Google and YouTube Strike Partnership with EMI

Google and YouTube form an agreement with EMI Music for authorized content

EMI Music, Google, and YouTube announced a landmark agreement on Thursday. The agreement will allow YouTube users access to authorized videos and recordings from EMI Music artists, letting them edit and use the videos and recordings in their content.

The agreement will also allow EMI artists to reach and interact with YouTube users. Allowing EMI copyrighted material on YouTube opens the doors for artists to get better feedback from their fans.

“Working with YouTube under this agreement meets EMI’s objectives to offer consumers the best possible entertainment experiences, to create new ways to connect our artists to fans and to enter into innovative business models that will generate revenues for our business and our creators,” EMI Group CEO Eric Nicoli said. “YouTube has quickly established itself as a stand-out fan favorite because it’s a site that taps into what people want and also consistently delivers a good experience. Through this agreement EMI Music and its artists will be fairly compensated for their work.”

Prior to the EMI deal, Google and YouTube had negotiated licensing deals with Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, CBS, and BBC. The internet video giant is working hard trying to sign agreements to fend off copyright legal disputes.

EMI's incentive for the agreement is that it can now use YouTube's content management tools to help EMI track and monetize its content and compensate its artists, using a content identification and reporting system. The music company will also be able to request the removal of its copyrighted content.

EMI Music recently announced its entire music library would be available at higher quality and free of DRM. After experimenting with DRM-free music in December, the company really took to the idea after Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced his support for DRM-free music.
Reference:Nirav Sanghani,dailytech