RSS
Sony Music Exec: The Internet Is Full Of Opportunities & Not A Problem; Intransigent Collection Societies, However...
from the more-people-getting-it dept
We've detailed a few times the ridiculous standoff in Germany, where the incredibly aggressive music collection society GEMA is involved in a big lawsuit against YouTube for posting videos with music in them. YouTube has done licensing deals with collection societies around the globe, but GEMA refuses to even sit down to start a conversation until after the lawsuit happens. Because of that, all GEMA music in Germany is barred from YouTube entirely. This leads to some situations in which totally licensed videos are banned in Germany. This has been going on for years and years with no change.
GEMA, of course, says that it's doing this to "protect" the artists. But as I've pointed out in the past, many, many artists in Germany don't believe that at all. In the past we've noted that GEMA tried to ignore Creative Commons licenses as well as barred members from offering their music for free (two years ago, when I was in Germany at a music conference, I had multiple artists explain to me they had an "official" website where they would "sell" music to keep GEMA happy... and an "unofficial" website where they'd offer their music for free. The whole thing is crazy.
In fact, it's gotten so crazy that apparently even the major labels are getting sick of it. TorrentFreak has the news of a top Sony Music exec, Edgar Berger, who runs their international business, talking about how the internet hasn't been a problem at all, but has created tons of new opportunities. The ones creating the real problems for the industry? GEMA. Because the music is blocked "to protect the artist," it appears that the labels and artists are missing out on large revenue checks from YouTube's ContentID...
GEMA, of course, says that it's doing this to "protect" the artists. But as I've pointed out in the past, many, many artists in Germany don't believe that at all. In the past we've noted that GEMA tried to ignore Creative Commons licenses as well as barred members from offering their music for free (two years ago, when I was in Germany at a music conference, I had multiple artists explain to me they had an "official" website where they would "sell" music to keep GEMA happy... and an "unofficial" website where they'd offer their music for free. The whole thing is crazy.
In fact, it's gotten so crazy that apparently even the major labels are getting sick of it. TorrentFreak has the news of a top Sony Music exec, Edgar Berger, who runs their international business, talking about how the internet hasn't been a problem at all, but has created tons of new opportunities. The ones creating the real problems for the industry? GEMA. Because the music is blocked "to protect the artist," it appears that the labels and artists are missing out on large revenue checks from YouTube's ContentID...
“There is absolutely nothing to complain about. The Internet is a great stroke of luck for the music industry, or better: the Internet is a blessing for us,” Berger said.Quite a contrast from the "old" story, right? Here's a situation in which technology and business model innovation via Content ID are creating massive new revenue opportunities for the entertainment industry -- and the old school system of excess protectionism is denying them that revenue.
“You can not blame the Internet for harmful excesses. On the contrary. It has brought us tremendous new opportunities,” he added.
But with these new opportunities come new rivals from an unexpected corner. According to the Sony boss, music rights collecting agencies are now preventing innovation in certain countries.
In Germany, for example, most YouTube videos by Sony artists are blocked due to the music rights group GEMA, and not because Sony wants it that way. When asked why Sony’s music is not available on YouTube in Germany, Berger responded bitterly.
“It’s not because of us. You must direct this question to the German collecting agency GEMA, they licensed the copyright very restrictively.”
I have an app...
App Developer Conversations: What Does The iPad Mini Mean For The App Economy?
Marketing And Monetization Strategies For Free Apps
I have a business...
Why and How Developers Use Mobile Payments: Infographic
To Understand The Data Move It Closer
I have an idea...
Securing Venture Capital for that Next App Development
75 Questions To Help You Write An RFP For Website Design
Reader Comments (rss)
(Flattened / Threaded)
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
I was laughing so hard, i didn't read the rest.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
I shed not a tear for Sony (especially for Sony).
First thing that popped into my head was the scene/line from Cool Hand Luke that G&R used in Civil War:
"What we've got here is failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it. Well, he gets it. I don't like it anymore than you men."
Couldn't happen to a nicer company (although UMG is catching up fast).
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
On the other hand, I really enjoy watching Sony having to deal with the same bs the rest of us do. *munches popcorn*
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: The whole chorus...
(cue accordion music)
Everything you know is wrong
Black is white, up is down and short is long
And everything you used to think was so important
Doesn't really matter anymore
Because the simple fact remains that
Everything you know is wrong
Just forget the words and sing along
All you need to understand is
Everything you know is wrong
Everything you know is wrong
If you've never heard this song, drop everything and look it up on youtube.
In fact, I'll save you the trouble.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: The whole chorus...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: The whole chorus...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: The whole chorus...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: The whole chorus...
FTFY
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: The whole chorus...
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
If even *Sony* thinks you're a bastard...
Wow.
Just wow.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
He's gone
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: He's gone
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: He's gone
Woah. I distrust the music labels as much as the next guy buuut.... not if the next guy is you, apparently, because that seems a little over-the-top. I wouldn't be surprised if an exec lost their job over something like this, but I don't think Sony's at the point of offing people with suspicious car accidents.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Cause we all know that customers dont mean shit to sony, they would rather spend more money on DRM then security.
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
You have a very cutting-edge paper weight
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Edgar Berger
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Edgar Berger
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Nina Nailed It
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Does this guy *really* work for Sony?!?
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Awwww. Poor Wittle Sony Exec
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
[/sarc]
[ reply to this | link to this | view in chronology ]
Add Your Comment