Apple's streaming music service will soon face another major competitor, as YouTube prepares to launch a paid music service in March of 2018, reports Bloomberg.

YouTube has already inked a deal with Warner Music Group and is in talks with Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, and Merlin, a group of independent labels. The service will allow YouTube to better compete with Spotify and Apple Music, and it will provide more revenue to music labels that have been pushing for more money from the video site.

youtube logo 2017

Yet major record labels say the growth would be even more significant if not for YouTube, which they criticize for not compensating them enough, considering how much people use the site to listen to tunes. Music is one of the most popular genres of video on YouTube, which attracts more than a billion users a month.

YouTube is referring to its new service as "Remix" internally, and it is said to include Spotify-style on-demand streaming along with YouTube-only elements like video clips. YouTube has already been contacting artists for help promoting the service.

According to Bloomberg, YouTube will need to overcome "several hurdles" to meet its March 2018 launch date. YouTube has been stuck in negotiations with Universal and Sony for more than a year.

Top Rated Comments

Appleaker Avatar
98 months ago
“Another major competitor”
It’d be more accurate to say “the same competitor, but with a rebranded service”.
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Hustler1337 Avatar
98 months ago
I'm confused, how does Youtube's Music service fit in with Google Play Music?

The only thing that I can think of is Youtube Music offering a video music service or allowing monetisation for independent artists?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jdillings Avatar
98 months ago
My prediction...Google shuts down Google Play Music and moves everyone over to this new service.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Statusnone88 Avatar
98 months ago
Uhhhh isn’t YouTube Red bundled with Google Play Music...?

So Google is going to have... 2 different streaming services? Cool? I guess?
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Apple_Robert Avatar
98 months ago
Not interested in paying Google any money.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
goobot Avatar
98 months ago
So is google’s business strategy to just keep throwing the same thing out with a slight rebrand till it sticks?
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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