Warner Music, YouTube Reportedly Strike Deal to Restore Videos

Warner Music Group and YouTube have reportedly agreed on a new deal that will bring the major label's videos — including work by artists like Madonna and Green Day — back to the video streaming Website. According to AdAge.com, while the two sides haven't officially announced the new contract, WMG is also moving on to negotiations to possibly join Vevo, a video stream venture between YouTube, Sony and Universal.

As Rolling Stone reported in December 2008, Warner Music began pulling down or muting music videos that appeared on YouTube after negotiations between the two companies broke down. The result infuriated users, many of whom had used Warner Music as background for carefully constructed video projects. WMG was seeking $25-40 per every 1,000-plus views, instead of the $5-8 they were receiving under their previous agreement. According to AdAge, talks between the two parties reignited earlier this summer, and WMG is already in the process of reuploading all of the music videos back into the system. The Warner Music Group YouTube page, which was inactive since talks broke down in December 2008, was signed into last month.

With WMG reportedly on its way back to YouTube, the major label will next focus on a non-exclusive deal with Vevo. As Rolling Stone previously reported, YouTube and Universal announced Vevo back in April as a destination for music videos, concert footage and more. As UMG's contracts with Yahoo and MTV Music expired, Vevo and YouTube would become the exclusive holders of the label's videos. Universal Music Group music videos average 24 million views per day on YouTube as it stands now, AdAge writes, adding that Vevo would also feature an option to download lyrics, sync music with your own videos and better picture quality.

Related Stories:
• Warner Music Group Pulls Videos From YouTube As Talks Break Down
• YouTube Hits The Mute Button as Royalty Fight With Warner Bros. Continues
• Warner Music, YouTube Still At Standstill Over Licensing Fees

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Song Stories

“My President”

Young Jeezy | 2008

Young Jeezy teams up with Nas on this track, in which he compare his own success with the idea of an African-American winning the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 presidential election. "When I pulled up in my car, that s--- was unbelievable to people in my neighborhood because they were like, 'We grew up with him. How the hell did he accomplish this?'" he told Rolling Stone. "I feel like it was the same way with Obama. I grew up all this time, but I've never seen a black man this close to running this country."

More Song Stories entries »

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