Called YouTube Music, the platform will offer songs both with and without video, and users will be able to switch instantly to an audio-only mode.
YouTube, the world’s third most popular website after its parent company Google and Facebook, aims to draw more people to streaming instead of simply competing with other companies.
Speaking to AFP, YouTube’s head of music products and creator of Beats-owned MOG music streaming service, T. Jay Fowler, said: “I’m excited about being additive to the market, rather than just moving users through an ecosystem of apps.
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This new service is compatible both with Google’s Android system and Apple and will initially be available only in the United States.
The streaming service will be free but will come without advertisements for subscribers to YouTube Red.
Listeners can tap on a favorite artist and then listen to a continuous selection of music generated for them.