Reports this morning claim Google has begun early discussions with popular European music service Spotify about a possible partnership in the United States following the search giant"s apparent "inability" to get music labels to sign any deals for their upcoming music service.
Google"s plans for the music-in-the-cloud service, which according to CNET is "technologically ready", have hit a number of hurdles when it comes to music licensing deals, with labels reportedly unwilling to meet the search giant"s terms.
CNET today revealed the search giant may now be exploring a potential partnership with music streaming Spotify -- which music labels love, at least in Europe, where the company has been extremely popular -- in a bid to launch a competitor to Amazon"s Cloud Player service which launched last month without music label approval, and the rumored forthcoming cloud competitor from Apple.
Recent reports have suggested Apple has now managed to secure at least two approvals from music labels for their own cloud-based music storage service, with some suggesting Apple"s iTunes Chief Eddy Cue is visiting New York to try and secure deals from the remaining labels.
Since announcing plans to launch in the United States almost two years ago, Spotify has continued to delay and push back the launch date despite an eagerness to establish a US presence, after it was thought the company"s US operations would launch late last year.