T.I., Lupe Fiasco and Plies’ Catalogues Removed from YouTube
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Warner Music Group (WMG), the third largest record label, recently removed their entire catalogue from YouTube after both companies failed to meet an agreement on royalties. WMG’s roster includes Plies, T.I. and Lupe Fiasco among others. Warner thinks Google, which acquired YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion, should pay a higher percentage of ad revenue for videos that use its music.
“We simply cannot accept terms that fail to appropriately and fairly compensate recording artists, songwriters, labels and publishers for the value they provide,” Warner Music said in a statement over the weekend.
However, Google responded on the YouTube blog, saying it isn’t always possible to maintain innovative agreements.
“Sometimes, if we can’t reach acceptable business terms, we must part ways with successful partners,” the statement said.
Bottom line? If you were planning on making a home video featuring songs from anyone signed to Warner and posting it on YouTube, think again. Because YouTube’s agreements with the major labels also apply to unofficial videos, users who uploaded videos with a WMG song for a soundtrack have received or will soon receive takedown notices from the label. But users will have the chance to keep their videos up if they swap in different music using the site’s “Audioswap” feature.
And WMG isn’t the only label having troubles with the media giant. Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment and EMI Group Ltd. are also in renegotiations with the popular site. –j.h.
