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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."

54 of 264 comments (clear)

  1. Coming Soon: by elbenito69 · · Score: 5, Funny

    RIAA sues Google

    1. Re:Coming Soon: by ryanov · · Score: 2, Insightful

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

    2. Re:Coming Soon: by Khashishi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

    3. Re:Coming Soon: by Amouth · · Score: 3, Interesting

      oh i can't wait.. and then google can jsut turn around and say

      "OK you don't want it on google *click* there gone.. now they will never apear on google agian, on any part, in any place, oh and *click* your subnets banned for abusing the service please feel free to go to the public liberary to use our services"

      Personaly i think the Artists should be scared if the RIAA is crazy enough to go after google.

      --
      '...if only "Jumping to a Conclusion" was an event in the Olympics.'
  2. Coolness by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 5, Interesting

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

    Their response will certainly be interesting. Do I detect a brawl of the titans coming?

    1. Re:Coolness by garcia · · Score: 4, Insightful

      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?

    2. Re:Coolness by El_Servas · · Score: 5, Insightful

      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. :)).

    3. Re:Coolness by aero2600-5 · · Score: 4, Informative

      It is possible for a court to issue an injunction preventing Google from linking to any particular website. In the MPAA vs 2600 case, the court issued an injunction against 2600 stating that it was illegal for 2600 to link to the DeCSS code. Not that I agree with this, but it's been done before.

      Aero

      --
      Please stop hurting America -- Jon Stewart
    4. Re:Coolness by PaxTech · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Are you saying that Google should be liable for the content they link to?

      The record companies seem to think so.

      --
      All movements for social change begin as missions, evolve into businesses, and end up as rackets.
    5. Re:Coolness by voice_of_all_reason · · Score: 2, Interesting

      What does that have to do with providing links (automatically) to these sites?

      The same thing that allows them to sue bittorrent hubs for providing links to get pirated material.

      Are you saying that Google should be liable for the content they link to?

      Nope, but Google might decide to do it anyway to avoid problems. Not sure which search engine, but one of them certainly censors results for chinese surfers at the request of the their government. And don't all German ISPs have to filter out nazi sites?

      It all depends on what the content is. Try making a link site to illegal porn and see how fast you end up in a pound-me-in-the-ass prison, regardless of whether or not what you did is illegal.

    6. Re:Coolness by El_Servas · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I searched for an artist, then i drilled down for an album i liked, then the tracks of that album are displayed, and if you click in one of them, a snippet of the lyrics appears, along with the lyrics link(s).

    7. Re:Coolness by IAmTheDave · · Score: 5, Informative
      Yeah, Google is just trying to be sued apparently.

      Google may very well be the greatest of the "little people" advocates out there. 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.

      This is just the latest in a long line. Google Print, for instance. Googe Images. Google News. All have attracted lawsuits. No suit has resulted in much of a change of service. Google, here, is standing up for everyone's rights, and I gotta say I'm impressed. I know it's dangerous to put any sort of faith for "doing the right thing" in any for-profit agency, but I gotta tell you, Google's track record thus far has been pretty good.

      --
      Excuse my speling.
      Making The Bar Project
    8. Re:Coolness by generic-man · · Score: 2, Insightful

      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.

      --
      For more information, click here.
    9. Re:Coolness by Kirth · · Score: 5, Informative

      Yeah, they tried that with me too. Wasn't too successful due to the fact that US-laws do not apply in switzerland.

      Instead they sacked lyrics.ch a few years before that (also firsthand-experience, I've been Sysadmin of lyrics.ch's ISP), which was also highly unsucessful after lyrics.ch was turned into a pay-per-lyrics website of the mob.

      --
      "The more prohibitions there are, The poorer the people will be" -- Lao Tse
    10. Re:Coolness by RESPAWN · · Score: 3, Insightful

      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.

      --

      If Murphy's Law can go wrong, it will.

    11. Re:Coolness by LWATCDR · · Score: 3, Insightful

      "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.

      --
      See my blog http://ilovecookes.blogspot.com/ for light hearted technical information.
    12. Re:Coolness by generic-man · · Score: 4, Interesting
      --
      For more information, click here.
    13. Re:Coolness by kharchenko · · Score: 2, Insightful

      >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 dollars to make it possible to deliver sensible services.

    14. Re:Coolness by DFarmerTX · · Score: 2, Insightful
    15. Re:Coolness by bill_kress · · Score: 2, Interesting

      public companies can do some great things. A few of them. For a while.

      The problem is, it takes a lot of very dedicated people to counter the constant shareholder push towards optimizing profits and minimizing loss, and eventually those people lose and are replaced by people who will obey.

      The only company that doesn't seem to fit are IBM. I have yet to figure out if they are a temporary fluke or if there is something about going all the way through suck and coming out the other side.

