Two of the top 10 queries in the U.S. are music related, according to data from Google's Insights for Search. In response, the search giant has introduced Google Music, a new search feature that allows users to easily search and discover millions of songs.
Now, when Google users enter in a music-related query such as the name of a song, artist or album, the results will include links to an audio sample of those songs, provided by Google's search partners MySpace and Lala. Users will also have the option to purchase the full song from MySpace or Lala. In addition, users can now search for a song simply by entering in a line or two of the lyrics. This feature is especially helpful when you don't know the title of the song or the artist.
Along with offering relevant music-related search results, Google can now help users discover music they will like, even if they can't submit a query of the type of music they would like to hear. With the help of Pandora, imeem and Rhapsody, Google Music offers links to these sites where users can discover similar music related to their queries.
"This feature doesn't just make search better. It also helps people discover new sources of licensed music online while helping artists to discover new generations of fans and reconnect with longtime listeners," said Murali Viswanathan, product manager at Google.
Google Music will be rolled out gradually to users across the U.S.
-Melanie Saxe
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