Disaster at the Speed of Light

In this age where speed is King and the internet our support system (look at what happens in the office when the internet goes down), we can see that ever-shortening time frame reputations can be tarnished. Corporations now live in glass houses. If something can be known by the public, it will be!

When Dominos Pizza experienced its crisis involving employee videos aired on YouTube, it reacted with a press release – the lesson to be learnt here is that you have to fight like with like, and the trouble continued until the company responded with its own video.

We need to be prepared in all areas for a crisis, although quite a negative outlook on life, it is realistic. Don’t wait until the damage has been done to develop a presence online, play ahead of the game. The great thing about the internet is that you can react instantly whether the comment is good or bad, and interact with the public like never before.

Major music company teams with Google to launch ad-supported video online service

Universal Music has partnered with Google to launch Vevo.com, a new ad-supported online music and video service. Vevo will act as a premium online music video hub, hosting Universal Music’s official music promo videos.

Additionally, Google’s YouTube has renewed its partnership with the record company to give users access to User Generated Content videos containing music from Universal’s artists. On YouTube, this content will be available exclusively through a new Vevo channel and branded video player. Google and Universal will share advertising revenue from both platforms.

Content creators are clearly still getting involved in the ad-funded content arena. It will be interesting to see what the take-up is for this new service, and whether the ad-funded model is still alive and kicking.

- Sam

YouTube Pulls Music Videos in Royalty Fees Dispute

Google-owned YouTube yesterday began to block UK users’ access to some of the world’s most popular music videos on its site after failing to reach a settlement with the PRS for Music, the umbrella company representing UK composers and publishers.

The video sharing site and the music industry body have been in negotiations for several months to renew their contract allowing the PRS for Music to collect royalities on behalf of musicians. They collect fees each time a song is played or performed.

In a bold move, YouTube began a music video blackout on its site after blaming the PRS’ unrealistic increase in fees. Both sides have laid the blame in each others’ court, with the PRS hitting back by claiming the unexpected move by YouTube comes in the midst of ongoing renegotiations, with the main sufferers being the consumers and musicians themselves.

Whatever the genuine reasons, it’s a radical step by the US video sharing site, who are removing the videos by their own decision, not due to demands made by the PRS or the music publishers or songwriters they represent. Far more typically content removal is demanded by the content creators or owners, not the publishers.
- Sam

YouTube Launches its own Symphony Orchestra

Check this out for the world’s first ever collaborative online orchestra: www.youtube.com/symphony

Digital and classical music come together in a truly credible and original way with the YouTube Symphony Orchestra. Musicians of all ages and abilities from all around the world are invited to audition by submitting video entries for a collaborative virtual performance. YouTube’s global audience, along with a judging panel, will vote for the best musicians who will win the chance to perform for real at New York’s Carnegie Hall in April 2009.

Musicians select their instrument to access the sheet music, by renowned composer Tan Dun of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon fame, and then rehearse with the conductor. They can watch playlists, check out the competition and get performance tips from lead instrumentalists from the London Symphony Orchestra.

Thumbs up to the YouTube camp for this compelling initiative.

-Sam