YouTube, Google Play Music pass 15 million subscribers, next target Apple Music

Google’s paid music services have eclipsed 15 million subscribers, according to two people familiar with the numbers, a milestone for a company that has struggled to build subscription media businesses.

The figure includes subscribers to two services — YouTube Music and Google Play Music, an older service that is being folded into YouTube Music — said the people, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. The number also includes some customers who are still on promotional trials.

Google, part of Alphabet Inc., is still a long way from the market leaders: Spotify Technology SA has more than 100 million subscribers, while Apple Inc. has more than 50 million. But the progress is a good sign for an ad-supported company that has rarely gotten customers to pay for its services.