The latest big deal for YouTube sees EMI sign up to make thousands of music videos free and legally accessible on the site.
This partnership means Google and YouTube now have a music licensing agreement with all of the ‘big four’ music labels: EMI, Warner Music Group, Universal Music Group and Sony BMG Music Entertainment, and is seen by some as a move towards making traditional music video broadcasters, like Viacom’s MTV, obsolete.
Wired suggested this latest deal will ‘[increase] the smoke billowing from Viacom chief Sumner Redstone’s ears’, with Slashdot musing, “YouTube is slowly building a cadre of friends on the playground while Viacom continues to bully the new kid.”
