Report: YouTube Music Key About To Launch As Premium, Ad-Free Service

YouTube Music Key Coming?

YOUTUBE MUSIC KEY, GOOGLE's premium service, is about to launch as a premium service, according to RE/CODE's PETER KAFKA. GOOGLE’s video site is set to launch its long-awaited subscription service near the end of OCTOBER, according to industry sources.

An e-mail from YOUTUBE telling content owners they must agree to new terms by OCTOBER 22nd or their “videos will no longer be available for public display or monetization in the U.S. confirms the report, though KAFKA suggests "it’s possible the launch could keep slipping" into 2016.

The RE/CODE story insists YOUTUBE "intends to bundle two different services into one offering," including an update of its music service YOUTUBE MUSIC KEY, which launched in beta last FALL, and another, yet-to-debut service that will allow users to watch YOUTUBE videos ad-free. 

Industry sources say GOOGLE intends to charge $10 a month for the combined offering, with the main portion of that "going to music labels and other copyright owners."

Here is YOUTUBE's latest variation on its ongoing statement, “We are progressing according to plan to provide fans more options in how they enjoy content on YOUTUBE. We have support from the overwhelming majority of our partners, with over 95% of YOUTUBE watch-time covered by agreements, and more in the pipeline about to close.” Last JULY, when the company offered up a similar statement, it said it had signed up content owners that represented more than 90% of YOUTUBE viewing.

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