Google tells indie labels to take its YouTube deal or face OBLIVION

Google has threatened to "censor" YouTube music videos from the world's independent labels if the indies don't agree to its terms for the forthcoming YouTube subscription music streaming service. Indie label association WIN says YouTube has threatened to remove the videos it already hosts. WIN called foul last night after the …

[Anonymous Coward]

Is that unreasonable?

I don't think it's unreasonable to approach independents on a take it or leave it basis. I don't think it's reasonable to expect Google to negotiate individually with so many different indy operations, and I think a contract being standardised is perfectly reasonable - provided of course the terms of the contract are reasonable. It's unrealistic to expect hand-tailored contracts for each musician.

If the terms are unreasonable then that's a different story.

[alwarming]

Re: Is that unreasonable?

Do commentards prefer to post reasonable arguments as AC ?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Is that unreasonable?

Yes, it is unreasonable, given YouTube's position in the market. Perhaps even "evil".

The whole idea of the internet allowing artists to connect directly to people without the big 6 (now big 4) labels getting in the way breaks down if Google inserts itself as the new "big 1". Hopefully the FTC is paying attention, maybe it is Google's turn to get slapped around by them since they've finished with Apple.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Is that unreasonable?

"since they've finished with Apple" leaving, at best and being extremely charitable, a job half done.

[BillG]

Google has threatened to "censor" YouTube music videos from the world's independent labels if the indies don't agree to its terms for the forthcoming YouTube subscription music streaming service.

It seems Google's new motto is "Let's Be Evil!"

[Nunyabiznes]

Hey little guy, there's just you and me here. And your balls, and this vise.

FTFY.

[Anonymous Coward]

Surprsed...??

A big corporation, using its market muscle as well as its economic clout, forcing others to abide by [their] plans and desires regardless of benefit to any other entity besides themselves?

Shock! Horror! Who would have thought!!

[/s]

[Ken Hagan]

Whilst indie labels clearly benefit from the free hosting service, Google presumably also benefit from being able to say that *they* aren't making any editorial decisions about what gets published on their site.

That may not be an argument that stands up in court, but it certainly stands up in the court of public opinion. Squeezing the little guy isn't something you can do from the moral high-ground.

[Mike Pellatt]

...Google presumably also benefit from being able to say that *they* aren't making any editorial decisions about what gets published on their site

No. Google benefits from the massive advertising revenue they collect on aggregate from their services. Everything they do is predicated on maximising that, directly or indirectly. Period. Always bear that in mind when looking at their motivations.

[Daggerchild]

Pitchfork time.

Can the people defending Youtube's stance please form an orderly line.

Nobody? Hrm. Me neither.

[P. Lee]

Re: Pitchfork time.

All companies do this. Only if you are large enough do you get the chance to negotiate T's&C's.

Individual negotiation is too costly.

Surely more important is what's in the T's&C's? Is that unreasonable?

[Tom 35]

Re: Pitchfork time.

The reason independents exist is because the big labels have been screwing people with take it or leave it contracts for as long as published music existed. Now they are in effect signing up to a big label and are surprised that they are getting offered contracts they don't like.

If they can survive not signing with a big label, they should survive not signing with youtube.

If the big labels don't have to give people contracts they like why should the world be different for Youtube?

[tempemeaty]

Google is what Google does....

I guess being a bully to users of Youtube with that whole Google + debacle wasn't enough. Google wants to absolutely leave no question about it. Sad.

[Anonymous Coward]

So, that must be Google

Not being evil then.

[jellypappa]

it would be nice if the indie labels got together and launched their own version of " youtube"

then they can show their stuff exclusively, and generate income from ads.

[Anonymous Coward]

Agreements for streaming YouTube music ..

"The independents lack the huge legal clout of the three majors, who have already reached agreements for the forthcoming streaming version of YouTube."

What are the differences between the agreement the majors signed and the one offered to the Indie label association?

[Anonymous Coward]

Indie labels cooperation

Indie labels need to cooperate to be able to deal with Youtube.

They're worth nothing to Youtube by themselves.

[Breen Whitman]

If I was those indie musicians I'd just take the deal. Else Google will call in favors owed from the CIA,

and next thing them musicians will be rendered to some camp in Eastern Europe.

[Mark 85]

Thus the saga continues.....

Playing games with the Indies helped kill MySpace. That error might be fixed but it's too late as the user base left. I suppose Youtube will also face a similar crisis at some point as the Indies migrate to somewhere else. Maybe back to MySpace... or not.

[Anonymous Coward]

F'in Empire Builders

Hard to believe we helped them slay Microsoft just so that they could become the ultimate Demon!... Roll on hell!

[Longrod_von_Hugendong]

Do. No. Evil.

I think this says it all...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzRQ4QrZnXQ

[Aitor 1]

Re: Do. No. Evil.

Maybe it was a typo: Do.No.Evil --> Dr.No. Evil.

[Pascal Monett]

Seems to me that the Indies should become a Union

It is time for Indies to unite and dictate their terms.

The Internet allows anyone to create a forum, one of them should create an Indie Label Union site and get the word around.

Order of business would be : set the rules of what an Indie label should accept, get agreement on said rules, then go to Google with THEIR template.

It's always in the numbers. Ideally, ALL indies should just remove their videos on their own, now. Once Google's revenue has been eviscerated, then they can come back and say ok, now we do it like this. On their terms.

The problem, of course, is getting the indie labels to play ball together - the difficulty of which is, of course, what Google is counting on.