‘Fluid’ UMG, Google, music video talks
p2pnet news view Movies | Music:- Google’s YouTube and France’s Universal Music Group are in “advanced discussions over a licensing agreement that could lead to the creation of a premium site for music videos, according a person briefed on the talks,”" says the International Herald Tribune
The discussions “remain fluid,” says the story.
So is this all about bringing more, and better quality, ‘product’ to the eagerly waiting masses?
Nope.
“The proposed agreement represent [sic] the latest effort by YouTube, the online video service, to attract premium content that might lure higher-priced advertisements,” says the story
“Music videos are among the most popular content on YouTube, but they have failed to produce significant revenue for YouTube or the music labels,” it observes.
The Tribune doesn’t say how much ‘ significant’ is.
“Instead of just receiving licensing fees or a share of ad revenue from the online video site, Universal is seeking an equity relationship on an ad-supported site focused on high-quality music videos”, says the Associated Press.
This would, of course, be, “separate from the grainy user-generated fare common to YouTube’s main site”.
Ah SO!
Other record labels ie, the remaining three of the Big 4 gang, Warner, Sony and EMI) “have also been contacted about the plan although they are not part of the talks,” states AP.
Record labels, meanwhile, “faced with declining sales of compact discs [largely caused by the fact they're suing their own customers, calling on criminals and thieves], have been experimenting with a number of different ways of distributing their music online,” it adds.
And while the biggies remain fluid, flipping and flopping and worrying and squabbling about who gets what, those of us enjoying the real world of online music get to enjoy excellent productions such as the truly brilliant Thru Yu Kutiman mix (sometimes hard to get because of heavy traffic, which is no surprise).
(Thanks catflap)
International Herald Tribune – YouTube and Universal music are said to discuss deal, March 5, 2009
Associated Press – Universal, Google mull music video venture, March 5, 2009
Thru Yu Kutiman mix – Kutiman – [brilliant] Art Outlaw, March 5, 2009
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March 6th, 2009 at 9:41 am
consumers relegated to the ‘back seat’ once again. did any of the Big $ even consider what the customer wants?
of course not. please add this service to your list of boycotted, useless, pocket-lining, crappy services to avoid.
stw