Google has launched its long-awaited Google Music service, featuring a mixture of streaming, downloads and social media, and has secured some high-profile exclusive releases to celebrate the occasion.
Google Music does, as expected, build on the Music Beta launched last May, which allowed users to upload their music to the cloud and stream it from there.
The full service, which launched in the US last night, syncs the user’s entire music library across their devices, including playlists.
Google has also launched a music store in Android Market, which integrates with Google Music, offering more than 13 million tracks from Universal, Sony and EMI – there is no word on Warner – as well as indie rights group Merlin and a number of independent distributors.
And tracks purchased there via PC or Android devices will automatically sync to the user’s Google Music library.
Users can also share one free full play of any track purchased with their friends on the Google+ social network.
To celebrate the launch, Google has secured some extremely high-profile exclusive releases, including a live album from The Rolling Stones, Brussels Affair (Live, 1973), a five-track live EP from Coldplay and a live EP from Shakira.
Included in this promotion are a number of free tracks and albums, including a live album from Pearl Jam and a free download of Busta Rhymes’ new single Why Stop Now.
Finally, artists who own the rights to their own music can sell it via Google Music, using the artist hub to build an artist page, set prices and sell directly to fans.
