Confirming the rumors, Google and MySpace today announced they are partnering on a new music search initiative using technology from Seattle's iLike, which MySpace acquired in August.

Is Google trying to outdo itself with news today? This will probably get far more use than the navigation service announced this morning.

MySpace Music is providing music streaming and buying services to Google's new music search, which will have a pop-up music player. Google's also working with Lala, Pandora and RealNetworks on the initiative.

Google's official blog announcement said the company's "making search more musical." An excerpt:

This feature doesn't just make search better. It also helps people discover new sources of licensed music online while helping artists to discover new generations of fans and reconnect with longtime listeners. Our users love music, and this tool introduces millions of music seekers in the U.S. to a new generation of licensed online music services, from MySpace and Lala to Pandora, imeem and Rhapsody.

The features, according to MySpace:



Streaming