News Is Warner Music Group Stupid, Or Just Plain Dumb?

One_Yaself_Hater · 01-30-2009, 03:31 PM

In late December, Warner Music Group asked Youtube to pull all of its artists videos from the popular video-sharing site. WMG’s argument was that they wanted to see more money from licensing their content to Youtube. In statement at the time, WMG said:

“We simply cannot accept terms that fail to appropriately and fairly compensate recording artists, songwriters, labels and publishers for the value they provide.”

A month later, I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve tried to find a video on Youtube, not even knowing the artist was on Warner, until I get the “this video no longer exists” message. Which sucks, because if you just google anything, the youtube link that used to exist is what comes up as the first result.

I’ve wanted to send videos to people online, embed videos in blog posts, link to videos, etc. Haven’t been able to do it.

Apparently, WMG understated just how valuable a Youtube link really is. That it is the de facto way of sharing video content online should be a given, but apparently not. A recent example is the band Death Cab for Cutie. Over at the Daily Online Examiner, Wendy Davis writes:

Death Cab for Cutie embedded YouTube clips of its videos on its own site, but they were taken down as part of the overall Warner purge. One result was that fans who visited the band’s official site and tried to view its clips were greeted with the message that the clips had been taken down due to a Warner Music copyright claim.

I know we’re a hip-hop site and all, and I admit that I’m not that familiar with Death Cab for Cutie (I would wager that it’s probably emo rock), but WMG is shooting themselves in the foot with this whole strategy. The thought of there being any real competitor to Youtube for online video is insane. Sure, WMG may get more licensing money from AOL and MTV and any other outlet, but really, who the heck is watching videos on those clunky websites? Not I.

I think it’s a case of WMG just not really understanding that we’re in the free music generation. Everything is about promotion and spreading the buzz. Give the music away, let people see the video, let people talk. If Lupe Fiasco, who’s a WMG artist under the Atlantic Records label, wouldn’t have been able to get his video for “Kick, Push” floating around all over the internet, would he be who he is today? I think not. In fact, Lupe might not have a career at all if it wasn’t for the viral nature of video.

Free is the way to go. Information and content wants to be free. It doesn’t want to be controlled. If it did, people wouldn’t be passing music around like chain letters.

WMG will suffer as a result of this situation. Maybe not right away, but long term, if they can’t come to an agreement with Youtube, they will suffer. Youtube is more powerful than WMG. Youtube doesn’t need WMG’s content. A few years ago, maybe they did. But “Chocolate Rain” gets more hits than any WMG artist. So what’s that saying? The days of record labels controlling hits and what people want to see is over. The hits don’t originate within some building in New York. No, they come from the creators themselves. And no amount of legal wrankling can stifle that, because a person can just make their own record and get it up on Youtube the minute they finish it. And get views. And have an audience. That’s what WMG is competing with. And the people, they will not lose.

Source:

Deuce Six · 01-31-2009, 12:00 AM

Good read, but the thing is WMG is in it solely for the money and therefore don't care about creativity or the fans, and thus shun a lot of the fans away and like the article said they'll shoot themselves in the foot, and will ironically lose a lot of money they're trying so hard to earn.

01-30-2009, 03:31 PM	#1
One_Yaself_Hater The "B-Boy" Circa '82-'88 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: In A Weed Spot!!! Posts: 5,757 Repped: 1,173 Repped 11,539 Times in 1,360 Posts Neg Reps: 148 Neg Repped at 107 Times in 98 Posts	Is Warner Music Group Stupid, Or Just Plain Dumb? Is Warner Music Group Stupid, Or Just Plain Dumb? In late December, Warner Music Group asked Youtube to pull all of its artists videos from the popular video-sharing site. WMG’s argument was that they wanted to see more money from licensing their content to Youtube. In statement at the time, WMG said: “We simply cannot accept terms that fail to appropriately and fairly compensate recording artists, songwriters, labels and publishers for the value they provide.” A month later, I can’t even begin to count how many times I’ve tried to find a video on Youtube, not even knowing the artist was on Warner, until I get the “this video no longer exists” message. Which sucks, because if you just google anything, the youtube link that used to exist is what comes up as the first result. I’ve wanted to send videos to people online, embed videos in blog posts, link to videos, etc. Haven’t been able to do it. Apparently, WMG understated just how valuable a Youtube link really is. That it is the de facto way of sharing video content online should be a given, but apparently not. A recent example is the band Death Cab for Cutie. Over at the Daily Online Examiner, Wendy Davis writes: Death Cab for Cutie embedded YouTube clips of its videos on its own site, but they were taken down as part of the overall Warner purge. One result was that fans who visited the band’s official site and tried to view its clips were greeted with the message that the clips had been taken down due to a Warner Music copyright claim. I know we’re a hip-hop site and all, and I admit that I’m not that familiar with Death Cab for Cutie (I would wager that it’s probably emo rock), but WMG is shooting themselves in the foot with this whole strategy. The thought of there being any real competitor to Youtube for online video is insane. Sure, WMG may get more licensing money from AOL and MTV and any other outlet, but really, who the heck is watching videos on those clunky websites? Not I. I think it’s a case of WMG just not really understanding that we’re in the free music generation. Everything is about promotion and spreading the buzz. Give the music away, let people see the video, let people talk. If Lupe Fiasco, who’s a WMG artist under the Atlantic Records label, wouldn’t have been able to get his video for “Kick, Push” floating around all over the internet, would he be who he is today? I think not. In fact, Lupe might not have a career at all if it wasn’t for the viral nature of video. Free is the way to go. Information and content wants to be free. It doesn’t want to be controlled. If it did, people wouldn’t be passing music around like chain letters. WMG will suffer as a result of this situation. Maybe not right away, but long term, if they can’t come to an agreement with Youtube, they will suffer. Youtube is more powerful than WMG. Youtube doesn’t need WMG’s content. A few years ago, maybe they did. But “Chocolate Rain” gets more hits than any WMG artist. So what’s that saying? The days of record labels controlling hits and what people want to see is over. The hits don’t originate within some building in New York. No, they come from the creators themselves. And no amount of legal wrankling can stifle that, because a person can just make their own record and get it up on Youtube the minute they finish it. And get views. And have an audience. That’s what WMG is competing with. And the people, they will not lose. Source: __________________ "REP" or "No PROPS" DONT PUT FOOD ON MY TABLE, FUCK 'EM!!!!!! SO "REP" If U WANT, IDGAF!!! DiGiJeff (12-17-2008), J-Banks Thanked Post HAPPY BIRTHDAY One_Yaself_Hater !!!-HH411: "instead of hittin 'no props' button i'll just neg ya". - Gods Plan

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

01-31-2009, 12:00 AM	#2
Deuce Six Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: T Dot Posts: 1,489 Repped: 715 Repped 205 Times in 115 Posts Neg Reps: 84 Neg Repped at 33 Times in 28 Posts	Good read, but the thing is WMG is in it solely for the money and therefore don't care about creativity or the fans, and thus shun a lot of the fans away and like the article said they'll shoot themselves in the foot, and will ironically lose a lot of money they're trying so hard to earn.