  3. The RIAA will not like this by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Do multiple searches, and you could string enough icons of music notes together to get a free song.

  4. I'm not a fan... by garcia · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I guess I'm set in my ways and all but I'm just not a fan of this. I realize Google has to make money and this is one way of doing it but I'd rather just enter the name of a band or part of a song and find out the lyrics, cover art, etc the old fashioned way... With the great results Google used to return.

    Now, with this, I'm going to be inundated with more advertisements. I already knew that I could go to iTMS, Amazon.com, allofmp3, etc to get my music after I found what I was looking for. Why do I need Google to tell me?

    I was raving about GMail, Google Maps, in the past but with the last two "additions" which were Web Clips in GMail and now this, I just can't say I'm impressed. It was fine the way it was.

    1. Re:I'm not a fan... by boarder8925 · · Score: 4, Funny
      I just can't say I'm impressed. It was fine the way it was.
      Because of the above, your geek license has been revoked. Please turn it in at the nearest Licensing office and remain in the lobby for further processing.

      Thank you,
      Slashdot Dept. of Licensing Offices
    2. Re:I'm not a fan... by garcia · · Score: 2

      As for the Web Clips, those definitely are not advertisements, lest they're in the guise of Slashvertisements or their kin; It's simply an RSS aggregator that you can turn off quite easily in the preferences. I know, maybe they intruded slightly by turning it on with its launch, but don't you like to show off your new toys when you get them?

      I didn't imply that they were ads. I merely stated that I was unimpressed with their existence.

  5. Gee ... no Yahoo Music Unlimited? by LaughingCoder · · Score: 5, Informative

    Apple Computer's iTunes service, RealNetworks Rhapsody, eMusic and Amazon.com

    I wonder why Yahoo Music Unlimited (the best deal around) isn't in the list. :-)

    --
    The more you regulate a company, the worse its products become.
    1. Re:Gee ... no Yahoo Music Unlimited? by theurge14 · · Score: 3, Funny

      That's because you have to rent the search results. :)

  6. what I'd really like to see by inventor61 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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)

    1. Re:what I'd really like to see by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      www.letssingit.com

  7. I have been using google music for years by ponds · · Score: 4, Funny

    Intitle:"Index of /" nameofartist nameofalbum mp3, I'm feeling lucky

  8. Not the RIAA by bl00d6789 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Just to clear up confusion, it will not be the RIAA that would sue Google. The RIAA is responsible for protecting copyrights on recordings, not published music (sheet music, lyrics, etc...). The National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), or more specifically, their legal arm, the Harry Fox Association, is responsible for enforcing these copyrights, so that is most likely from whom Google will be hearing shortly.

  9. Ob BASH by schleyfox · · Score: 5, Funny

    Insomniak`: Stupid fucking Google
    Insomniak`: "The" is a common word, and was not included in your search
    Insomniak`: "Who" is a common word, and was not included in your search

    1. Re:Ob BASH by MikeBabcock · · Score: 2, Informative

      Funny but untrue of course; first result:

      The Hypertext Who
      Biography of members, discography, album reviews, and concert photos going back to 1969.
      www.thewho.net/ - 30k - Cached - Similar pages

      --
      - Michael T. Babcock (Yes, I blog)
  10. Yahoo has had this for ages by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    Here. More comprehensive too.

  11. Since TFA is /.'d by potus98 · · Score: 4, Informative

    C'mon guys, at least include a link to the SUBJECT of TFA:
    http://www.google.com/musicsearch

    Try searching for "good music" and "crappy music"
    --
    This one gang kept wanting me to join cause I'm pretty good with a bo staff.
    1. Re:Since TFA is /.'d by mottie · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Thanks.. I wish google would pick a standard for linking.

      local.google.com
      maps.google.com
      google.com/musicsearch

      Now I feel stupid that I didn't know this without having to sift through comments to find it...

    2. Re:Since TFA is /.'d by RESPAWN · · Score: 2, Funny

      If you think that's good, try searching for "French military victories" (without the quotes) and hit "I'm Feeling Lucky." You'll get a kick out of the result.

      --

      If Murphy's Law can go wrong, it will.

  12. Taking down lyrics searches by ShatteredDream · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

  13. Lyrics should be centralized... by ki85squared · · Score: 2, Insightful

    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.

  14. Google rushes in... by po8 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Just when we're hearing that the Music Publishers' Association is demanding jail time for folks who put up lyric sites, we get Google blithely putting up...a lyric site index. I know they're claiming that their partner sites are providing these, but my first hit was on lyricsfreak.com, which I suspect is hardly legal. It's like Google is daring folks to sue them. Awesome.

  15. One important detail Google forgot by theurge14 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Track times.

    This is extremely important when we're, ahem, looking for these songs and we don't want to confuse it with live versions, covers, etc.

