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Wednesday, November 12, 2014

YouTube unveils Music Key subscription service, here's what you need to know

by James Trew | @itstrew | 7 hours ago November 12th 2014 1:00 pm

After over a year of rumors, YouTube today lays out details of its Music Key subscription service. So, what does it look like? Essentially it comes in two parts. Starting today, web and Android (iOS is coming soon) users will see a new music hub in YouTube. Here you'll find playlists, recommendations, trending songs/artists or just a quick route to that one darn track you can't (but please) stop playing -- all that usual stuff. Over the coming days, this will grow to include the ability to find, and play, artist discographies and full albums. This is the free part available globally, and mostly an attempt to organize what is already available on YouTube. It's the second part you're likely more curious about.

YouTube Music Key is the paid service we've been hearing about, and launches as a beta today in the US (plus Spain, Italy, Portugal, Finland and the UK). The service costs $10 (or £10/10€) a month, and gives you ad-free playback, the ability to listen in the background (essential for mobile users), offline music , endless playlists (like Spotify song-based radio stations) and -- most significantly -- access to the entire Google Play Music library. In short, one subscription gets you in to both of Google's large music platforms (video and audio). An update to the Play Music app will soon let you watch the official video for a song without having to break out to YouTube, and recommendations will now be based on your listening habits across both platforms (so be careful who uses devices where you're logged-in to YouTube!). This also means you'll be able to listen/watch via compatible services (like Sonos), and stream over Chromecast -- so it's going to be fairly versatile.

If you're already coughing up the monthly fee for Play Music, this is clearly good news. The only problem is -- despite the big launch -- Music Key is launching as an invite-only beta. Exactly how you get on the list is unclear (you can try here), with YouTube saying it's inviting "our biggest music fans first." Those lucky listeners will get six months free, followed by a promotional lifetime price of eight dollars/pounds/euros. If there's nothing in your inbox/app alerts, perhaps there's still time to rack up a few more listens of that favorite B-side ("hundreds" of Indies are apparently signed up, despite early troubles) and bag yourself a place? If not, you'll have to wait at the velvet rope with the rest of us for the full launch in 2015.

Source: YouTube

Tags: google, google play music, mobilepostcross, music key, youtube Hide Comments 0Comments

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

YouTube star sued for copyright to the tune of $150,000 per song

BYMariella Moon @mariella_moon6 hours ago

Most YouTubers just get a takedown notice if someone reports them using copyrighted tunes with their videos. But when that user is a huge star on the video portal like make-up guru Michelle Phan, who has almost 7 million subscribers and was even featured on YouTube's TV ad campaign, then things get a bit more intense. Electronic dance record label Ultra Music (home to Deadmau5 and other popular artists of the genre) just slapped Phan with a copyright infringement lawsuit, which accuses her of using 50 tracks released under the company without permission. Ultra wants Phan to pay $150,000 for each instance, claiming she profited from its artists' music, most likely because 1.) she's a YouTube partner, and 2.) the fame she gained on the website eventually led to lucrative deals with cosmetics companies Lancôme and L'Oreal.

Phan's adamant that she didn't do anything wrong, though, and her spokesperson told the BBC that Ultra gave her permission to use the company's tracks as background music for her make-up tutorials. While we've yet to find out which side is telling the truth, one of the label's own artists, American DJ Kaskade, defended her and lambasted existing copyright laws on Twitter at the same time:

Summary: I'm not suing @MichellePhan + @ultrarecords isn't my lapdog. I can't do much about the lawsuit except voice support for her.

- Kaskade (@kaskade) July 19, 2014

I wrote that all of one month ago. Copyright law is a dinosaur, ill-suited for the landscape of today's media.

- Kaskade (@kaskade) July 19, 2014If you're wondering what Phan typically uses music for, you can watch the video below which features Kaskade's track called 4AM.

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Via: Ars Technica

Source: BBC

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Monday, June 16, 2014

Iraq blocks Twitter, Google, YouTube and Facebook in effort to stifle insurgency

"Iraqi men take part in a demonstration to show their support for the call to arms by Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, in the central Shiite Muslim shrine city of Najaf on June 13, 2014. Sistani's call to defend the country against the offensive spearheaded by the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) came as US President Barack Obama said he was exploring all options to save Iraq's security forces from collapse. AFP PHOTO/HAIDER HAMDANI (Photo credit should read HAIDER HAMDANI/AFP/Getty Images)" data-credit

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Saturday, June 14, 2014

Iraq blocks Twitter, Google, YouTube and Facebook in effort to stifle insurgency

BYTerrence O'Brien @TerrenceOBrien1 day ago

The Iraqi government has essentially shut off all social networking in the country in an effort to stem the rising tide of insurgent group Isis (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant). The country has found itself thrown into chaos recently as the Islamist militants have overrun the cities of Mosul, Falluja and Ramadi in a march towards Baghdad. Isis, like many of the rebellions in the region recently, has made heavy use of social media for both propaganda and organization. In particular the group has spread its hard line religious and anti-western message via YouTube. Presumably prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has had the services blocked in an effort to disrupt Isis's movement and planning, and perhaps give the government's troops an opportunity to strike back.

