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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."

31 of 264 comments (clear)

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

    RIAA sues Google

    1. 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 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
    6. 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
    7. 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.

    8. 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.
    9. Re:Coolness by generic-man · · Score: 4, Interesting
      --
      For more information, click here.
  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
  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)

  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

  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...

  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. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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...
  16. Re:Better yet by shortscruffydave · · Score: 3, Informative

    I think you might be talking about Shazam

  17. 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!

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

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