YouTube's Music Video Vision
| posted by Kevin OhannessianNews broke yesterday that YouTube is in talks with major record labels with the express goal of offering every music video ever created for free. They want to get this done in a mere 18 months. A poet once said, "A man's reach should exceed his grasp." I certainly hope this was the intention behind YouTube co-founder Steve Chen's comment. A company should have an awe-inspiring goal and then strive for the lesser goals below it, always nearing the impossible dream.
But what of hubris? Does anyone else think YouTube is biting off more than they can chew? It seems doubtful that YouTube can convince the RIAA and all the record companies to give away thousands of music videos for free. Even if the site hands over a percentage of the advertising profit, it may not be enough to make everyone happy. The music industry will ask for more money and ask YouTube to install a subscription service--and that would completely defeat the point of the video site. I hope they stick to their guns and get the videos up free for users, even if it is only half of all music videos ever made.
Comment
Recent Comments | 5 Total
August 18, 2006 at 2:27am
Gary Bourgeault (bizofshowbiz.com)I think this is a big mistake by YouTube. To become a Web site simply offering movie or TV video downloads, will make them the same as all the companies doing the same thing.
The studios have already said that they want numerous companies to offer their products; rejecting Apple iTunes as the sole provider.
Once this is all done, what will be the thing that differentiates them from anyone else?
August 18, 2006 at 7:56am
Doug ChismarWhat makes YouTube exciting is its hosting of indie and unsigned music and videos. Anyone can post their music. It is just this endrun around the big music companies that makes this fresh and exciting and a relief from their oppressive exercise of the DMA. Besides, what is the great appeal of those stale and formulaic videos anyway, other than perhaps for music historians or those who want to extract video clips in order to mock them? The music syndicates are creatures of the past and YouTube should be very cautious about any kind of negotiation that risks the freedom (and free price) of what it does.
August 18, 2006 at 12:58pm
meThe outcome is simple. Apple will win, Show every video for free, hooked to "Buy it Now" for that song...
$Billions$
August 18, 2006 at 4:27pm
JoeWhatever, everything can't be free all the time. Geez enough of music already for that matter. Since Napster all these startups have been trying to change the music industry. Good grief, pay for your songs and watch your videos when they come on. The RIAA/Artists own the stuff so it's there's to share. What's so hard about that YouTube/Apple?
August 18, 2006 at 11:06pm
FranTheManMusic videos always have been promotional tools, essentially a commercial for the song and the artist.
Why should youtube, Apple, or anyone else, pay for airing a commercial?
The record companies should be paying them for providing exposure and publicity for their product, just like advertisers do on commercial TV and radio.
Comment