CNET: Google Music's 'A Loser'

Expectations Were High

CNET's GREG SANDOVAL has some harsh words for GOOGLE MUSIC, writing the service "was supposed to have an inside track marketing music to the 200 million ANDROID users, but performance so far is not what was expected. Three months after launching, GOOGLE MUSIC hasn't lived up to expectations."

The launch last NOVEMBER (NET NEWS 11/17/11) came with much hype. GOOGLE rolled out its competitor to APPLE's iTUNES, and introduced the music service that lets people buy songs through their ANDROID devices. GOOGLE MUSIC rolls out with deals in place with UNIVERSAL MUSIC, SONY MUSIC and EMI GROUP, offering as many as 20,000 songs.

The service launched without WARNER MUSIC onboard, and still has not brought WMG into the fold.

While GOOGLE is far from shutting down the service, it apparently is looking to correct certain issues. CNET notes, "GOOGLE MUSIC was supposed to be a music powerhouse. As a companion service to ANDROID-powered mobile devices, the service has a massive potential user base. At the time of GOOGLE MUSIC's NOVEMBER launch, there were more than 200 million activated ANDROID phones andtablets. If GOOGLE managed to convert just 10% of those device owners, it would mean 20 million customers."

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