YouTube Prepares Subscription Music Service For Possible December Debut

When it comes to having choices, we’re of the mind that more is always better. So welcome to the ring of streaming music services, YouTube. It’s reportedly going to launch its own subscription music service as early as December, lining itself up to compete with current popular options like Spotify and Rdio.

We’re already used to turning to YouTube for endless piles of cat videos and will even suffer through sponsored ads just to see whichever hot young thing currently has a new video doing something new and hot. To be sure, it seems kids these days turn YouTube more often than not when they’re looking for music.

Adding a music subscription appears to the next logical step for YouTube, as it already rolled out paid content channels for other video (although we’re not sure how well that endeavor is actually going).

According to the Los Angeles Times, which spokes to people in the know, the subscription music service would have perks like no commercials and the ability to store music you want to listen to on a mobile device to listen to when you’re not online, much like other services which allow you to download playlists when you’re connected to Wi-Fi for your later listening pleasure.

It would also work with Google Play Music All Access to give subscribers unlimited access to its music catalog, the ability to make your own radio stations and also offer up recommendations based on what you already like.

Despite these nuggets of info fed to the media by various sources, YouTube said it has nothing to announce.

“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,” said a spokesman. “However, we have nothing to announce at this time.”

Like we said — we’re all about the more choices, the merrier, YouTUbe. Throw your hat in the ring, step up to the plate — or the mic, perhaps? — and feel free to give us another option. When companies compete, consumers win. And they get to yell “THIS IS MY JAM!” in a crowded public place.

YouTube to launch subscription music service as soon as December [Los Angeles Times]

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