YouTube unveils music streaming service

YouTube is set to take on Spotify and Deezer with the launch of its own streaming service.

The service is set to launch in the US later this month, with a UK launch set to take place in the near future.

It will offer a two-tier pricing model - a free, ad-supported option or a paid-for experience that removes ads for $9.99 (£7.41) per month.

Named YouTube Music, it will give customers access to the usual range of songs, albums and playlists that can be found on many other platforms, but hopes to woo subscribers away from the likes of Spotify with access to YouTube's "tremendous catalogue of remixes, live performances, covers and music videos", the company's product manager Elias Roman said in a blog post.

He added the mobile app and desktop player will feature plenty of customisation features, offering song suggestions depending on people's listening history, what they're doing, and where they are.

YouTube is also renaming YouTube Red, which offers "ad-free, background and offline" video viewing, to YouTube Premium.