Google Pulls Music Videos from You Tube
Monday, March 9th, 2009Disappointing news today as it is announced that all music videos will be removed from YouTube by Google. The move comes after negotiatns to renew the licence between Google and PRS for Music, which previously allowed Google to show professional videos to UK browsers, broke down. Google had apparently wanted to pay much less than at present to musicians to show the content, whilst Google in turn claimed the new deal on offer would have meant it losing money everytime a video was played.
A statement from Google said: “Our previous licence 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.”
“We’re still working with PRS for Music in an effort to reach mutually acceptable terms for a new licence, but until we do so we will be blocking premium music videos in the UK that have been supplied or claimed by record labels. This was a painful decision, and we know the significant disappointment it will cause within the UK.”
Content started coming down today, with Google claiming all professional videos will be removed over the next couple of days. Bah humbug.