YouTube’s Music Key won’t be launched until September

Music Key, Google’s subscription version of YouTube, won’t be launched until September as developers give beta testers more time with the system.

According to an email sent to the select few invited to beta test the platform, they have until at least September 15 with the system before it’s rolled out to public.

"As one of an exclusive group of Music Key beta users, your feedback has helped make it better each day. And to thank you, we've got good news! Your free trial is being extended," the email read.

Details of Music Key have been drip-fed to media since April last year, however one thing is certain, it won’t be too unlike its competitors. Music Key is expected to offer both a free ad-funded tier and ad-free access in partnership with Google Play Music. Free users get “extended mixes” of tracks while paid users, for an expected $9.99 per month, can search for songs by title, artist or genre and stream music videos, both online, offline and in the background whilst using other apps.

Paid users also receive a complimentary subscription to Google Play Music. One beta tester has told The Verge that Google Play Music, the globe’s largest library of videos of all kinds, is faster and easier to use.

Last month an email from YouTube to its Partners suggested a subscription service launch for June 15. In the email the video streaming giant detailed updated terms and conditions for a paid-for, advertisement-free version of YouTube for a monthly fee. The email said the changes would go into effect on June 15, 2015 and that YouTube Partners can agree to updated terms on YouTube’s Creator Studio Dashboard.

Apple is also rumoured to be pushing back the launch of its streaming service. Speculation suggests the Beats Music-powered service will rebrand to be called Apple Music and won’t launch next month at Apple's WWDC 2015 (Worldwide Developers Conference).

Apple Music will use Beats’ technology, look, and curated playlists. Users will be able to search through both the Beats and iTunes catalogues at the same time, and select whether they want to buy a track from iTunes or stream it. The service may also include social networking functions, where artists can share track samples, videos, photos, release news, and run cross promotions with other artists and labels.