WIN turns to European Commission over YouTube dispute

Google is refusing to amend contract terms for the independent label sector, despite outcry from the community, over  YouTube’s upcoming music streaming service.

The Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) met with independent sector representatives in London at a press conference last night that will action a request to the European Commission (EC) for emergency assistance.

Alison Wenham, CEO of WIN and Chairman of AIM (Association of Independent Music, UK), said in a statement: “We will start this process in Europe with IMPALA [a body representing Europe’s indies] referring YouTube to the EC for urgent regulatory action, which will be the first step in a global campaign.

“Our fellow trade associations around the world, representing tens of thousands of independent companies, also take issue with the actions of YouTube towards the most creative sector in the music industry. We must therefore do everything we can to protect the independent sector from the actions of one very powerful company, which seeks to railroad content owners, and by association their artists, into unfair and unjust contracts while threatening to block access to their platform.“

In May, YouTube threatened labels who were hesitant to sign up to the service with a non-negotiable “template” contract, which coerced signatures by threatening to block indie music videos.

A spokesperson for YouTube has said: “We have successful deals in place with hundreds of independent and major labels around the world, however we don’t comment on ongoing negotiations.”

The Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) was among 19 global organisations to voice its aversion. At the time AIR General Manager Nick O’Byrne told TMN, “[…] here we have YouTube attempting to bully the sector into deals that will eventually destroy the businesses of these labels.”

Artists like singer/political activist Billy Bragg and Radiohead guitarist Ed O’Brien – who chairs musicians’ rights campaign group Featured Artists Coalition – are among the acts voicing their own opinion about YouTube’s stronghold on labels.

“YouTube are shooting themselves in the foot with their attempt to strong-arm independent labels into signing up to such low rates,” said Bragg. “They’re in danger of launching a streaming service that lacks the innovative and cutting edge sounds that independent artists bring. Would music fans be willing to pay for such an inferior product? I don’t think so.”

“Indie artists and labels are at the cutting edge of the future of music,” said O’Brien. “To restrict them in this way is to risk creating an internet just for the superstars and big businesses.  Without the innovation and risk-taking of the Indie Sector we lose a vital ingredient in pushing us all forward.”