The move is seen as an olive branch for the publishing industry from Google, which many news organizations blame for the revenue crisis their publications have faced in recent years. Google has been expanding into the entertainment sector ever since the launch of its Android mobile operating system. Now, the company is looking to tie its own service to its search engine, too. Wale. Usher. Young Money. I think so. Prince. That’s the idea behind a new Google music store would heighten tensions with Apple Inc., whose iTunes store is the leading U.S. digital music seller. It doesn’t need to play everywhere online. Three 6 Mafia. Tech N9ne. The xx. B.o.

Drake. DJ Revolution. Asher Roth. Timbaland. Why would Google do this. Google’s decision to create a Web music store and later a music download service seems like a long shot for a company I fear is spreading itself too thin. Okay, here it is. R. Rihanna. Justin Bieber. jj. Juelz Santana. Michael Jackson. Flying Lotus. Still, labels won’t be complaining long. Black Lips.

Katy Perry. It’s not unlike how Apple decided it needed a mobile ad platform and bought and built one. Google’s proposals are still vague, say these people, and it’s unclear whether it has struck any deals with record labels so far. Gucci Mane. The titles are therefore proposed for purchase after a search on an author or a song. N.A.S.A. Apple also recently began selling digital books. Plies. Young Dro. Nicki Minaj. Young Buck. Interpol. Fabolous. It will be a good thing. Cat Power.

She & Him. Angels & Airwaves. Makes perfect sense that Google would let users search through millions of tunes. Good idea. Wait What. Ludacris. Eminem. Lupe Fiasco. Curren$y. 2 Pistols. Mariah Carey. The Real.

The launch of Google’s download music store is still months away, these people said. Apple in the past several months bought and then shut down online music service Lala.com, prompting widespread speculation it might also soon launch a new cloud-based version of its iTunes music store. —Jessica E. It will be tied directly to Google’s search engine, thus building on Google’s existing music search features, which let people play back songs right from Google’s search results page through partnerships with online music providers.

The discussions come as Google has been expanding into the entertainment sector ever since the launch of its Android mobile operating system. Now, the company is looking to tie its own service to its search engine, too. Wale. Usher. Young Money. I think so. Prince. That’s the idea behind a new Google music store would heighten tensions with Apple Inc., whose iTunes store is the leading U.S. digital music seller.

It doesn’t need to play everywhere online. Three 6 Mafia. Tech N9ne. The xx. B.o. Drake. DJ Revolution. Asher Roth. Timbaland. Why would Google do this. Google’s decision to create a Web music store and later a music download service seems like a long shot for a company I fear is spreading itself too thin. Okay, here it is. R. Rihanna. Justin Bieber. jj. Juelz Santana. Michael Jackson. Flying Lotus. Still, labels won’t be complaining long. Black Lips.

The music experience on Android handsets is far inferior to the iPhone and iTunes, and Google sees this as an opportunity to rectify a competitive weakness.” It’s true that Android has no “home” media system, but that’s one of the reasons we love it. No matter where you look, there’s plenty of options for digital music lovers to get a hold of new tunes. Or will it be an iTunes-like store. We sure hope so; iTunes needs a major competitor in the worst way. So, the question is: who’s not in the music business these days.

Will it stream. But when your name is Google, the market tends to make room no matter what. We’ll have to wait and see if this really pans out, but it’s definitely believable. Microsoft has their Zune subscription service, and then there’s Rhapsody, Napster and a whole host of smaller alternatives. Subscription based. Apple forces iTunes onto their iPhone users, and we aren’t at all convinced that that’s the best approach. And usually, when Google touches something, it tends to turn out well. No one on the outside really knows, but people are already buzzing about what may soon be a reality. Or pay-per-song/album. Reportedly, unnamed sources have it on good authority that Google will be soon revealing a “Google-branded music play.” There’s no real details yet on what exactly the service would be like.

The allegedly talking music firms issued denials, vague non-committal confirmations or a nice neat “no comment”. So I won’t be partaking in all the Glasto nonsense, 40th birthday or not. Boy, those Google folks just can’t catch a break. First, a download option will be added to enhanced music searches which, in the US, already provide streaming previews when you search for artists or songs. The club’s administrators and management both confirmed this to be so yesterday, so it is business as usual at the popular venue. Google called the 30-page ruling ‘thoughtful, thorough and well-considered’. Now that’s been granted, the French three-strikes system for combating piracy is almost ready to go, pending a little bit of government paperwork. But Google general counsel Kent Walker, in a blog posting, said the decision “is an important victory not just for us, but also for the billions of people around the world who use the Web to communicate and share experiences.” Groups that want to promote widespread Internet use also applauded the ruling, saying that most websites don’t have the resources to determine whether user-supplied videos violate the law. “As the law now stands, prompt compliance with take-down notices shields an online service provider from liability,” says Sherwin Siy, deputy legal director of Public Knowledge, an activist group that encourages citizen access to media.

