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Google Diversifies Into Music



Google Diversifies Into Music

Rising Dutch DJ and producer R3hab performs during the launch of Google Music hosted by T-Mobile at Mr. Brainwash Studio in Los Angeles, Calif., Nov. 16. (John Shearer/Getty Images for T-Mobile)
Internet search giant Google Inc. is attempting to diversify into a new service offering: music.
Google has come up with its own version of a music manager based on its Android operating system called “Google Music.”
Music has been one of its rival Apple Inc.’s strengths. Its iTunes application was launched in 2003 and is widely considered the biggest music retailer in the world, and has helped drive sales of its iPod and iPhone devices.
“Google Music helps you spend more time listening to your collection and less time managing it,” Senior Vice President of Mobile Andy Rubin said in a statement.
“We automatically sync your entire music library–both purchases and uploads–across all your devices so you don’t have to worry about cables, file transfers or running out of storage space. We’ll keep your playlists intact, too, so your ‘Chill’ playlist is always your ‘Chill’ playlist, whether you’re on your laptop, tablet, or phone.”
This service is available in the United States only, and has 13 million songs available for purchase, primarily offering music from labels such as EMI, Sony, Universal, and various independent groups.
The majority of singles will cost around $1 and albums between $8–$12. The initial incentive for consumers includes the availability of downloading one complimentary song on a daily basis, as well as the ability to share songs with friends on the Google+ social network.
“Recommendations from friends are the single most important way that people discover music and we think that this feature has the potential to really transform purchasing behavior,” said Zahavah Levine, Google’s director of content partnerships for Android, at the launch event on Nov. 16.
Commentators have noted that Google’s latest announcement may not be about groundbreaking in terms of impacting the company’s bottom-line profit results. Google Music has not been considered to be innovative, because it is just enabling the user to download music, which is not unique in the market. Apple may not necessarily be too concerned at this stage, but others like Amazon.com, Inc. may be keeping a competitive eye on Google, analysts say.
The audio entertainment distribution industry also includes Facebook, the world’s largest social network, which announced the functionality of sharing music through applications such as Spotify, Rdio, and MOG in September. Amazon.com, the largest online retailer, has a long track record for selling music online

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