Google Launches Google Music

George Meyson writes "Google has launched a new service known as Google Music that will allow a person to search fast links to song lyrics, musical artists and CD titles on the main search results page. The user can type in the name of a band, artist, album or song in the main Google search bar special, and results will appear at the top, accompanied by icons of music notes. Items that can be purchased will have links to merchants for online ordering or downloading. Initial merchant partners include Apple Computer's iTunes service, RealNetworks Rhapsody, eMusic and Amazon.com." From the Google Blog: "A few of us decided to try to make the information you get for these searches even better, so we created a music search feature. Now you can search for a popular artist name, like the Beatles or the Pixies, and often Google will show some information about that artist, like cover art, reviews, and links to stores where you can download the track or buy a CD via a link at the top of your web search results page."

Re:Coolness

[garcia]

Hasn't the RIAA issued cease-and-decist letters to lyric websites before?

Yeah, along with any number of other sites. What does that have to do with providing links (automatically) to these sites? Are you saying that Google should be liable for the content they link to?

what I'd really like to see

[inventor61]

is a service where I type in some lyrics and the song information pops up. I admit I simply cannot keep up with the music my kids listen to, and the radio stations don't tell me what artist or song they are playing. I want to know who the artist is and so forth so that when I am talking to the kids they will "think" I have some clue. Now, there is this Clarkson girl and I've seen pictures of her, so, at least that much has registered in my brain! I know you can sort-of do this already, but, if the engine that did this was not just some 'bot that went to the lyric sites but something that worked better ... anyway, let's see how this "plays out" (sorry)

Re:Coolness

[El_Servas]

Not directly, but you know how it is.

They will say that Google is facilitating copyright infringement by providing those links.

I just tested and it really is very easy to find the lyrics (well.. easier than before. :)).

Taking down lyrics searches

[ShatteredDream]

Anyone who has ever taken a stab at playing guitar or another instrument that can be tabbed out knows how unreliable most online tabs are. Sometimes I cannot believe how wildly inaccurate they are, and I have a nearly dead ear when it comes to telling one chord from another with the exception of a few power chords. The groups that complain about this stuff ought to be snickering and saying, "if you want to actually, well, LEARN the song you have to buy us for the reliability that only we can provide."

Besides, here's a little shocker for them: most CDs have the lyrics inside the jewel case. Yes, fancy that. Anyone who is a good singer can listen to the rhythm of the vocals and pick it up, thus making it practically pointless to crack down on this when the bands and record labels are actively "enabling piracy" by giving away the lyrics as part of the package. Stick to the tabs, people, stick to the tabs for enforcement if they're blatant rip offs.

I never understood why the record labels don't see themselves at war with these publishing groups. The record labels should be actively encouraging local bands to cover popular songs as a way to not only discover new talent, but promote existing songs. Think about it, if a local band can cover a very big song very well, aren't they worth investigating? The label might have their next big act right there, and the songs that sell well are excellent benchmarks.

If the record labels were smart, they'd forget about the few million $s they could be making by licensing sheet music and instead be pushing free sheet music for popular songs as a way to promote their albums.

Lyrics should be centralized...

[ki85squared]

For a while now, lyrics have been a popular search on the internet. From what I've seen, most to all of the lyrics websites contain a bajillion advertisements, spyware, etc., and sometimes I can't find what I want.

I wish Google would index the lyrics in their own database. Then I'll have a common, reliable source of lyrics goodness that doesn't threaten install spyware on my machine.

Re:Better yet

[JaredOfEuropa]

Wake me up when they have a music search where I can whistle a few bars into the mike, and the software comes back with matching songs.

Re:Coolness

[generic-man]

I think the RIAA will love this. Most of the links that "Google Music" sends you are to buy brand-new CDs of the artist you searched for, putting plenty of money in the RIAA's hands.

Re:Coming Soon:

[ryanov]

Plenty of lyrics sites that only contain words, not binaries with music in them, have been sued. Recall the lyrics.ch saga.

Re:Coming Soon:

[Khashishi]

How did this get modded funny? This is insightful if anything. The RIAA has demonstrated its inclination to sue any web-based lyrics providers and lyrics search engines.

Re:Coolness

[RESPAWN]

Well, you can't forget Google's motto: "Don't be evil."

For the most part, they really do seem to operate according to that.

Re:Coolness

[LWATCDR]

"I know it's dangerous to put any sort of faith for "doing the right thing" in any for-profit agency, "
and it is safe to put your faith in not for profit agencies?

Actually I trust the for profits more. As long as it is in their best interest to do the right thing they will. The trick it to make it in their best interest.

Re:Coolness

[kharchenko]

>They are one of the 800 lb gorillas on the block, yet unlike RIAA/MPAA/Apple/MS etc. who sue individuals, they are working constantly to get sued so that they can help set precedent.

If the intent is really just to set a precedent, there's no point of doing it with so much cash on board. It's much safer to assist a smaller company that's being sued - that limits your risks to a relatively modest net worth of that small company.

I think the reasoning is different - Google is trying to do undertake large-scale, sensible projects that have been previously hapered for legal/polictical reasons. They are doing this with an understanding that they can 1. make profit off these projects 2. wrestle their way through the lawsuits (which, by the way, would also require massive undertaking on the plaintiffs' side, hence will be less likely).

While overall, I think this is a positive development, it pains me to think that it takes Googol [wikipedia.org] dollars to make it possible to deliver sensible services.

Re:Coolness

[DFarmerTX]

What are you talking about?

http://www.google.com/search?q=b+filetype%3Amp3 [google.com]