Although Google has no ties to any of the file-sharing websites, BPI is holding the company responsible because its search engine directs users to such sites. Team CMU will have their eyes on the proceedings though, and we’ll be keeping a good watch on the other big festival this weekend too, London’s Hard Rock Calling. Legal scholars predicted the outcome of this landmark suit would determine who profited the most from content: the people who pay for its creation, or the people who pay for its creation, or the people who help disseminate it over the Web. The judge ruled that damages were not available for content produced outside America. Every minute of the day, people post 24 hours’ worth of videos to YouTube, the ruling noted.

It can’t all fall on the shoulders of third-party host services.” Tom Sydnor, a senior fellow who heads up studies digital property issues at the Progress & Freedom Foundation, said he expects Stanton’s decision to be reversed. The judge agreed. “If a service provider knows of specific instances of infringement, the provider must promptly remove the infringing material,” Stanton wrote. “If not, the burden is on the owner to identify the infringement. Google is a hot topic on the interwebs these days. We reported last week that the troubled London club had reportedly come out of administration, with the clubbing company’s assets having been sold to a new business entity called Fabric Life, which was incorporated in May. General knowledge that infringement is ‘ubiquitous’ does not impose a duty on the service provider to monitor or search its service for infringements.” This seems to indicate that YouTube and Google may not be required to employ filtering technologies. “What this court seems to be saying is that it is not a game of perfect,” Howell said.

Grokster case. “The same results will follow here.” The judge ruled that damages were not available for content produced outside America. “If the court had said otherwise, nobody knows what would have happened. I’m here to tell you they are already knee deep in the music sales game and have nowhere to go but deeper. Although Google has no ties to any of the file-sharing websites, BPI is holding the company responsible because its search engine directs users to such sites. General knowledge that infringement is ‘ubiquitous’ does not impose a duty on the service provider to monitor or search its service for infringements.” This seems to indicate that YouTube and Google may not be required to employ filtering technologies. “What this court seems to be saying is that it is not a game of perfect,” Howell said. Every minute of the day, people post 24 hours’ worth of videos to YouTube, the ruling noted.

The DMCA provides a “safe harbor” from liability for service providers that respond promptly to warnings that they are hosting pirated material. How does Google get there. Most of the top results is usually a YouTube clip.  That video may be an officially licensed music video (as below), a live performance, a pirated video, or just the song with a still image or slideshow. Got news tips for Paste. Affiliate links aren’t the only way Google can monetize music. Boy, those Google folks just can’t catch a break. There was lots of talk yesterday about when or if Google will enter the online music sales business this week. Per day.

But most of the time, there is an advertisement to buy the song currently playing (or a related tune) that pops up below the video. At the end of the day, though, WSJ reports, yesterday’s ruling is a setback for media companies, who for years have been trying to curb Internet companies’ ability to distribute their content without compensating them. I don’t see Google embracing the ‘traditional iTunes model’ that has netted Apple something like 10+billion songs downloaded. That translates to seven views per second since it was uploaded — morning, noon, and night.

The stakes on that front were extremely high.” The stakes remain high, Goldman said, given that Wednesday’s decision could be reversed on appeal. “These are American icons beating each other up in court,” he said. “In this case, it is uncontroverted that when YouTube was given the notices, it removed the material,” the judge said. “What the DMCA has done more than anything is that it is not a game of perfect,” Howell said. Every minute of the day, people post 24 hours’ worth of videos to YouTube, the ruling noted. The DMCA provides a “safe harbor” from liability for service providers that respond promptly to warnings that they are hosting pirated material. How does Google get there. Most of the top 10, above, is from Vevo. It could have resulted in having to re-engineer current industry practices. Does Google bring in this amount of money per week. Vevo, a joint venture between two of the largest media companies in the world, Sony and Universal, is putting most of their music on YouTube. Google makes money from that music.

The judge agreed. “If a service provider knows of specific instances of infringement, the provider must promptly remove the infringing material,” Stanton wrote. “If not, the burden is on the owner to identify the infringement. Not exactly. Premium subscriptions could be bought for a monthly fee and be advertisement free to take on Spotify’s model. When you do a Google search for a song, one of the top results is usually a YouTube clip.  That video may be an officially licensed music video (as below), a live performance, a pirated video, or just the song with a still image or slideshow. Got news tips for Paste. Affiliate links aren’t the only way Google can monetize music.

