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Google is launching a music search facility, which will include the option for customers to buy songs.
Sources told the Associated Press that Google’s new music pages will package together images and album art of musicians with links to news, lyrics and previews of songs, as well as a way to buy songs.
The service will be taking on Apple’s iTunes 9, which recently underwent a revamp to include cover art and various extras with songs.
According to AP’s sources, song previews and sales will be provided by online music store Lala and MySpace-owned music recommendation service iLike, but users will not have to navigate away from the Google search page.
Google will reportedly make an announcement about the service next Wednesday.
Major record labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI are said to have pitched the idea to Google last year and are involved in the project.
AP’s sources said that revenue generated by song sales will be split between the record companies and Lala and iLike, while Google will collect advertising revenue.
