Here’s an interesting thought, Google have taken down music videos from YouTube in the U.K. (and some other countries) as they say the artists are asking for too big a rate increase to play there works.

Conversely in this article on CNET Pete Waterman says he’s only earned $16 for the 150 million times “Never Gonna Give You UP” by Rick Astley has been played.

If that’s the whole story then this is a disgrace. But it does raise lots of questions, including:

• Pete only got $16, but what did everyone else in the food chain get?
• What did Google earn from the associated advertising (by which I mean profit after costs)
• How much is a fair rate?
• Should YouTube charge to view ‘Premium’ content.

From my point of view I think a lot of this is down to interpretation, and essentially it should be the artists who decide on the rate, and then Google can decide if this is acceptable or not and act accordingly on an individual basis, more or less what I understand has happened (with the exception that it appears to be a blanket ban).

At the end of the day I usually have little sympathy for the Music Industry, they often appear to be acting against their artists best interests or wishes, but they are a business and everyone deserves to be fairly paid.

At the same time Google as owners of you tube are under no obligation to show these or any other videos, they too are a business and deserve to make a fair profit.

It will be interesting to see how this one plays out. At the moment, from a promotional point of view, I think the music industry has more to loose. Until then I guess I have to BitTorrent my music videos (just joking, I can gladly live without them, but the old skool rave videos were a nice diversion on an occasional Saturday night).