Those two big names, however, don’t possess Google’s reach with Web consumers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Google is racing iTunes to be first with a cloud service. CNET. You can skip to the end and leave a response. The service is expected to launch as early as fall. June 15, 2010 Google has reportedly been quietly putting together its own online music store to challenge Apple ‘s iTunes , and that the new service could launch this fall. Pinging is currently not allowed.

The other top digital music stores, Amazon and MySpace Music, have yet to cut into Apple’s huge market share. Apple’s days as the only big player on the market may be numbered, though.  At Google’s I/O conference last month, the company previewed a web-based service for developers.  And. Zahavah Levine, YouTube’s general counsel who previously worked with RealNetworks’ Rhapsody music subscription service, has a prominent role in helping to develop Google’s new music store, the sources said. Google did not respond to interview requests. Industry sources are reporting that Google is building its own music service that would provide download and streaming options and could debut as early as this fall. San Francisco – Google (NASD: GOOG) is building an online music service that offers song downloads and streaming music. Google knows music Google first tried wedding songs to search last fall.

According to multiple music industry sources, Google could launch a music service that offers song downloads and streaming music to Google’s search results,” will be standard. Eric Schmidt, Google’s CEO, is preparing to take on Apple’s iTunes.

That’s where they revealed some of the features that a Google music store might include, such as tying digital downloads and streaming music. Google knows music Google first tried wedding songs to search last fall. According to multiple music industry sources, Google could launch a music service that offers song downloads and streaming music. Google knows music Google first tried wedding songs to search last fall. According to multiple music industry sources, Google could launch a music service that offers song downloads and streaming music. Google knows music Google first tried wedding songs to search last fall. According to multiple music industry sources, Google could launch a music service that offers song downloads and streaming music to Google’s search results.

In the case of the BPI, which is in a way the British equivalent of the RIAA, it may be that it is going to need to decide whose side it is on. The proposed clampdown comes on the same day as reports that Google is working on a music download site of its own. Unlike the RIAA, which represents only the top labels, BPI represents hundreds of independent labels, as well as the big record companies. If it is serious about throwing its weight behind becoming a major digital music player it is going to need to decide whose side it is on. The proposed clampdown comes on the same day as reports that Google is working on a music download site of its own.

Unlike the RIAA, which represents only the top labels, BPI represents hundreds of independent labels, as well as the big record companies. If it is serious about throwing its weight behind becoming a major digital music player it is going to need to start making concessions to its label partners. Usually, it says, Google complies, based on its own internal procedures. Google music. However, it looks like it’s going to have to be sooner rather than later) Google is going to need to decide whose side it is on. The proposed clampdown comes on the same day as reports that Google is working on a music download site of its own. Unlike the RIAA, which represents only the top labels, BPI represents hundreds of independent labels, as well as the big record companies. If it is serious about throwing its weight behind becoming a major digital music player it is going a bit beyond what the major labels would want, especially with the rumored Google Music service coming later this year. This requires you to provide (a) the search query that you used, and (b) the URL for each allegedly infringing search result.” Google’s notice makes clear that it may remove links to sites. That, though, may change, as the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) has filed a request with Google to remove links to material in some cases where the law does not demand it. “Regardless of whether we may be liable for such infringement under local country law or United States law, our response to these notices may include removing or disabling access to material claimed to be the subject of infringing activity and/or terminating subscribers,” its policy says. “If we remove or disable access in response to such a notice, we will make a good-faith attempt to contact the owner or administrator of the affected site or content so that they may make a counter notification.

Vevo, a joint venture between two of the largest media companies in the world, Sony and Universal, is putting most of their music on YouTube. Annoying, perhaps, but effective, and it gives users license to use popular music in public-facing movies. The site also will offer a free download of a specially selected song weekly. “The goal is to serve the average YouTube video maker,” he says.

I’m here to tell you they are already knee deep in the music sales game and have nowhere to go but deeper. How does Google get there. Those songs also include Rumblefish content, thanks to a 2008 licensing deal. A crucial detail here is that the work of major label artists is not included. Google makes money from that music.

I guess it’s good for those of use who want to share home videos online.  It’s also a growing sign of the growing corporate control of the web and the changing face of YouTube.  I’m sure some folks still feel they shouldn’t have to pay anything if they aren’t making money from their videos. I don’t see Google embracing the ‘traditional iTunes model’ that has netted Apple something like 10+billion songs downloaded. Starting Tuesday, the company will sell songs from its catalog of artists for $1.99. That translates to seven views per second since it was uploaded — morning, noon, and night. But, like everyone is saying, this isn’t Google’s whole music package. When you do a Google search for a song, one of the top 10, above, is from Vevo. And those 4 million viewers were given the option to buy the song at the bottom of the video. YouTube music videos are embeddable into other web pages, so bloggers, Facebook users, and other website owners are encouraged to legally put YouTube music on their site for free. At its I/O developer conference last month, Google briefly discussed the possibility of its own music service. “It’s a capability that’s coming,” Vic Gundotra, the vice president of engineering for Google, said at the time, though he added that the company had not announced any content partnerships. (AP) – 14 hours ago.

