Google officially launches online Google Music store

by Steven Mostyn - Nov 17 2011, 09:16

Offering up a total of 13 million song tracks, search titan Google has expanded its reach into the technology market by flinging open the doors of its new Google Music online store.

“Google Music helps you spend more time listening to your collection and less time managing it,” enthused Andy Rubin, Google’s senior vice president of Mobile, in an official blog post.

According to Google, users of its new online platform will enjoy the automatic syncing of their entire music library across all compatible devices, thereby avoiding cable mess, file transfers or running out of storage space.

“We’ll keep your playlists in tact, too, so your “Chill” playlist is always your “Chill” playlist, whether you’re on your laptop, tablet or phone,” added Rubin. “You can even select the specific artists, albums and playlists you want to listen to when you’re offline.”

As was previously reported by The Tech Herald, Google’s online music store may struggle somewhat to depose market leader iTunes in its current state—mainly because it has not yet secured a licensing agreement with Warner Brothers.

That said, major publishers such as Universal Music, EMI Group and Sony BMG have all signed up, along with independents such as Merge, Warp, Matador, XL, and Naxos.

By way of marking the store’s opening, Google has partnered with a selection of leading lights in the music industry to offer extra incentive to prospective customers.

This includes exclusive content from the likes of Coldplay (five-track live EP) and The Rolling Stones (never-before-released concert album and a free single).

Other artists putting out free recordings via Google Music include Shakira (live EP), Pearl Jam (live album), Dave Matthews Band (live albums), and Busta Rhymes (first single from his new album).

Google Music is open as of today (currently U.S. access only) via market.android.com. Over the next few days it will also become available for mobile devices running version 2.2 and higher of the Android Operating system.

Check the platform out for yourself by watching this official demo video.

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