A year after Google first introduced its Google Play Music streaming service, the media titan has announced that it's made a licensing agreement with SOCAN and CMRRA-SODRAC Inc. to bring the platform into Canada.
Google announced this morning that starting today (May 5), Google Play Music is available to Canadian consumers. The service offers 25 million songs "from all the major record companies, as well as top local and independent labels" that can be streamed on your various devices for a flat rate. An introductory fee of $7.99 a month is available now, which also includes 30 days of free service, with anyone signing up after June 30 being billed $9.99 a month.
Google had been in touch with the publishing rights companies over the last year trying to develop the platform in a way that would serve right owners and artists fairly. A breakdown of how artists will be compensated has not yet been made available.
"This agreement with Google is an important step in ensuring that music streaming and downloading continues to gain popularity and revenues in Canada, to the benefit of music rights-holders and music fans alike," Caroline Rioux, president of Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA), said in a statement.
In addition to streaming millions of songs from recording artists, Google Play Music also allows listeners to customize playlists, access radio stations and use the platform as a "digital locker," storing up to 20,000 of their own songs on the cloud. Tracks will also be able to be shared between Google Plus users.
Google announced this morning that starting today (May 5), Google Play Music is available to Canadian consumers. The service offers 25 million songs "from all the major record companies, as well as top local and independent labels" that can be streamed on your various devices for a flat rate. An introductory fee of $7.99 a month is available now, which also includes 30 days of free service, with anyone signing up after June 30 being billed $9.99 a month.
Google had been in touch with the publishing rights companies over the last year trying to develop the platform in a way that would serve right owners and artists fairly. A breakdown of how artists will be compensated has not yet been made available.
"This agreement with Google is an important step in ensuring that music streaming and downloading continues to gain popularity and revenues in Canada, to the benefit of music rights-holders and music fans alike," Caroline Rioux, president of Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency Ltd. (CMRRA), said in a statement.
In addition to streaming millions of songs from recording artists, Google Play Music also allows listeners to customize playlists, access radio stations and use the platform as a "digital locker," storing up to 20,000 of their own songs on the cloud. Tracks will also be able to be shared between Google Plus users.