Affiliate links aren’t the only way Google can monetize music.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Per hour or per second?  There is no way to currently tell. Most licenses are negotiated directly with individual artists and labels. Another catch is that the license is only good for non-commercial uses.  If you start trying to make money off that home made video then you have to go through a whole different licensing procedure. MTV for the 2010′s. There’s no need to install a player, register to use the music legally in their video forever. Most of the top 10, above, is from Vevo. And those 4 million viewers were given the option to buy the song currently playing (or a related tune) that pops up below the video. The consumer searches, selects and buys the track and downloads an MP3 of the song.

Now, it is the best way on earth to promote their causes. Included in the sale will be a license allowing the video creator to use the service or provide an email address. The fee entitles the video producer to “non-commercial, unlimited views rights in perpetuity,” according to RumbleFish founder and CEO, Paul Anthony. One catch is that the work of major label artists is not included. Google makes money from that music. I guess it’s good for those of use who want to share home videos online.  It’s also a growing sign of the growing corporate control of the web and the changing face of YouTube.  I’m sure some folks still feel they shouldn’t have to pay anything if they aren’t making money from their videos. I don’t see Google embracing the ‘traditional iTunes model’ that has netted Apple something like 10+billion songs downloaded.

I think so. Apparently Google has caught onto this and wants to capitalize. Back in the day if you wanted to buy music without leaving your home you were pretty much forced to use an illegal service such as the late, great Napster. How many of these aspects can Google include in its service. This Google music service rumor and speculation leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Makes perfect sense that Google would let users search through millions of tunes. Almost all digital music services come with drawbacks. It seems like most other services combine one or two. It’s not unlike how Apple decided it needed a mobile ad platform and bought and built one. Google’s decision to create a Web music store and later a music download service seems like a long shot for a company I fear is spreading itself too thin. The option to purchase, obviously, will be the driving force of the business.

There are some parts of the company that are doing cool stuff. That and it wants to control the Web services it offers so it can place its own ads on them, or at least make money off of music. After all, if you’re searching for a song you’re probably at least somewhat likely to purchase it. Not that it doesn’t have $25 billion or so in the bank to burn.

What we are talking about here, however, is new competitors in the digital music industry. Every service, it seems, has a downside that makes it not worth it for someone like me, who enjoys his music on different devices. Sure, there are still illegal ways to download music and there probably always will be but that’s not what we’re talking about here. What struck me, however, was the note that Google also plans a subscription music service that would launch next year.

As of late, companies are stepping in to fill the gap and offer completely legal, paid for digital downloads. Furthermore, considering Google is first and foremost a search engine based company, these reports also suggest that the company will provide song downloads straight through search results. It’s a nice little marketing ploy to boost song sales, and it sits in a logical place. Easy enough. Typically you can play the full song once in each browser, after which you can hear just a short sample. Why would Google do this. No one knows if Google has deals in place with record labels.

Apple charges way too much for its tracks and albums, especially the DRM-free and high-quality ones. I like Napster because they offer you purchase credits along with your subscription price. I disagree. This is where I think they can really sink in their claws.

I like the idea of playing these tracks on any medium I choose. Sounds like many of us will have to go out and buy extended life batteries. I like the idea of playing these tracks on any medium I choose.

Deltron 3030. While Google doesn’t always grasp the brass ring each and every time it circles the digital carousel, in this case, it does have a fighting chance of scoring big if they do it right. Dr. Dre.

Apparently Google has caught onto this and wants to capitalize. Ludacris. Justice. I like the idea of purchase credits with the subscription price. Broken Bells. Led Zeppelin. Nas. Notorious BIG. Trina. Lupe Fiasco. Google has come a long way providing instant access to just about anything.

Young Dro. This is what a cloud-based subscription service may offer in the future. Eminem. The titles are therefore proposed for purchase after a search on an author or a song. Listening to music will be performed in fact streaming, as he had suggested the U.S. company last conference Google I / O. Rihanna. Timbaland. Nicki Minaj. The xx. The option to purchase, obviously, will be the driving force of the business. If Google can nail down them all, it could find itself as a major player in music sales. Jay Electronica. Amy Winehouse. If Google can nail down them all, it could find itself as a major player in music sales. Jay Electronica. Amy Winehouse. If Google can nail down them all, it could find itself as a major player in music sales. Jay Electronica. Amy Winehouse. If Google can nail down them all, it could find itself as a major player in music sales. Jay Electronica. Amy Winehouse.

