YouTube Music Videos Banned In U.K.

(AP)  Google Inc. said Monday it will block U.K. users from watching music videos on its popular video-sharing site YouTube after negotiations with Britain's music royalty-collecting body broke down.

Google said it would begin blocking British users starting Monday night. The Internet titan said it knew the move would cause "significant disappointment."

But it said its hand was forced by PRS for Music, which it said is asking for royalties that would cause Google to lose money every time a video was played on YouTube.

"Our previous license from PRS for Music has expired, and we've been unable so far to come to an agreement to renew it on terms that are economically sustainable for us," Google said in a statement. Until a solution is found, it added, "we will be blocking premium music videos in the UK that have been supplied or claimed by record labels."

PRS for Music, which collects money on behalf of writers and publishers worldwide, said it was outraged by Google's move.

"Google has told us they are taking this step because they wish to pay significantly less than at present to the writers of the music on which their service relies, despite the massive increase in YouTube viewing," the group said in a statement.

Neither group revealed how much money is at stake in their negotiations.

YouTube has become an increasingly popular destination for record labels squeezed by declining sales for compact discs. The Web site has deals with three of the four major record labels but some rights-holders have balked at their cut of the advertising revenue.

In December, Warner Music pulled all of its music from YouTube, saying the payments it received did not fairly compensate the label or its artists and songwriters.

It was not clear how long the music videos would stay blocked. Both PRS for Music and Google said they hoped their dispute could be resolved quickly.

The video Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love," licensed by Sony BMG Music Entertainment U.K. Ltd., which has garnered more than 83 million hits, was still visible from the U.K. late Monday.

[TheDoct0r]

Present subject notwithstanding, picture this scenario:

You've spent your life savings and more working on music for years. You've toiled day in, and day out, working seven days a week, sometimes 20 hours a day to bring something special to the people. Let's say you've done this for 10 years or more. Let's also presume you've invested a considerable amount of your own money, say $250,000. This is money you could have used to plan for your future retirement, started a busniess, or bought a house with.

Now, a bunch of people whom you don't even know, people who have no idea the amount of time and effort you've put in decide that "sharing" you music is okay. In fact, to add insult to injury, lat's also say that they couldn't care less about your struggles to produce this fine music that you've poured your entire life into. What have they shared with you? Cynicism and a sense of entitlement? What exactly have they done to deserve the life and beauty that you have poured into this art?

Now, let's bring it home for you: whatever it is that you do, now other people are able to get without giving you a job at Mickey D's or wherever the heck you work, and whatever it is that makes you unique and special is now just a commodity like a piece of meat at the grocery store. So now you're out of a job, and everyone is enjoying your LIFE AND YOUR SOUL for nothing.

98% of people want their music "sanctioned" by a record label before they will "share" anything with you. Otherwise, it's just a commodity. The few artists that actually make a living are now being abused by the music listeners, the so-called "fans", as badly as the record companies have abused them. I hear a lot of talk from music "sharers" about greed. Well, look in the mirror before you get on your high horse about other people being greedy. Greed starts with you.

[LOL_AT_CBS]

If the music companies want to shoot themselves in the foot by losing all that free publicity AND at the same time forcing people to get the stuff illegally then it won't be long before they realise what complete morons they're being and revert the decision.. The fact is music videos are availible all over television music channels and people can very easily record them and upload them online. So, ok, have your fun PRS, make a big drama queen deal out of it, but your problems are alot bigger than youtube. Music is for everyone, and if you make your products so inaccessable then don't be shocked when we, the people who pay for your nice gold discs, decide to get music videos in other ways that leave you with absolutely nothing, zero, zip, nada, big goose egg.

[toooldtovote]

Are musicians and the music companies stupid? Do they not realize the benefit of allowing people to view their videos for free? This is free advertising. Hardly anyone goes out and buys music without hearing it first. They spend millions of dollars promoting a CD, but don't want anyone to hear it for free. They're neurotic.

[toooldtovote]

Youtube has been going downhill since Google bought it out. But I think we all expected this.

[rushlimpdrug]

The music industry distribution and marketing departments ssucckk.

When they rely on you tube and google for a chunk of change, well
that just shows their marketing skills and level of IQ.

This is on top of other problems they have.

Their downsizing of good talented staff has hurt them significantly.

[Samuel-HiLL]

Sarcasm noted lol, seriously I am so sick of these rich musicians complaining because they can't put that 3rd movie screen in their house, let them try working at my job where I struggle from check to check.
Posted by azraek-2009 at 7:34 AM : Mar 10, 2009

Guess you should have taken band in high school. But then you would need some talent, which you obviously dont have a lot of since you struggle from check to check.

[azraek-2009]

Sarcasm noted lol, seriously I am so sick of these rich musicians complaining because they can't put that 3rd movie screen in their house, let them try working at my job where I struggle from check to check.

[rf35]

I really feel for these poor, starving musicians and their representative labels that are at real risk of going under because fans watch their videos on the Internet.