Google reworks its YouTube Music Key subscription service

Google is remixing the music on its YouTube video site with the addition of advertising-free subscription service Music Key and a new format designed to make it easier to find millions of songs available free of charge.

The subscription service is part of an effort to win more revenue from YouTube as the video site approaches the 10th anniversary of its inception.

Music Key has been speculated about for months while Google haggled over the licensing terms with recording labels.

The service, priced initially at US$8 a month, is comparable to other subscription services sold by Spotify, Apple's Beats and Google's own service tied to its Android Play store.

But Music Key subscribers also will be able to stream through the Google Play service at no additional charge.