Is YouTube Killing the Music Industry?

[Alex T]

So i just read a really interesting article about the future of the music industry:

Peter Mensch, the manager of bands including Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Muse, called youtube "the devil" and said the site's business model, in which artists make money by placing ads around their music, was unsustainable.

In contrast, so many artists are getting to stardom through Youtube, like Lindsey Stirling (the dubstep violinist), Ventura Lights (the youtube band the Cobus founded), Dorje etc etc

What do you think?



(also my band is currently really struggling for a band name, if anyone could check out this thread id be eternally grateful!! http://www.classicrockforums.com/forum/f27/country-rock-namess-haha-31073/#post786417)

 

[Riff Raff]

The Metallica manager is a moron considering the band themselves benefit from the Youtube service. Youtube is not bad for the business like he makes it out to be. Exposure is often a big beneficial thing for upcoming bands.

 

[Ar-Pharazon]

There are tons of bands I've only discovered on youtube, then bought their albums. It's not like there's an MTV anymore.

The problem is when someone posts a band's entire album on YT, and for whatever reason, the filters don't catch it. Those filters a crap. There can be an entire movie on YT (not official), but they squawk when I put up a 4 minute clip from the same movie.

 

[Riff Raff]

There are tons of bands I've only discovered on youtube, then bought their albums. It's not like there's an MTV anymore.

The problem is when someone posts a band's entire album on YT, and for whatever reason, the filters don't catch it. Those filters a crap. There can be an entire movie on YT (not official), but they squawk when I put up a 4 minute clip from the same movie.

Depends because sometimes the band label's youtube channel puts albums on there too. If you mean users without the required permission then I agree.

 

[Metal Health]

I think it's helped the industry a lot, actually. Bands get more advertisement (I don't know if that's the right word, but you get the point). As @Ar-Pharazon said, there are several bands that I've only seen on YouTube. The only thing is, as mentioned, people post whole albums on YouTube and then find illegal ways to upload it to ITunes etc. It's great for us as fans but really sucks for the artist. I think posting albums on YT is not a problem as long as people don't get it to ITunes. That's stealing and it's illegal. They need to find ways that they can fix the problem of people turning videos into free.

I still think YouTube has had a positive influence, but there are some things that need to get fixed.

 

[Hydrazoic Acid]

I agree with Metal Health. Youtube is helped the industry. For example, due to Youtube I've knew, that Marc Martel (one of my favourite singers) released his solo debut LP. And it's just one sample, I have much more. So, as Riff Raff said "The Metallica manager is a moron".

 

[That 70s Guy]

YouTube is this generation's MTV,without it alot of bands would go unoticed.

 

[Riff Raff]

YouTube is this generation's MTV,without it alot of bands would go unoticed.

Precisely. Exposure is really what bands seek the most when starting out and Youtube is a good platform for it well in spite of Youtube's shitty copyright system.

 

[Vader]

I can only speak for my own habits but YouTube is actually the catalyst for a lot my purchases. Just bought a couple of PJ Harvey albums Im sure I would have never gotten into or even known they existed if it weren't for youtube.

 

[Riff Raff]

Youtube has also via album music reviewers exposed me to some really good bands.