YouTube blocks music videos on UK site

YouTube has blocked premium music videos on its UK site after failing to reach an agreement with the Performing Right Society (PRS).

Google started blocking videos on its user generated video site yesterday evening following a disagreement over how much it was paying the PRS for music content.

YouTube currently pays a licence to the PRS, which acts as a collecting member for fees relating to the use of music, in order to stream music videos from major music labels as well as independent music firms.

Google claims that the PRS requested unrealistic fee increases for a new licence and that it has failed to offer enough transparency over which artists would be covered in the new agreement.

However, head of PRS Steve Porter argues that YouTube made the decision in order to reduce the amount it was paying song writers.

“The move punishes British consumers and the songwriters whose interests we protect and represent,” he said – the PRS have asked Google to reconsider.