Google plans merger between Play Music and YouTube Red

News
By published

The company wants to bring the two platforms together, which could mean greater functionality for users in the UK and more music on YouTube in general.

Many people in the UK probably aren't that familiar with YouTube Red - it's basically a subscription service for ad-free videos and "uninterrupted music" from YouTube - because it isn't available in Blighty yet. But that lack of recognition might be about to change.

During a panel session for the New Music Seminar conference in New York, Lyor Cohen (YouTube's head of music) confirmed YouTube Red will be merging with Google Play Music (which is available in the UK).

The merger has been rumoured for a while now, but became more likely when Google combined the teams working on the two streaming services.

Latest Videos From

Cohen also mentioned to The Verge that he wants YouTube to collaborate more with music labels, so it's possible we'll see an even greater focus on music video than right now. Cohen said, “In my mind, the missing piece on building these businesses is collaborating with the [music] industry, and not just making deals and going away and seeing how it works.”

While in the US this might not be that big a change - paying for a subscription to YouTube Red or Google Play Music still gives you the other service for free - if the function extends to the UK it could make Google Play Music a much more attractive service.

Read more:

Primephonic Streaming review

Best wireless speakers

BBC Proms to be broadcast in lossless audio for the first time

Google adds HDR video to Play Movies - but only in US and Canada

Yazz Ahmed: analogue equipment, hi-res sound

Spotify trials Driving Mode for hands-free listening

Simon Lucas

Simon Lucas is a technology journalist, with a strong emphasis on the audio/video side of consumer electronics and home entertainment, and has been since 2003. He worked for more than 14 years at What Hi-Fi?, the last six of which were spent as the editor of the magazine and website. Since then he's written for Wired, The Guardian, TechRadar, Stuff, GQ and many more besides. 

In the course of his career he's developed a pretty deep understanding of the way both the publishing and the electronics industries function, as well as the sort of intimate knowledge of audio products (both specific and general) that can make people very wary of him at parties.