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YouTube to remove all premium music videos

Videos will be removed from the site from today (March 10)

March 10, 2009 | 12 Comments
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YouTube is today (March 10) beginning to remove all premium music videos from the UK site, with the majority expected to be removed within two days.

The move comes after a dispute between YouTube, which is owned by Google, and the Performing Rights Society (PRS).

The PRS, which represents music publishers, has been holding out for a better pay deal for artists whose videos are available to watch on the video site.

According to Patrick Walker, YouTube's director of video partnerships, the PRS was seeking a new deal with artist payments "many, many factors" higher than the last deal, prompting the site chiefs to take the drastic action, reports BBC News.

Steve Porter, head of the PRS, said he was "outraged, shocked and disappointed" by the move and said it harmed both music fans and artists, urging YouTube chiefs to reconsider.

Walker suggested that a compromise could be reached, though, saying: "We feel we are so far apart that we have to remove content while we continue to negotiate with the PRS."

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Comments (12)

Add a comment

semi_mental

Mar 10, 2009

tsk, rubbish :(

FreddyNietzsche

Mar 10, 2009

I have to say I agree 100% with YouTube. Videos are promotional tools and as such they cannot be sold (imagine a tv network paying to show ads). I as a musician post my videos for free werever I can and anybody can watch/download/share all of them cause in the end its all publicity for me so, fuck the PRS for being such greedy bastards!

drgonzo2012

Mar 10, 2009

This is one instance where the PRS have fucked up. Music videos online should never be liable for royalty payments as it is exceptional free promotion and exposure for bands. The record companies and artists know this and I bet they are fuming with the PRS. Now watch UK music sales drop, all thanks to the very society that should be protecting artists.

wonkeykong

Mar 10, 2009

this is just in the UK yeah?

wonkeykong

Mar 10, 2009

this is just in the UK yeah? its ironic that they're taking off the legal stuff and yet will still be left with a ton of the unlicensed stuff hosted on their servers!

Forrestio

Mar 10, 2009

when will this crazy industry get a bit of f**king common sense. This will just drive the already out of control music underground and increase in downloads via torrents and other p2p sharers.

ratcatcher

Mar 10, 2009

Sure upcoming artists will be delighted with that and even established artists releasing new material! Another blunder from music's governing bodies!

aphexbin

Mar 10, 2009

Well the PRS simply deliver the royalties to the artists- and no doubt have been leveied by managers and labels in an age where dwindling money coming in from traditional revenue sources has forced them to pump the 'digital sector' more.Vis a Vis 'I want that internet money. Give me my internet money now'

Chris Morris

Mar 10, 2009

These people dont know their arse from their elbow. I have got into loads of new ( to me) music by watching other peoples recomendations on youtube, and i know people have taken notice of mine.......what happens then ? Sometimes you buy cds and go and watch said artists. I know this from experience. Also if i go watching a artist i watch a few by the support to try and get into them.Dicks

Drifter

Mar 10, 2009

So this is youtube flexing their muscles to make the PRS reconsider. It might not permanent then

GavinW

Mar 10, 2009

good thing i live in good old ireland then haha!

Willy Plonka

Mar 10, 2009

Once again, the Music Industry, kicking itself firmly in the boloks. I have got into so much music after reading reviews in the NME, by going to Youtube to check the band out. I then download from itunes..........and to the PRS, you stupid fucking morons. You would have sucked 10 yards of cock to get your artists videos on MTV, and now, your going after shittly pixelated content on a website. Twats.