Music Key will offer ad-free music, audio-only playback (for background or screen-off listening), and offline playback. YouTube Music Key will offer a 30-day free trial to start, after which the service will run $9.99/month. Interestingly, that price will evidently include both YouTube Music Key and Google Play Music Key. We can’t be sure right now if early adopters of Play Music All Access will continue to enjoy a discounted subscription rate, but (as Zargh points out in our comments section), the WSJ last month suggested that those who already subscribe to All Access would gain access to the new subscription service automatically.
