Muzu.TV: 'YouTube Should Not Hold Music Industry To Ransom'

Muzu.TV has warned the music industry not to let YouTube hold it to ransom following the video-sharing website's decision to ban music videos in the UK.

YouTube started making thousands of videos unavailable to users last evening (March 9th) after failing to reach a new licensing deal with the Performing Rights Society for Music (PRS).

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

In a statement, Muzu.tv managing director Mark French criticised YouTube's business model, and called for the music industry to look to alternative video-hosting websites.

“It’s not the music industry’s fault that YouTube’s business model doesn’t stack up,” he said.

“The model doesn’t support paying the current PRS rates let alone the payment to artists, because they cannot command high enough advertising rates.

“Because sites like YouTube are built off the back of user generated content, and have a storied past of allowing ‘illegal’ content to be viewed – brands are resistant to pay premium advertising rates.

“Muzu.TV was purpose built for the music industry with a viable model that protects the CPM by its 100% focus on premium music content.

“While the industry needs to look at the minimum stream rates to make new business models viable and sustainable it should not let YouTube hold it to ransom.”

You can view music videos from Muzu.TV by heading over to the Gigwise artist profiles.

Also, keep a look out for Gigwise's new Muzu.TV video player, which is launching soon.