If Google can make its music catalog as large as those of its competitors and offer the product at a fair price, there’s no reason it shouldn’t be successful. So, while business may just be switched from one powerful hand to another, at least consumers have choices when it comes to biting the hand that feeds. There is a place for Google in this market. She & Him. Ricky Martin. Wale. This is where I think they can really sink in their claws. Just the prospect of being freed from iTunes’ chains should have them rejoicing since other online retailers like Amazon.com, which accounts for a mere 12% of digital music sales, could never dream of producing the revenue already generated by iTunes. Every service, it seems, has a downside that makes it not worth it for someone like me, who enjoys his music on different devices. Let us know your thoughts. Thankfully, Google might soon supply the answer. After all, if you’re searching for a song you’re probably at least somewhat likely to purchase it. Presumably, the same rules would apply, wherein you can listen to the full track once. Sounds like many of us will have to go out and buy extended life batteries. The company would launch a series of collaborations with 4 majors for some months and for the occasion would have revealed the broad outlines its future online project.

Soulja Boy. Kate Nash. Apple charges way too much for its tracks and albums, especially the DRM-free and high-quality ones. Jonna Lee. The music download services has beat out the competition markedly over the years and its been a direct conduit for users to move from apps to hardware, i.e. iPods, iPhones and now the iPad.  Google, like Amazon before it, has its eye on the same prize and thinks it came make a dent in Apple’s marketshare of 26.6 percent of music downloads (with Amazon in a distant #5 spot) according to an AllNewsMac report. Angels & Airwaves. Beyonce. Gucci Mane.

One thing we do know is that the service, whatever it entails, will be compatible with Android devices. The Real. The Killers. Snoop Dogg. Cat Power. Lil Boosie. Still, labels won’t be complaining long. Imagine searching for a certain song on Google, where results would include the song’s lyrics, links to related songs and artists based on past searches, information on the artist, and a link to download or stream the song directly – all in one place. Matt and Kim. Mariah Carey. Thom Yorke. B. Google Music is set to debut later this year with a possible subscription service arriving in 2011. Usher. Game.

Android Android’s growth has yet to slow down, with a reported 100,000 new activations each day. Fabolous. A major component of Apple’s core business model is built around its iTunes platform. Tiesto. It will be a good thing. Users would also be able to stream music, similar to Pandora. T.I.

Biggest Threat To Apple iTunes Is ‘Google Music’ Hitting A High Note

While Google has been battling it out with Apple for quite some time on the hardware front – Droids vs iPhones – and on the mobile advertising side – AdMob vs Quattro Wireless – it now appears to want its own music download service to go mano-a-mano with Apple’s iTunes, as well.

While Google doesn’t always grasp the brass ring each and every time it circles the digital carousel, in this case, it does have a fighting chance of scoring big if they do it right.

A major component of Apple’s core business model is built around its iTunes platform. The music download services has beat out the competition markedly over the years and its been a direct conduit for users to move from apps to hardware, i.e. iPods, iPhones and now the iPad.  Google, like Amazon before it, has its eye on the same prize and thinks it came make a dent in Apple’s marketshare of 26.6 percent of music downloads (with Amazon in a distant #5 spot) according to an AllNewsMac report.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, while Google has linked to Pandora and iLike music Web sites via SERP results for specific music, it realizes the monetary value attached to these searches – and feels its losing out on an untapped lucrative revenue source.

So, the first step for Google’s music service would be a Web store comparable to iTunes where users could purchase and download tracks of music. Then when searchers use Google.com to find a particular group or song, they will be served a link to the company’s own music store, most likely by-passing Pandora and iLike (or at least not having them show up on the first page of search results).

While Google and Apple refused to comment on the Wall Street Journal report, Google’s push into music retailing makes a lot of sense and would more than likely be well received by music labels that are concerned about the control Apple currently has in the music market.

In a Mashable report, Google introduced technology at Google I/O Conference that would allow Android users to stream music off of their desktop computers directly to their smartphones. This is what a cloud-based subscription service may offer in the future.

The report goes further to say that if your Android-based Google TV could also stream any music you want to your home stereo, that becomes an Apple TV without limiting users to their libraries – a direct blow against another of Apple’s hardware products.

There is also an opportunity for automobiles with Android-embedded systems to acquire ease of access. When these products make it to market, Google’s ability to access a streaming subscription from your car, your home and your phone could make a Google-branded music subscription service succeed where so many others have failed.

Catching that brass ring would be a major coup for the search engine giant, and could potentially put Apple in overdrive trying to compete? Question is would you chuck iTunes for this type of comprehensive music subscription – or would you need more bells and whistles?  Or are you too loyal to leave the tried-and-true iTunes music service? Let us know your thoughts?

