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Warner signs on for Google’s music subscription service

Billboard is reporting that Google has signed up Warner Music to its music subscription service to go up against Spotify and perhaps Pandora when it is released later this year, according to reports. Warner being the first to sign up would be interesting, because it was the last to sign up with Google Play in October. Stephen Bryan also held out for almost a year after rival record companies signed deals to sell downloads on Google’s music store that launched in 2011.

Warner Music Group has struck a licensing deal with Google for two music services the technology giant is launching later this summer, according to executives familiar with the agreement. Google will offer two distinct subscription services – one through its YouTube online video property and another via its Google Play platform.

Executives at Warner, which is the first record label to commit to Google’s proposed music service, declined to comment. A YouTube spokesman issued the following statement: “While we don’t comment on rumor or speculation, there are some content creators that think they would benefit from a subscription revenue stream in addition to ads, so we’re looking at that.”

Google is also in deep negotiations with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment and other labels to nail down an agreement similar to the one it now has with Warner.

Fortune reported earlier today that the deal would spill through its YouTube division, but Billboard said it would be both YouTube and Google Play. Personally, I’ve never had problems streaming just about any music I was looking for for free from YouTube.

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