DISQUS

David G · 3 years ago

Oooohh -- this is gonna' hurt myspace and for very good reason.

Probably the most damning evidence is that Myspace's head of PR recently made the analogy that myspace music is like the music you hear in a store -- she stupidly made that comment in defense of not paying royalties -- totally neglecting the fact that stores & malls do indeed pay to play the music you hear. Right there is the confession of guilt -- we don't even need to hear the verdict on this one -- myspace will pay.

It's actually astounding that the labels have let it go on this long -- which may be the myspace's only defense, but bottom-line, they're screwed here -- cheats never prosper.

Kathleen · 2 years ago

I was watching the 10th video on MySpace that used the song "Walk it Out" as their background music and made the comment to the girl who hosted it on her space that I would not be suprised to see not only UTube and MySpace in a plethora of law suits, but the film makers and even those hosting unlicensed material on their individual sites.

Today I posted a blog called "Where's my royalty check UTube and Myspace" and in it I commented that the public should not assume that just because MySpace and UTube have an arsenal of attorney's on payroll to protect them, that they are above doing or saying something stupid. I gues they already have.

Ross Brown · 3 years ago

The record companies really have gone crazy this time: promotional video created to, er, promote a record is being shown through a "channel" that generates 1000s of views?

And they have a *problem* with this!? Surely, the idea of a promo is to get people to hear (see) the song then go out and buy it?

Yes, with the right plug-ins you can rip videos from YouTube but, let's be honest, the quality's cack (audio and video), so if you wanted the song you'd go out and buy it.

MTV et al don't - as far as I know - pay to play promo videos as the record companies are grateful for the exposure - so why should YouTube be any different?

Pete Cashmore · 3 years ago

Ross,

Well, basically record companies would prefer to be paid twice - once for the video, and once for the downloaded track. That doesn't make logical sense - music videos are designed to promote the track - but by treating both as a product, they can extract more revenues. The videos may still be free to watch, but with ad revenue sharing for the record companies.

Yes, it's crazy, and MTV don't pay to show videos. But in business, making money is more important than making sense - if they can extract money from YouTube, they should do it.

jon · 3 years ago

LOL. We're getting free marketing and publicity? We must sue!!!

It will be funny to see Universal's sales plummet when myspace and youtube cut all of their content.

gg Doug Morris. learn2play

Kathleen · 2 years ago

The problem is that neither the artist or the music company have any creative say so in how thier music is used. I would challenge anyone to tell me that UTube home videos boost record sales. Sure there may be a handful of success stories but as cute as I think some of those videos using "walk it out" are, it is not going to make me download the CD from ITunes.

Stealing is stealing and using someone elses material without paying them is stealing. They deserve the royalties.

Steve Poland · 3 years ago

The shocker is that Google entered this space; if I'm Universal or whomever, I'd be suing Google for all their worth!

David G · 3 years ago

dude, where did I get myspace from? Universal are sueing the wrong company -- and I need some sleep -- stories on mashable are all blending for me. thanks pete for dishing up the goods -- as always.

David G · 3 years ago

OK - it was about myspace (really, really need that sleep). If I post again, ignore me!

Pete Cashmore · 3 years ago

"stories on mashable are all blending for me"

Me too!! If it's not about MySpace, it's about YouTube, or both. I'll try to mix in some new social networks tomorrow.

Gabbi · 3 years ago

Ok...there are a lot of social networking sites out there; tagworld, tagged, bebo, zoints and a lot more, and myspace is always the one getting blamed
these record companies, their just a bunch of guys in suits who only care about making money
actually I like You Tube, cause after I listen to some music videos, I go and buy the artists' CD
and actually, ya people should be thanking youtube, cause atleast they play music videos, unlike MTV, who has all these stupid reality shows

CircleA61 · 3 years ago

My suspension is that Universal’s true motivation for suing myspace is control. I played drums in a band called Suburban Lockdown and thanks to myspace, this band has been getting noticed and gaining an audience. I’m sure there’s plenty of other good bands, who would not get noticed or picked up otherwise, are reaping the same benefits. Music labels owned by Universal would not give bands like the ones I’ve been in a chance and under their old system, who would still be just local bands who’s trying to get noticed. Face it, the big labels are pissed cause not as many people are not buying CDs of the crappy bands they’re putting out and they hate competition. I think many people are using places like Myspace to discover bands they like instead of relying on MTV and the radio, the mediums that the big labels back up, to discover new music. I hope that Myspace has grounds to counter sue Universal for the damages they’re causing. Big labels like Universal need to readjust and embraces new mediums if they want to continue to prosper. Their legal tactics may get them some extra revenue in the short term, but in the long term, are screwing themselves over as they continue to screw up the music industry.

Kathleen · 2 years ago

Recently I checked on my 12 year old's myspace to ensure that she and her friends were behaving. I was stunned to find a MySpace video of a boy who looked to be about 12 himself, singing a defamatory song about women entitled "Fuck that Bitch". This video was the primary video on three of her female friends sites. I sent a bulletin warning to them that if I checked their sites the next day and found the video, they would be removed from her friend's list. My questions are where are the parents of the kids my niece is friends with and where are the parents of the kid singing the song? Even more startling is that MySpace would allow a video of a minor signing abusive songs about women on their site. I called NewsCorp Headquarters and complained, I have written to MySpace on several occassions and complained, yet the video is still there. I have taken local action and removed the friends propogating this video but sadly, it exists. How many other 9-10-11-12 year olds have this video on their myspace sites? Does MySpace not feel a social responsibility to protect children?

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