Google Music, which The Wall Street Journal reports the store is tentatively called, is likely to allow you to recommend songs from its online library with your Google+ contacts. Your contacts will be able to listen to a song once for free and then purchase an MP3 of the song if they choose.
The store will be tied into Google Music Beta, a free service that allows you to upload your existing music so you can listen to it from any computer or your phone. However, Google Music may have to launch without access to the libraries of 2 of the 4 major U.S. record labels — Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. The recommendation feature and download store will only work for music that’s been released by record labels which have agreements with Google.
Sony executives claim that Google does not do enough to combat piracy on YouTube and its Android operating system for mobile devices. Warner Music, meanwhile, apparently believes that Google Music is not worthwhile since it is offering its online storage feature for free and thus does not generate revenue for record companies. However, Google is said to have told record labels that the music service will generate enough revenue in download sales to make the service a worthwhile venture for them.
If Google does indeed launch a music download store, it will compete with the likes of iTunes and music streaming services such as Spotify and Rdio as it vies for your attention. However, harnessing the power of Google+, which has more than 40 million users, could help Google to gain traction in the digital music market and drive sales when you recommend songs for your friends to check out.
by Chris Holt at Scribbal
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