Meet YouTube Music Key: YouTube's New Music Subscription Service

After a year of rumors and speculation, YouTube and Google present their music streaming solution, YouTube Music Key. It is the paid tier of Google’s new initiative, which will cost $9.99 and enable offline and ad-free listening. Key will launch with an invite-only beta this coming Monday, November 17, in the U.S., UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Finland and Portugal while all Key subscribers will also be granted access to Google Play Music. As Billboard reports, video-free songs will also be added to the video platform’s existing “catalog” of songs with official music videos. Music Key subscribers will be able to choose music videos, playlists and songs for offline listening. The free service also comes with a one button solution to listening, an “endless playlist” based off a listener’s song or artist choice, which helps users, including non-subscribers, to organize and rifle through songs and videos more efficiently.

As reported yesterday, YouTube has finally come to an agreement with independent labels over proposed royalty rates after signing licensing deals with the three major labels. Expect less unofficial streams posted by regular users but more officials uploads, including full albums, artist’s discography, etc., in the future to be featured on YouTube. Feel free to add your thoughts to YouTube’s latest music strategy in the comment section below.