Apple is currently the undisputed king in online digital music sales. Ever since iTunes was released back in 2001, the program has been the default (and only really decent) option for people looking to build their digital music libraries.
This Holiday Season, Google is hoping to change that. And although “GMusic’s” existence has been confirmed for a few months now, it is only within the past week or so that concrete details have started to pop up.
Here are a few of the key features set to be included in GMusic:
Online Music Locker: For a $25/year subscription fee, users will have access to an onlne “music locker” where they can make music purchases as well as access and stream their entire music library from a computer or a supported mobile device. While you may be asking yourself why you’d want to pay a subscription fee for something you already own, consider the fact that with Gmusic your entire music library is automatically backed up online. If your computer breaks down or you just happen to be getting a new one, you won’t have to fret about losing all your music.
Direct Digital Downloads: Just because Google has been focusing on the streaming aspects of GMusic doesn’t mean they’re forgetting about traditional downloads. Google will allow users to save music to their computers for personal use just like they would with iTunes. The cost of a full-length album will be $7.00, while singles will go for 79 cents. These prices are about half of what we’re currently paying with iTunes, and could be one of the biggest selling points for the service. Google is also pushing record labels to allow for a one time preview of any track before making a purchase. In theory, this means that unlike with iTunes, you would have the ability to preview an entire album before deciding thats its worth purchasing. This would be huge, as it would mean an end to the days of purchasing a highly anticipated album, only to find out that it isn’t that great and you probably should’ve spent your money elsewhere.
50/50 royalty rate split between right-holders and Google: Consumers aren’t the only people that should be be excited for Google Music. Gmusic has the potential to completely transform the way that artists are compensated for digital music sales. Without getting into the gory details, just know that right now artists are essentially being screwed by iTunes. Most artists only get around 12% royalties on each album sold, and with plummeting album sales this has made it nearly impossible for artists to make a decent amount of money off of record sales. People in the music industry have been calling for revised royalty rates for awhile, and if Google has their way, they just might get it. Apparently Google’s proposal ”calls for a ’50-50′ revenue split between master rights-holders and Google, with music publishers receiving a 10.5% share. ” If this were the case, I would be a lot more inclined to start purchasing albums on a more regular basis, as I often feel that I am really not helping artists (especially independent ones) much when I purchase their album through iTunes, I usually choose to support them by buying concert tickets or merchandise instead.
I have high hopes for Google Music, but have to remain somehwhat skeptical until some screenshots start to surface. User friendliness is everything in today’s world, and if Gmusic’s interface is cluttered or confusing then a lot of people will hesitate to make the switch.
But on the other hand, if there’s one area where Google can’t afford to screw up, this is it. Google is one of the few companies that has the resources, ability and motivation to go head to head with iTunes, so they have to be fully aware of what is at stake here.
Realstically, the idea of Google Music “overtaking” iTunes anytime in the immediate future is pretty far fatched. However at the very least, it will be the first real competition Apple has seen in a long time. If Google Music is able to do everything they’re saying it will, artists, music fans, and the record industry as a whole all stand to benefit.
Im tellin ya dude, one day Google will rule the Universe!
The part about artists receiving 12% of revenues on iTunes is completely untrue. Artists normally recieve about 70%. I know this cause I have albums up there, and I also say this with the full knowledge that iTunes is a competitor for my startup. I don’t particularly like iTunes but their royalty split for artist is pretty fair if you ask me.
Google takes a market and owns it. Enough said. I just hope the stay away from disposable e-mail
Yeah, Google is gettin’ large, and fast! I’m a huge Google fan and the competition they create for iProducts(ugh!). However I am aware that Google occasionally makes mistakes. And if I saw them making one on this project…it would be the UI (user interface).
*crossing my fingers*,
Zhoonster
I know you are a blog writer, and not a REL writer so you don’t need to have any intelligence, but why are you confusing “music rights holder” with “artist” in your article? If the music rights hold gets only half of the sale (which is LESS than what they get with iTunes, by the way) that means even LESS money will trickly down to the actual artist when the rights holder (the record lables) take their cut.
Lakwak-
I’m not confusing the two. A truly “independent” artist would not be a signed to a major record label, and would therefore retain full rights and ownership over their master recordings. In this scenario, it is truly a 50/50 split, since there is no “label” in the picture. Most independent artists don’t rely on iTunes for exposure or profit, since it is primarily targeted at mainstream music fans. They are able to reach audiences through extensive touring, and giving their music away for free to fans, because they realize that the chances of them making any sort of decent money off of iTunes are pretty slim.
Especially when considering the other features I talked about (cheaper album prices, unlimited streaming from the cloud,) I think its completely fair for me to argue that Google Music might pose a threat to iTunes.
bandcamp is the best independent site for unsigned artists in my humble opinion. DVI
I don’t see how the 50/50 thing will work well for them? Apple does about a 33/67, with the latter going to the label & musician. If anything I’d think Google would be keeping a smaller cut, doing something like 25/75 if not 10/90 :/
I say there is even better way. 50% split Naw that is a joke. I charge I have even a better platform than this! We are in the process of bringing Music back into hands the Artist. Here is a concept an artist is control of there own destiny. GuitarGemme@twitter. Music and the word industry in the same sentence? What is wrong with that sentence?
Wait, people are still paying for music? Why?
If Google does 50/50 split I will buy ALL my music from them alone and will bug everyone I know to!
Power to the musicians!!
Digital music does not constitute the music industry.It is in fact only a fraction of what happens within the business overall. There are so many, many different facets to what encompasses what many achieve on behalf of recording/touring artists. I can only assume the writer of this article works for Google to make sure an all encompassing glorified statement. The facts are never presented well on what constitutes the leftover infrastructure of the major labels. I surely wish someone older than 20-something years old wrote about what is going on.
@Scout You are a jackass. First of all, digital downloads represent more than 10% of the total worldwide music market. (http://www.ibisworld.com/pressrelease/pressrelease.aspx?prid=127) I would hardly call a 2 billion dollar segment a “tiny fraction”. Second of all, you say you wish people older than 20 would write about what is going on, yet you cannot put together a sentence. “There are so many, many different facets to what encompasses what many achieve on behalf of recording/touring artists.” Are you serious? Go back to shitty Scout66.
Sounds just great, full length track reviews before you buy and a better profit share. Google are a much better company than Apple when it comes to the Internet and doing the right thing. Apple are always trying to hold all the cards and power over people. Love Apple products but get bored with apple handcuffs that come with many of their stuff. Go GMusic
Google rocks!!
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just like other Google products, the UI will be second rate. But the Apple haters will LOVE IT!
This would be huge, I know Apple NEEDS some competition, I’m eager to see what this GMusic will look like. The UI has to be on point though!