Of course, it's no surprise that the militants have turned to social media (just as it's no surprise to see the government block it when under threat). Plenty of organizations have turned to YouTube as a means to spread their message, even if it is one hate. And uprisings that perhaps we're more sympathetic too have relied on Twitter for organizing protests and drawing attention to government abuses. And often the response of those in power has been to block those lines of communication at any cost -- even if that means taking an entire country offline. Hopefully any censorship in Iraq will prove to be short lived and citizens there can carry on Instagramming their lunch without fear of becoming yet another victim in this tireless conflict.

Update: Both Twitter and Youtube have said they are looking into the situation, confirming to VentureBeat that "some users are not able to access" the services in Iraq, according to YouTube. Facebook chimed in too, though its statement address the political situation more directly:

We are disturbed by reports of access issues in Iraq and are investigating. Limiting access to Internet services - essential for communication and commerce for millions of people - is a matter of concern for the global community.

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Source: International Business Times, VentureBeat

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Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Netflix, Hulu, YouTube and other services will be open to all on Xbox One, Xbox 360

In a move that bucks the standard set by Microsoft itself back in 2005, both the Xbox One and Xbox 360 will drop the requirement for an Xbox Live paid membership to access services like Netflix, Hulu and YouTube. Microsoft announced this morning that its prices and structure are being streamlined, and coming in line with those offered by Sony. When the "new generation" of Xbox Live rolls out in early June that means not only cheaper hardware, but also abandoning the need to have an Xbox Live Gold subscription for access to apps and streaming media. It's a move that certainly makes sense given that sales of the Xbox One are several million units behind the Play Station 4.

Until now, if you've wanted to watch Netflix on your Xbox you've needed to cough up for Live as well. That's another $5 a month (at least) for the privilege of enjoying your existing subscriptions -- something that never really sat well with many consumers. Reducing the total cost of ownership is one of the key ways to suck in new users. To compliment its efforts on the media front, Microsoft is also bringing Games with Gold and Deals with Gold to the Xbox One in early June. That means free games every month and steep discounts on titles like Ryse: Son of Rome. Now that the playing field seems a little more level (at least in terms of cost) the next-gen console wars will boil down to just a few things: exclusive games, additional functionality and marketing.

Wanna know the full breakdown? Microsoft's made this handy chart to help out:

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Wednesday, April 30, 2014

YouTube for Android now auto-generates playlists of your favorite artists

Making YouTube playlists can be a real pain, especially if you just want to veg out listening to music after a long day at work. If you're using an Android phone or tablet, though, you can now just type in an artist's name and voilà -- YouTube will auto-generate a playlist with the artist's most popular videos. The results, however, are mostly Vevo clips, and (sadly) it might not work for lesser-known artists. According to Android Police, this feature (called YouTube Mix) recently made its way to Android after popping up for desktops first in 2013. The lack of fanfare suggests it's just something Google's been experimenting with, so we wouldn't be surprised if this is the first time you've heard of it. Since Mountain View hasn't officially announced anything, we can't say whether all Android users can access YouTube Mix -- but it's the weekend anyway, so have fun trying it out.

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Via: Android Police

Source: Brandon Lall (Google

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Saturday, April 26, 2014

Saudi Arabia cracking down on local YouTube producers

Saudi Arabia's youngish population isn't crazy about local TV, so they've naturally turned to a substitute: YouTube. As a matter of fact, the country features three times the per-capita viewing as the US, to the point that Google reps conducted a roadshow teaching local producers how to make money. But according to the WSJ, authorities there aren't crazy about all that since they have no control over what gets posted on the "broadcast yourself" site. As a result, the kingdom is planning to regulate content produced in the country, with guidelines on alcohol, nudity and of course, wanton "drifting" videos (as shown below). It likely boils down to "security," though, as the nation has previously detained producers critical of the royal family. And that, unfortunately, is a movie we've seen before.

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Source: WSJ

Tags: censor, content, google, regulate, SaudiArabia, YouTube Next: Anonymous' radio-based networking keeps protesters off the grid .fyre .fyre-comment-divider

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Monday, April 7, 2014

Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN and more services launch on Amazon Fire TV

After announcing its new Fire TV set-top box today, Amazon naturally revealed a content lineup to go along with the $99 streaming device. That includes the new Amazon Video series we have been hearing about and TV shows it's signed up as Prime streaming exclusives. Amazon also announced several apps headed to the Fire TV: HBO Go (but apparently not at launch), Showtime Anytime, Flixster, Netflix, YouTube, Hulu Plus, WatchESPN and many, many more. The Amazon listing has a deeper list on what is available, we will have more information after we go hands-on.

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Source: Fire TV, Fire TV Apps

Tags: amazon fire tv, amazonvideo2014, hbo go, hdpostcross Next: Microsoft opening-day Build keynote is happening now, get your lovable here!

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