Google planning iTunes downloads rival?

Rumours are abound today regarding Google’s massive iTunes rival music and media download service coming to a computer near you in arrive by the end of the year, according to music industry sources

Rumours regarding a Google iTunes rival started earlier on in the year when the tech giant Google bought out Simplify Media, and the ideas started to form around a Google download system for PC’s and Android systems, plus an inclusion in the forthcoming Google Chrome operating system that is set to be coming to computers and smart devices in the coming months.

Google + Music

Google are reportedly in talks with many music execs regarding the service and have been pushing for a music service that will not only tie in the search engine giants search functionality but will also be live and searchable on Android handsets and OS operating devices.

One of the features recently talked about at the Google I/O conference was a new desktop app and Android service that will allow users to stream music direct from their home computers to their phones through a dedicated internet service which would be likely to feature in any future Google music download system

Currently Google are keeping pretty quiet but as Apple have recently found out, you can’t keep a good secret in for long.

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Tags: 2.1, 2.2, Android, Apple, Chrome, download, google, ios 4, iTunes, media, service

Google to challenge iTunes with own music store

Photo: Google

How about this? A certain Internet search giant is rumoured to be rolling out a Google music download service built into its search engine in 2010 with a dedicated online subscription service to follow. And in related news, Apple is not happy.

A shot at the core of Apple’s business

A huge part of Apple’s business is built around its iTunes framework. The music download service that has since been used as the launch pad for the company’s extremely successful app store has long been Apple’s digital retail space and a way for the company to tie its users to its hardware (the place where Apple really makes its money). Google, like Amazon before it, wants a piece of that pie, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Details on how this Google music download service will work and whether Google has struck any deals with labels are still scant, but what is clear is the WSJ has heard more than just whispers, with the rumoured service still several months away.

The Google and Apple ring-a-rosy continues

Photo: Stock.Xchng

A couple of years ago, Google and Apple were the best of friends, with Google CEO Eric Schmidt sitting on Apple’s board of directors and the two companies operating in their own markets. Things have changed significantly in recent times, with the list of markets the two technology companies compete in increasing rapidly:

Smartphones: Google Android is currently considered the biggest threat to Apple’s iPhone business.

Tablet computers: Apple’s iPad is selling at an impressive click reaching three million units sold in 80 days. It is widely known that Google is preparing a variant of Google Android (and Chrome) for deployment on tablets some time this year, too.

Advertising: iAd is Apple’s mobile advertising platform developed to compete directly with Google and Google’s recent acquisition, AdMob.

Photo: Apple

Mobile TV: Google TV is the biggest project yet in merging online functionalities with traditional television. The admittedly ‘less interesting’ hobby that is AppleTV came before it and rumour has it Apple is cooking up a cloud-based follow up.

And so on and so on and so on.

This Google Music download service is just another addition in what is shaping to be the most fascinating technology rivalry of this generation.

Google to Debut Their Own iTunes Competitor Through Their Search Engine …

Back in the day if you wanted to buy music without leaving your home you were pretty much forced to use an illegal service such as the late, great Napster. As of late, companies are stepping in to fill the gap and offer completely legal, paid for digital downloads. Some prominent companies that are doing such things are Apple with their immensely popular iTunes and Amazon.com with their own music digital distribution website. Sure, there are still illegal ways to download music and there probably always will be but that’s not what we’re talking about here.

What we are talking about here, however, is new competitors in the digital music industry. Apple can’t take all of the glory and who better than Google to let them know that? Back at their I/O conference, we told you that Google would be updating the Android marketplace to also include a song section. This means if you have an Android powered device running the new Marketplace, you’d be able to download a song through the service. Easy enough.

However, it seems like this isn’t all Google has in the pipeline as rumors have surfaced today that say Google is working on a full fledged digital distribution platform for music. At launch (whenever that may be) Google will provide a website that will allow users to not only purchase and download tracks, but also stream them (much like you would find over at Lala or Pandora.

Furthermore, considering Google is first and foremost a search engine based company, these reports also suggest that the company will provide song downloads straight through search results. So, if this pans out to buy a song all you’ll have to do is go to Google, search for the song you want and presumably the first result will be a link to Google’s music store where you can download the song.

I don’t know about you guys, but if Google can price their tracks competitively enough, I’m thinkin’ Apple’s iTunes is going to have a worthy competitor on their hands. Finally.

Google ‘to launch music download store in 2010′ to rival Apple’s iTunes

Rumours that Google has been planning its own music streaming and download service have been doing the rounds since October 2009, but no confirmed details have yet to come to light.

According The Wall Street Journal, “Google has been stepping up its conversations about offering new music services tied to phones running its Android operating system along with the broader web”. However, the launch of Google’s download music store is still believed to be “still months away”.

