Music Beta, the online music locker service that Google unveiled at I/O in May.
Google Magnifier, a new feature to help users of its online music storage service discover and obtain new music. In addition to free music tracks, the site has videos of live performances, artist interviews, and a chance to explore different musical genres. Each day, the blog will be updated with a “song of the day” that can be added to your Music Beta account with one click.
In music Beta, there is no way to purchase music. In order to get music into Music Beta, you have to upload your own MP3s. Now Magnifier offers a second way, but again, it’s only for a few songs that Google has acquired the rights to give away for free. Presumably, they’re still negotiating with the labels and rights holders to be able to incorporate either a music store or a streaming service into the Music product, but that’s clearly not ready to go yet.
And until it is ready to go, Music Beta won’t be close to resembling an “iTunes killer” or even an Amazon MP3 competitor. Both of those service offer easy ways to browse and buy new music. Meanwhile, other service like Pandora, Rdio, MOG, and the just-launched-in-the-U.S. Spotify attack from the other end with music streaming.
Google says that Magnifier is a way to “reignite your passion for music”, but it seems more about reminding people that Music Beta exists. Those deals can’t come soon enough for the service.
