This article was published on October 29, 2009

Google Music Search Launching “OneBox” Now [updated]


Google Music Search Launching “OneBox” Now [updated]

google music searchGoogle cannot seem to keep its hands to itself. Rolling out in the next 24 hours is the new Google Music Search One Box. Lengthy title aside, you can now listen to music from Google search.

The search engine giant will not itself be serving up the music, it will be brought in via partner companies that will launch the play of a song in a pop-up window. That annoyance aside, Google massive reach is about to shake some roofs.

Google does not intend on monetizing this, shockingly. This was revealed to Matt McGee at Search Engine Land, who said the following: “Contrary to recent rumors, you won’t see any links to purchase the songs — at least for now. Google’s RJ Pittman told us today that, while some of their music partners have a commerce element, the focus of Google’s new music search is information, not selling digital songs. In fact, there’s no commercial arrangement at all, we’re told, between Google and the music partner sites included in this launch.”

Google has long been the source of everything free, and this is no exception. Again we find Google making connections, while avoiding the time-consuming backend labor. By adding this feature into search, Google is taking a step ahead of rival Bing. Microsoft is certain to reciprocate in short order.

Google and Microsoft aside, Yahoo is still the market leader in this area, given their longstanding deal with Rhapsody. Google is now working with Rhapsody as well. If Bing can keep this element of Yahoo search functioning, Microsoft might be able to ease ahead of Google.

The intricacies of the deal terms with Yahoo and Microsoft aside, search continues to innovate under competitive pressure. Something that most people have missed, Google is now also attempting to match snippets of lyrics that you search for, with the proper song.

Who else wants a Pandora Chrome plugin that lets me get related recommendations for music that I am searching for?

[Updated]

Google has put out a video for the release, and you can read their official notice here. Video below.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DV24RBmy-2I[/youtube]


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