Google has rolled out humancurated playlists to all its Google Play Music customers // The update which has already rolled out online and via the Android app allows users to listen to handpicked playlists for free // An updated Google Play Music app on iOS with the same radio features will follow soon, Google has confirmed // The Californian internet company originally debuted its online playlistbased radio last year // However the functionality was only available to paid subscribers // The latest update offers customers an entirely free tier, supported by audio adverts // Unlike rival service Spotify, Google Music customers will not be able to pick and choose tracks in this free tier // Instead, they are only able to play through the curated playlists // This should allow Google to avoid the criticism recently levelled at Spotify // Last year the hugely successful service was forced to remove Taylor Swift`s discography after a dispute over its free ad supported option // The preset radio playlists on Google Play Music mean the service will be able to play songs from Taylor Swift`s back catalogue // Any song currently available to stream within the paid ondemand service can be chosen for a playlist, the internet giant has confirmed // There are some minor restrictions on those listening for free, including a six skips per hour limit // Free Google Play Music customers can pause the playlists, but are not able to rewind, fast forward or see a preview of whats queued up next // Paid customers are offered all of the aboveas well as the ability to edit, rename and save the Google designed playlists for offline listening // Unlike Spotify, none of the playlists are generated by algorithms // Instead, users simply pick a mood, genre, or decade and a handpicked collection of songs will start playing // Its a hands off approach // They want the music to be awesome // They want it to be contextually relevant, but they don`t want to tweak a lot of knobs, Google Play Music product manager Elias Roman told The Verge // The radio functionality is powered by Songza a popular app acquired by Google last year // Google Play Music has 30 million tracks at some 320kbps almost identical to Apple Music and Spotify // Google has not disclosed how many subscribers currently use its service // Apple has a similar human over algorithms approach to streaming music, but is much more ambitious // The iPhone manufacturer will launch a global internet radio station with its Spotify rival, Apple Music // Ex BBC Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe is one of the presenters shaping the new station dubbed Beats 1 which broadcasts from Los Angeles, London and New York // However Apple Music has already hit a stumbling block in the run up to its release // The firm dramatically reversed its streaming music policy after Taylor Swift criticised its three month trail in a public blog post // Apple Music, which will not offer a free ad-subsided tier to customers, will provide a three month free trial as a compromise // But pop superstar Taylor Swift slammed the firm after it was revealed Apple had no plans to subsidise artists royalties during the complimentary three months // We don`t ask you for free iPhones, she wrote in a scathing Tumblr post // The company has since reversed its decision and will pay artists on a per stream basis during the customers` complimentary three-months // Many have speculated the move will allow Apple to obtain the rights to stream Taylor Swift`s latest hit album, 1989 // If the rumours are true, Apple Music would be the only streaming service with the album // Whether Google`s new update which currently only applies to customers in the United States will rattle Apple Music, remains to be seen //
