YouTube Imposes Ban On Music Videos

YouTube has restricted access to music videos in the UK after failing to reach a new licensing deal with the Performing Rights Society for Music.

The video-sharing website began making thousands of videos unavailable to users from last evening (March 9th).

The Google-owned company claim PRS's proposed plans to raise licensing fees are prohibitive and would cost the company more than it earns from the adverts that appear next to each video.

YouTube also said PRS had refused to specify which artists would be covered by which licence.

Steve Porter, head of the PRS, told the BBC he was "outraged... shocked and disappointed" by YouTube's decision, which he claimed had been taken “without any consultation”.

Patrick Walker, YouTube's director of video partnerships, said the move was "regrettable"- but argued that it was necessary to encourage more discussion.

"We feel we are so far apart that we have to remove content while we continue to negotiate with the PRS,” he said.

"We are making the message public because it will be noticeable to users on the site."

The breakdown in talks will come as a blow to both companies as music videos are among some of the most popular content on YouTube.

YouTube's decision will see videos from artists signed to the four major record labels - EMI, Universal, Warner Music and Sony BMG – and some independent labels vanish from the website.

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