YouTube launches paid music subscription service

People are silhouetted as they pose with mobile devices in front of a screen projected with a Youtube logo, in this picture illustration taken in Zenica October 29, 2014.

The subscription for the ad-free service will start at $7.99 per month and will allow users to watch videos offline and listen to music while other apps are working.

YouTube Music Key will be first available through an invite to its "biggest music fans", who can try out the beta version for six months at no charge, YouTube said in its blog.

The fee will also include a subscription to Google Play Music.

(Reporting by Anya George Tharakan in Bangalore; Editing by Don Sebastian)