Radiohead: 'Artists Are The Lifeblood Of YouTube'

Radiohead guitarist Ed O'Brien has entered into the debate over YouTube's decision to ban music videos in the UK.

The guitarist, speaking at the launch of a new lobby, the Featured Artists' Coalition (FAC), described musicians as the “lifeblood” of the video-sharing website – and called for them to be given a fair share of the company's revenues.

YouTube started making thousands of videos unavailable to users on Monday (March 9th) after failing to reach a new licensing deal with the Performing Rights Society for Music (PRS).

The Google-owned company claimed PRS's proposed plans to raise licensing fees were prohibitive.

O'Brien told The Guardian newspaper that he believed the FAC, which includes over 100 musicians, could play an important role in solving the dispute.

"No musician – or very few – will tell you they got into this business to make money. Artists and young bands are the lifeblood of sites such as YouTube and MySpace," he said.

"These are the things the FAC can look at. 'You have our content, so don't you think some of those huge ad revenues, some of that money, could go back to the artists?'

“It's about fair partnerships with others. We want to redress the balance a bit and change things for the good of the whole industry."

YouTube argue that the PRS's proposed fees would cost the company more than it earns from the adverts that appear next to each video.

Steve Porter, head of the PRS, said he was "outraged... shocked and disappointed" by YouTube's decision, which he claimed had been taken “without any consultation”.

Both companies are still locked in talks over the fees.

(by Jason Gregory)

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