YouTube clarifies streaming service contract for indie artists

YouTube has clarified its Music Key terms for independent artists.

The video sharing behemoth has stated that independent musicians who refuse to sign its much disfavoured contract for the streaming service can still use Content ID (a system used toidentify and manage copyright owners’ content on YouTube) to allow or block videos using their music.

The clause does mean they won’t have the ability to monetise videos on YouTube (earn money from advertising), but all artists are now free to sign exclusives and promotions with rival services online. This aforementioned clause has been updated following an open letter published by cellist Zoe Keating. The Canadian artist shared her communication with YouTube over its licensing contract and said she understood the service could place her music on Music Key if other users on the service used it.

A spokesperson for YouTube spoke to Billboard, who said Keating can either sign the contract to give Music Key access to her catalogue or not sign it, and leave her music unmonetised on YouTube.

Keating told Billboard she was she was “very happy to hear YouTube has changed that language in the contract, and I look forward to seeing it, since mine does not say that.”

YouTube Music Key is still in beta but it’s been lambasted by the independent music sector since initial contracts were sent to labels in late 2013. Before YouTube reached an agreement with global independent rights agency Merlin in October, its initial plan to remove music videos by artists signed to labels who hadn’t agreed to its licensing termsresulted in a major push back by independents. An anti-trust complaint was lodged by IndependentMusicCompaniesAssociation (IMPALA) and US trade body A2IM with the European Commission, and Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) accused YouTube of strong-arm negotiating withindie labels.

Speculation of Music Key’s artist and label contracts is still ongoing, last week European independent music companies launched a 10-point Digital Action PlanthroughIMPALA, following reports that YouTube is continuing the same antitrust abuses it was accused of last June.