    If Google puts that in there, I no longer have to use AllMusic.com to look album information up.

  16. how did **beatles-beatles not submit this one? by dominux · · Score: 3, Funny

    it even has Beatles in the summary, it was just asking to be submitted by him.

  17. Re:Better yet by JaredOfEuropa · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    --
    If construction was anything like programming, an incorrectly fitted lock would bring down the entire building...
  18. Phonetics Searches? by jsldub · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's all well and good, but what about phonetic searching of songs?

    You know, that song that goes "da da da. da da. da da da. whirrrr!"

  19. More importantly... by Lead+Butthead · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Will Google fight the suit (when it comes) or cave in?

    --
    ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI!?
  20. Re:Better yet by shortscruffydave · · Score: 3, Informative

    I think you might be talking about Shazam

  21. Re:how come google can do this... by Maximum+Prophet · · Score: 2, Interesting

    In law this is known as the "800 Lb Gorrilla effect" If you have enough money and the balls to go with it, you don't worry about being sued. You'll still be sued sometimes, but you don't worry about it.

    Question: Where does an 800 Lb gorrilla sit?
    Answer: Anywhere he wants to.

    --
    All ideas^H^H^H^H^Hprocesses in this post are Patent Pending. (as well as the process of patenting all postings)
  22. Imaging the web according to Google by mugnyte · · Score: 2, Interesting

    More than ever, it looks like Google is ready to link together all these recent conepts into a cohesive web platform for All Things Information. They're not replacing books, but allowing you to search them more in-depth, same with music, etc.

      I'm not sure it'll sell, but it should be an interesting product. I like that they've started with real innovation on searching, cateloging, etc, instead of just branding alone. However, in the end the market will leapfrog, it always has.

      Compare their lineup to, say, the world of MSN or AOL, which was attempting to brand existing behaviors "email" and "search" and "shop" done pretty much as you have it elsewhere. Yahoo added customer references, then Amazon adds one-click and historical records/you-created-this-page nonsense. Google will probably have as much of all those products, but tied into a dashboard of widgets.

    Sadly, nobody has come up with a better concept on ads. Crazy-bad moving ads on a static page of text are the bane of internet viewing. Google's putblished test-only ads, which I like, but perhaps only by their integrating their paying advertising into their lists (with a deliniation for showing such) can we drop this.

    Unless these new products are kept simple, users will again migrate to the "meat and potato" sites like craigslist and similar for simplicity. Google's biggest risk is it's newfound audience, and the push to throw ads at them everywhere. The day we see Punch the Monkey on Google, we've pretty much seen this behemouth ready for an undercut.

  23. Google search by Andrewkov · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Google search: 'scuse me while I kiss this guy

    Did you mean: 'scuse me while I kiss the sky

    Cool!

  24. Re:powertabs.net by Andrewkov · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Yesterday powertabs.net disabled downloading of user transcribed guitar tablatures of songs in response to statments made yesterday by the MPA threatening legal action against sheet music, tablature, and lyric websites.

    That's the first thing that jumped to my mind. I wonder if Google will be the next target, or are they partnering with the RIAA in this? I guess you could argue that Google is stimulating sales of legitimate media by directing people to iTunes, etc.

  25. other audio content to be indexed? by DeveloperAdvantage · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Will google index other types of audio content with their music service (say like audiobooks or audio training)?

    For example, I am currently working on http://www.developeradvantage.com/, which is creating audio training modules specifically for software developers. So far, there is really nothing else out there in terms of professional, high-quality audio training modules. On amazon.com, you can find over 2000 Java books, but, if you search for audio content, you will find zero results that are technical java books (maybe a few on indonesia though). Same with audible.com, they have no technical content for software developers.

    It would be great if I could go to a search engine, type in, say Java, and find some great training modules to listen to while exercising or commuting to work (or perhaps even while working on other stuff at my desk!).

    --
    FREE - Java, J2EE and Ajax Audiobooks for Software Developers - www.DeveloperAdvantage.com
  26. Coming Soon After: by christian.elliott · · Score: 2, Funny

    Google buys RIAA.

  27. Re:What I would love is... by theurge14 · · Score: 2, Informative

    The website you want is AllMusic

    You have to register to be able to search by song (it's free, or you can use BugMeNot), but you can search by group anonymously.

  28. Re:Better yet by Blitzshlag · · Score: 3, Interesting

    That already exists thanks to Alexa opening up their API: http://www.musipedia.org/

  29. But will my usual Britney Spears goggles be ok? by potus98 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm mean googles. Will my usual searches for Britney Spears be somehow disrupted by this new music search engine?

    [steps away from tee...]

    --
    This one gang kept wanting me to join cause I'm pretty good with a bo staff.