YouTube announced Wednesday that it will be rolling out a beta version of "Music Key", its paid subscription service that lets users stream music videos and even download them for offline viewing, reports BBC.com.
The service, which would cost users $9.99 a month, looks like it is set up to directly compete with other music streaming services such as Spotify. The monthly subscription would also include membership to Google Play Music All Access, which already allows personalized music streaming, custom playlists, and offline listening as well.
"We're introducing YouTube Music Key beta, a monthly subscription service starting with the promotional price of $7.99/month (discounted from $9.99/month) that will give you all that-ads-free music, background play and offline viewing," reads a recent post on YouTube's official blog.
The service will first be available in the U.S., as well as in the U.K. and a few other European countries, where their "biggest music fans" are located, according to YouTube.
Saving music videos via "Music Key" will initially be available to Android device users only, with iOS-powered phones and tablets to follow shortly. Those on their PCs, however, won't be able to use this feature.
The "Music Key" subscription also allows users to listen to higher-quality audio, concert recordings, unreleased versions, and other remixes/covers by different artists. All these, of course, without the ads.
YouTube had made it known last year that it was planning to launch a paid subscription service for its music content, according to the NY Times, as a "concession" to the recording companies who have complained about their content being widely available on the website despite providing low royalties.
"We want to give fans more ways to enjoy music on YouTube, but also give artists more opportunities to connect with fans and earn more revenues," said Christophe Muller, YouTube's music partnerships director.
The introduction of "Music Key" also brings an overhaul to YouTube's music database, regardless of whether a user is paying or not. Expect to see complete albums and static videos with better sound quality if there are no official music videos available for a particular song.