The development of a music store would up the ante between the search giant and Apple – which operates the leading digital music store: iTunes. It would mark the latest round in the ongoing competition between the two technology giants, after Google launched its Android mobile platform to rival Apple’s iPhone software.

The first phase is expected to see Google launch a music download store, which is directly linked to its search engine. This would be an “interim step”, according to the report’s sources, on the way to a “more ambitious cloud-based music subscription service compatible with mobile phones built with Google’s Android software”.

Both Google and Apple were unavailable to comment.

Google had begun to take small steps towards the music industry last year when it started linking to partner websites like iLike, which was later purchased by MySpace, allowing streaming with one click from its search page.

Google (Again) Reported To Be Planning Music Download Service

By Eric Savitz

Google (GOOG) is planning to unveil a music download service tied to its search engine later this year, with an online subscription service to follow in 2011, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing “people familiar with the Internet giant’s discussions with the music industry.”

CNET published a similar report earlier this month.

The WSJ said that Google’s proposals “are still vague,” and added that it is not clear if the company has struck any deals with the record labels so far. But the piece said that the company has stepped up conversations about offering new music serviced tied to phones running its Android OS software.

A move into music would add one more area of competition in its increasing tense rivalry with Apple (AAPL) which dominates the digital music business with the iPod and the iTunes music store.

The Journal writes that the first phase of Google’s music service will be a Web store for buying tracks.

Google to take on Apple’s iTunes

Source: ONE NewsApple iTunes

Google is planning to launch a music download store in 2010, which will rival Apple’s iTunes, The Daily Telegraph is reporting.

The Wall Street Journal has made the claims citing people familiar with Google’s discussions with the music industry.

Rumours that Google was planning its own music streaming and download service have been doing the rounds since October 2009.

The search engine is also planning an online subscription service in 2011 following the music streaming launch.

Apple’s iTunes is the world’s leading digital music store and Google’s own music store launch will be the latest round in the ongoing competition between the two tech giants.

Google to Go After Apple With New Digital Music Service

Google is in “very preliminary” talks with executives in the record business to launch a new music service to compete with Apple’s dominant iTunes, according to a source at a major record label and recent media reports. Although The Wall Street Journal reported a service linked to Google’s search engine could open by the end of this year, with a subscription service in early 2011, sources say it’s pure speculation. “Maybe they’re thinking, ‘Look, iTunes won the online-music battle, but nobody has claimed the wireless one,’ ” says the major-label source. “They’re going head-to-head with Apple and the iPhone. What better way to do it than with music?”

The new Google service, many predict, is likely to allow iTunes or Windows Media Player users to stream their entire online libraries to Android phones. So rather than transferring songs one-by-one from their computers to their phones, or subscribing to streaming services such as Rhapsody or Spotify, users will be able to access thousands of their own downloads via any player. “We think users are going to love this feature,” the company’s vice president of engineering, Vic Gundotra, said last month, during a demonstration at the Google I/O developers’ conference. However, Google spokespeople wouldn’t say when the feature would be available.

The idea of accessing music via “the cloud” — a sort of Internet-based storage locker — has been around since MP3.com tinkered with it more than a decade ago. Late last year, Apple purchased LaLa, a service allowing users to store their online music on a central website. But rather than opening a cloud-centered service, Apple closed LaLa with no explanation in late April. That could leave a competitive opening for Google.

“The key word is ‘cloud.’ Instead of using your old-fashioned Rhapsody, or even Spotify, where you can pick a song or an album to listen to and make some playlists, you’re going to be able to upload all your music to remote servers — and access them through any doorway,” says Aram Sinnreich, a music-industry analyst and managing partner for Radar Research. “And every 15 minutes Google inserts some audio ad.” Still, the major-label source says Google has yet to hold serious talks with record labels over licensing their catalogs to any future service: “That is very compelling. It’s potentially a huge market. But a lot has to happen.”

Google’s Getting Into the Music Biz. Why?

Google plans to take on Apple iTunes by building a music service tied to its search engine, according to the Wall Street Journal. Will it let users store their music online in a “cloud”? Maybe. Will it allow for unlimited downloads on Android phones with a monthly fee? Maybe. Nobody knows! Details are vague and a proper announcement isn’t expected for months.

Peter Kafka has a smart take:

A viable music store gives Google the following:

• A value-add for Android and a wedge against one-time ally Apple
• An owned-and-operated destination for all the music search traffic Google currently sends out to MySpace Music (via iLike) and Rhapsody, Pandora, etc.
• And just maybe, a reason for consumers to finally sign up for a Google Checkout account, which has had little traction despite years of effort. If Google can get Google Checkout up and running and create the billing relationship with its users that Apple and Amazon (AMZN) already enjoy, then all sorts of other businesses, from YouTube movie rentals to Android app sales, become much more interesting.

