Google to launch online music store?

Google is allegedly planning to launch an online music store.

The New York Times reports that the search engine firm has designs to enter the sector within the coming weeks, but continues to encounter difficulties striking deals with the major record labels.

Google is rumoured to have approached EMI, Universal, Sony and Warner, yet only EMI is said to be close to agreeing a deal. Talks are ongoing, according to the newspaper's sources.

Last year, it was speculated that the search engine company was to launch a service called 'Google Music' with its Android 3.0 update. Failure to agree terms with publishers and record labels was thought to have delayed the platform's release.

The major record companies were reluctant to enter a deal due to Google's stance on piracy, which they deemed to be too lenient. Financial factors were also behind the breakdown.

The cloud-based 'Music by Google' is currently in beta in the US. However, without record company backing, the firm is not eligible to sell music through it.

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