Travis, Dizzee Rascal, Speech Debelle and many other artists are set to enjoy windfalls after a landmark deal between independent record labels and YouTube.
The PIAS Entertainment Group, which represents 200+ independent labels, has signed a global licensing and marketing deal with the online video giant which will result in artists and their record companies get a share of revenues from adverts shown alongside their works and as the deal covers both official audio and video releases as well as user-generated content there is a great potential for income from this source.
PIAS says it will also work with YouTube to try to drive up traffic to artist pages and develop partnerships with brands, through channel sponsorships amongst other ideas.
“Some of the world’s most iconic artists will now be able to engage with their existing fans and win new ones,” said YouTube video partnership director Patrick Walker.
The deal with independent labels comes just weeks after an agreement between Google-owned YouTube and Warner Music as revealed in an earlier blog.
Warner, home to hits by Madonna, Muse and Led Zeppelin, removed material from YouTube last December after a row over royalties. But the nine-month dispute was settled with a new revenue-sharing deal allowing Warner to sell advertising against its content on YouTube.
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