Although we and most other observers have been presuming an imminent YouTube music service to be ordained fact, it is merely a widely-reported rumor. That rumor got a strengthened spine when the Android Police website performed a “teardown” (examination of code) on the latest version of YouTube’s Android app.
Scrutinizing code can sometimes reveal placeholders of functions planned for the future, but not yet implemented. To code-savvy snoopers, those strings are like Easter eggs. In this case, they offer scant but intriguing glimpses that could match up to the rumored music service.
The findings:
- A name: Music Pass;
- A reference to offline playback, a feature usually associated with subscription listening platforms;
- A feature referenced as “background listening,” which doesn’t make much sense in a video service, but is perfectly sensible for a music service;
- A feature called “Uninterrupted music,” with this marketing string: “No ads on millions of songs.”
Android Police also found graphic icons associated with the placeholder features.
In light of these revelations, we continue to presume that Google is readying a music subscription service on its YouTube platform, and our core question holds firm. What added value will Google bring to the service which might persuade YouTube users to pay for a platform which is already free, opulently stocked with music, and the go-to source of listening for teens? We need more Easter eggs to answer that question.