Google Unveils Music Services

Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) has sent out invitations for a press event on Friday, inviting journalists to an event to be held on Wednesday in Los Angeles, where Google is expected to unveil social networking features and add downloads to its cloud based music services.

According to unnamed sources the internet search giant has signed a licensing agreement with Universal Music Group relating the new music services, however it does not have its deals in place with Warner and Sony. It is yet unclear whether EMI Music group would participate at the event. Talks amid Google, Sony and Warner continue, said the sources.

Google’s negotiations with other companies have not gone well, however these companies are very eager to see a serious competitor for Apple’s iTunes to emerge and believe that Google has the technology, internet presence, money and other resources to give Apple’s music services a serious competition and make a dent in Apple’s sales.

Google has edgy relationships with some of the record companies. In general, the search engine giant’s past dealings with some of the media companies at times have been bitter. Viacom’s allegations were most notable as it filed a $1 billion copyright suit against Google claiming that the company encouraged users on YouTube to post pirated clips on the website.

Google, on the other hand, wants to offer enhanced music and movie services to it Android users, Google’s powerhouse cell phone operating system. From the past two years Google has tried to improve its relations with content creators. Vevo, the internet music and video service, did get off the ground as it was helped by managers as they enhanced antipiracy efforts.

Google, despite all this is once again launching a major portion of its music service without obtaining licenses and this may result in widening the fissure between the company and other labels. Google earlier this year launched its cloud based music service test version without any licenses.

Google is also set to give its online TV service, Google TV, a push. The search giant is said to have joined hands with LG as it eyes on manufacturing a new television, which will be launched at the consumer Electronics show in January

The Google TV OS attempts to bring the video content available on the internet into the traditional TV’s. It is yet a work in progress. Google in late October announced an update for Google TV, featuring a simplified user interface, enhanced search functions and gave more emphasis to its YouTube features also opening platforms for Android developers.

Post Written By: Ed Liston Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications. He is widely quoted in various financial publications on the Internet. When Ed is not writing about stocks, investing in stocks, talking about stocks, or otherwise doing something stock related, he likes to go sailing and fishing in his yacht.