YouTube's Susan Wojcicki remains vague about music service status

YouTube's Susan Wojcicki remains vague about music service status


YouTube’s CEO Susan Wojcicki remained vague about a potential launch date for the company’s music subscription service during an interview at the Recode mobile conference in Half Moon Bay, California.

She stated that the company is “working on it” but refused to give a timeline other than a vague hint that it would come "soon".

YouTube’s music service was originally supposed to launch in early 2014 but given the lack of substantial news on its status it doesn’t look like we will see it before 2015.

Whilst the services’ deals with majors appear to be in place, the company decided to play hardball with independents and was rewarded with a worldwide protest by independent music associations denouncing the company’s terms; IMPALA even asked the European Commission to step in.

In the meantime alternative on-demand music streaming solutions are gaining ground. Spotify is likely delighted with YouTube’s delay as it allows the company to consolidate its position before the Google-owned video streaming giant makes its entrance.


(Andrea Leonelli)