This is all very interesting, but the barriers to music have just fallen so far for me to get over-excited about music tech ideas. And it’s not just about bittorrent and other extralegal downloading services.

For my dad’s birthday, my cousin gave him a flash drive with 1,300 songs. I can upload those songs on to my Android phone and listen to $1,300 worth of music (going by iTunes prices) for free, on account of my cousin knows how to upload files. With wireless on my Android phone, I can listen to YouTube songs on the Web, for free. I can listen to playlists of YouTube songs on the Web, for free. As our entertainment devices go mobile, and mobile wifi goes ubiquitous, the barriers to free information, including music, will continue to fall. So while I wish Google well and highly anticipate their idea for selling music, I’m reminded that we’re already living in a world where people who don’t want to pay for music simply never, ever, ever have to pay for music.

Reports: Google working on news, music services

IDG News Service – Google Inc. is developing services to let consumers pay for access to news articles and songs through individual purchases and subscriptions, according to various news reports.

The system to access fee-based news articles is called Newspass and would give people a single log-in and payment account to access the “paywalls” of multiple publications, according to the reports, which were triggered by an article last week in Italy’s La Repubblica newspaper.

The move is seen as an olive branch for the publishing industry from Google, which many news organizations blame for the revenue crisis their publications have faced in recent years. Google has been accused of using third-party news content to build traffic for its search engines, specifically its Google News service. Google counters that it only serves up headlines, short text blurbs and thumbnail pictures on its pages, and that it always links them to articles in the original publishers’ Web sites.

Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that Google will launch a music download service later this year and will add a subscription option to it next year.

The music service would be tied to Google’s search engine, thus building on Google’s existing music search features, which let people play back songs right from Google’s search results page through partnerships with online music providers.

Google’s music service would also be designed to work with mobile phones that run the company’s Android operating system, according to the Journal.

Google didn’t immediately respond to requests seeking comment about Newspass and the music service.

Google Plans Music Service Tied to Search Engine

By SCOTT MORRISON

Google Inc. is preparing to roll out a music download service tied to its search engine later this year, followed by an online subscription service in 2011, according to people familiar with the Internet giant’s discussions with the music industry.

Google’s proposals are still vague, say these people, and it’s unclear whether it has struck any deals with record labels so far. But Google has been stepping up conversations about offering new music services tied to phones running its Android operating system along with the broader Web, said people who have been briefed on the talks. The launch of Google’s download music store is still months away, these people said.

The discussions come as Google has been pushing deeper into music. Last year, as a first step, the company began linking to partner websites like iLike and Pandora through its search engine, allowing people to stream songs with one click from its search page. Now, the company is looking to tie its own service to its search engine, too.

The discussions come as the Mountain View, Calif.-based search company has been ramping up on entertainment content. Google is also moving to add professional content on its YouTube video site, and is planning to roll out a digital bookstore this year.

The launch of a Google music store would heighten tensions with Apple Inc., whose iTunes store is the leading U.S. digital music seller. Apple also recently began selling digital books. The two Silicon Valley giants have been at odds since Google launched its Android mobile phone software, a direct challenge to Apple’s popular iPhone. Apple recently hit back with an advertising platform for its iPhone and iPad tablet that has terms Google says could limit competition.

Google and Apple declined to comment for this article.

Google’s push into music retailing is likely to be welcomed by music labels that are increasingly concerned about Apple’s dominant position among U.S. music retailers. Apple accounted for 28% of all music purchased by U.S. consumers in the first quarter, according to NPD Group.

The recording industry has long sought a counterweight to Apple’s growing clout, but rivals such as Amazon.com Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. remain far behind with about a 12% share each, according to NPD.

The first phase of Google’s music service is expected to be a Web store where users can buy and download tracks, music industry insiders said. It will be tied directly to Google’s search engine, so that people using Google.com to look for a particular group or song will be served a link to the company’s music store, according to people familiar with the talks.

These people also said the download store would be an “interim” step toward what is expected to be a more ambitious cloud-based subscription service compatible with mobile phones built with Google’s Android software. A cloud-based service would enable subscribers to stream music directly from the Internet to their mobile phones, so that users wouldn’t need to store music files on their devices. Google recently provided a glimpse of a Web-based music store within its Android Market, which sells apps for phones built with Google’s Android mobile software.

Apple in the past several months bought and then shut down online music service Lala.com, prompting widespread speculation it might also soon launch a new cloud-based version of its iTunes music store.

—Jessica E. Vascellaro contributed to this article.

Write to Scott Morrison at [email protected]