YouTube, the world’s largest digital repository of streaming media, will launch a subscription music service later this year. The service has its own negotiating team and operating unit but will likely have some overlap with new features also rumored to be coming to Google’s Android music platform, Google Play.

The two new services are defined by their respective places in the Google (GOOG) empire: Google Play for Android is a digital locker for music — users buy, store, and sort a collection of tracks; but on YouTube’s coming service, anyone can listen to tracks for free. Both services are said to be adding a subscription fee that will unlock additional features. For the YouTube-based service, this will likely mean ad-free access. Read more

News Update: Tiffany Kuenzi, a Kings top 8 emerging artist pick has been selected as a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition, for the track ‘He Said‘. Last year, she toured the Northwest promoting her EP and was featured on “Locals Only” on both KWJJ & KUPL. Check out the track Tonight, our other favorite.
Contact: tiffanykuenzi86@gmail.com

Simply, the mothers of their 12 year old daughters called him rude and disrespectful. Many young fans left the city’s O2 Arena early this week without seeing their idol, sparking anger among both the devotees and their parents. But Justin explained he had to start his performance late due to ‘technical issues’ and was not as delayed as the two hours claimed. On Tuesday afternoon, he tweeted a series of rambling messages to his fans explaining his version of events following the furore which erupted after the highly anticipated show on Monday night. Justin tweeted: ‘last night i was scheduled after 3 opening acts to go on stage at 935 not 830 but because of some technical issues i got on at 10:10..so…

‘I was 40 min late to stage. there is no excuse for that and I apologize for anyone we upset. However it was great show and Im proud of that’and tonight we will run on time and look forward to putting on an amazing show for everyone in attendance. Read more

Buzz Track: Nobody Ever Will

Jonny Craig is a Canadian-American singer and the former vocalist of Dance Gavin Dance, Emarosa and Ghost Runner on Third. Having sold well over 150k records with his previous bands he will have no problem turning fans on to his new solo material. He just sold out the Roxy in Hollywood and just returned from an entire sold out UK Run. He has a US headliner starting this week that will include three shows at SXSW.
Contact: eric@thearteryfoundation.com

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong lets it be known that “this is definitely the only interview I’m gonna do” about his battles with substance abuse in a new Rolling Stone cover story, and he certainly made it count.

“I’m sure that crossed her mind, that if I didn’t get sober I could potentially lose all of that stuff,” he said. “I could have lost the band too. I didn’t realize how destructive I was. I thought everybody was in on the joke. But I was the joke.”

And with Green Day poised to return to the road, Armstrong said he’s still nervous about how he’ll handle his newfound sobriety — “I’m not sure I’m ready,” he said. “There is still the obsession with alcohol” — but he’s determined to push on, and excited to begin the next phase of his career … on his terms. Read more