YouTube to launch music service

June 19, 2014
Zaina Kahuk
News Writer
Headlines

YouTube will launch a new subscription music service, after being dragged into a very public dispute over royalties that will result in the block of some independent artists’ music videos. YouTube is now “adding subscription-based features for music on YouTube” and that “hundreds of major label and independent artists” have signed on. The paid service will allow playback of videos without ads and allow for offline playback on mobile devices. That’s according to two people familiar with the matter. It plans to launch in a few months. A small number of independent artists who had not agreed to new deal terms will have their videos blocked in some countries starting in a few days, even on the free version of YouTube.