Google Play Music Launches Free, Ad-Supported Version of Streaming Service
Google Play Music , Google's music streaming service, has launched a free, ad-supported version that will allow users to access its catalogue through curated playlists. Users will also be able to create stations based off a specific artist, song, or album. It's available online today in the U.S., with iOS and Android compatibility coming later this week. The company hopes that the free version will bring in more listeners who will eventually convert to paying $9.99 per month for the service, without ads. The paid version offers features that the free version doesn't, such as the ability to search and play specific songs or albums and offline streaming. Without a paid subscription, users will still be able to host 50,000 songs from their own library through Google Play's platform. A free, ad-supported model is a pointed move away from recent industry trends, as prominent new competitors Tidal and Apple Music have declined to offer a "freemium" plan. ...