Matthew TrevithickNow, I for one, am all for Copyright. Well, maybe not copyright - more Creative Commons (I have more freedom of how I license my work). It keeps my art, such as photos and text from being improperly cited, or stolen and labeled under someone elses name. I like having things protected, and not in Public Domain. Which is where I can see Warner Music Group (WMG)'s problem with YouTube.
Fuck the RIAA. Seriously. Do a Google search. Its stupid what they do.
Every day, hundreds if not (possibly) thousands of videos are uploaded onto the video website, that include WMG artists' work, and nearly every time, it was done without prior permission from Warner. So, you may see your videos muted, or deleted completely, just because you didn't get permission to use the material in the video.
But that's where my problem starts.
Warner Music Group complains, even bitches, about the fact that their client's work is posted for free. Muting videos is the only way to go for them - never mind the fact that it completely mutes everything and not just the work in question. But as they continue to whine like a baby, they unfortunately lose points on the front that they don't make it easy to obtain permission.
That's what really aggravates me about the whole music industry in general. Everything is copyrighted, and locked down by a barrage of lawyers and people in suits, blocking requests left and right. Currently, the only way to acquire permission to use copyrighted work, is to call the Music Label directly, talk to a flack lawyer for a half an hour, and shell out licensing fees. Fees that usually cost hundreds of dollars.
And normal YouTube uploaders don't have hundreds of dollars to spend buying licensing fees, to put music in a video they just wanted to show their friends. If you hadn't noticed, that is why people use YouTube in the first place. To share, and to save.
Its pointless. Users who are uploading material (namely music) aren't doing it to get famous, or get profits - for one they can't - they are just doing it to share it with the world. This Warner Music Group, is called "free promotion", and you should take it like a child who doesn't know the answer to a question - smile and nod. Because with free promotion, who is winning here? Is it the person who's sharing the video, or is it the music label that's saving thousands if not millions of dollars? Especially in these tough economic times, you should see who has the advantage.
I started this rant, initially because one of my videos was muted on YouTube. Now I have to delete it, as they won't let me upload another to take its place. The annoying this about the whole thing, is that they didn't even tell me they muted it in the first place! They didn't send me an email or anything! Bad YouTube.
Warner Music Group. If you want people to stop posting copyrighted material that is created by your labels' clients, then make it easier for average people to get permission in the first place. Don't hide behind your lawyers in a lame attempt at grabbing fees and royalties. The artists themselves wouldn't be that selfish. Not the Proclaimers anyway.
Oh, the fuck the RIAA - you corrupt piece of shit.
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3 comments:
I'm in the same boat. The problem is, I just realized it today. I wonder how long my blog readers have been looking at a muted video.
Totally agree - WMG and others don't "get" digital distribution. So... use someone's backing tracks who does. There are probably 1000s of indie artists out there who would love to have you use their music... just give them a nod in your credits or whatever and everyone benefits.
BTW - It's "Namely" not "Naimly" or however you spelled it. Spell-checker, please.
Matthew: if you file a counter claim, they usually unmute the video. I hope you were able to!
jstoddard: thanks for noticing that :P It must have slipped by when I was editing it >_< I totally agree. Most indie artists would probably love to have their stuff flaunted over the internet and get the name out.
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