Are you more of a fan of YouTube Red or Google Play Music? Pretty soon you won’t have to choose, because both may be combining to create a new service.
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The video-sharing site made the announcement during a conference in New York this week, according to The Verge, revealing that the two companies are looking for ways to boost subscriptions and educate consumers.
“The important thing is combining YouTube Red and Google Play Music, and having one offering,” said Lyor Cohen, YouTube’s head of music.
The two sites already have a distinct relationship. When you sign up for YouTube Red, an ad-free streaming service you can purchase for $9.99 a month, you get a Google Play Music subscription for free. And existing Google Play Music users, who also pay $9.99 a month, receive YouTube Red for free.
During the panel, Cohen also noted that he wanted to work more closely with music executives.
“In my mind, the missing piece on building these businesses is collaborating with the [music] industry, and not just making deals and going away and seeing how it works,” he said.
While neither platform confirmed a timeline for the merge, Google said customers will be given plenty of notice before any changes occur.
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