Google ‘cueing up music service’

Web giant Google reported to be launching service that would integrate search and music

TechCrunch stirred up the tech world today when it posted that the launch opf a Google music service was “imminent”. The technology website said it had heard from “several sources”, that Google had spent several weeks securing content for the launch of the service from major music labels. However, it admitted that it was not clear if the “Google Music” or “Google Audio” service was about streaming or downloading music, or both.

No other tech specialist seems to have heard about the project though, and when the Guardian asked Google’s UK office for a comment, it answered: “We don’t comment on rumour and speculation.”

However, another project called OneBox might hint at Google’s plans. According to Cnet, Google will announce within the next week new results for music-related queries, which blend music and search in a OneBox.

According to Cnet sources, it will provide a thumbnail with the picture of the artist, some background information and listings of the music that can be previewed. It says that all four of the top record companies are on board.

OneBox – already used by Google for video, financial information and weather search results – collect information into a separate unit, often with images.

TechCrunch stated in a later post that the Google service would integrate music links into search results. It added that Google would add the opportunity to buy music and direct preview streams via its partners LaLa and iLike, recently acquired by MySpace.

It claimed that the official Google announcement will be next Wednesday, 28 October, at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles.