Google Play Music and YouTube Red to merge, says report

Google is said to be planning a merger of YouTube Red and Google Play Music, according to a new report from The Verge based on comments made by YouTube exec Lyor Cohen at the New Music Seminar conference in New York, where he stated that “the important thing is combining YouTube Red and Google Play Music, and having one offering.”

Back in February, Google combined the YouTube and Google Play music teams into a single unit, but had a tacit response to whether the two services would ever merge, saying, "Music is very important to Google and we’re evaluating how to bring together our music offerings to deliver the best possible product for our users, music partners, and artists."

Google's music portfolio currently offers three services- YouTube Red, Google Play Music, and YouTube Music- which are all somewhat similar and connected. According to the YouTube Red website, a Red subscription includes a free subscription to Google Play Music. And existing Google Play Music subscribers also receive a free YouTube Red membership. However, you need to switch between apps depending on whether you want to stream music or video which deems the service cumbersome.

There are speculations that bringing the two services together could be more of rebranding story, akin to something like Amazon Prime. Importantly, a combined streamlined service will also be easier for customers to understand and compare with the likes of Spotify, Pandora, and Apple Music.

Though we can't say how the merger would look like or when it takes place but The Verge says that Google’s internal teams for both have already been merged.