YouTube has signed a new licensing deal with rights agency Merlin for its forthcoming music streaming service, a news report has claimed.
According to the Financial Times (FT), Google has struck a deal for the service with Merlin after months of negotiations.
The service caused much controversy early in the year after reports stated that it would remove content from artists on independent labels who refused to agree to YouTube’s licensing terms.
Many music industry organisations, including BPI and the Music Publishers Association, called on the service to treat independent artists and labels fairly.
Mark Mulligan, music analyst at Midia Research, told the FT: ‘One of the last significant obstacles to getting to market has been removed.’
Merlin represents the rights 20,000 independent labels with artists including Adele and The xx, and Domino, the label behind the Arctic Monkeys.
According to the FT report, which quoted people familiar with the matter as sources, the new streaming service could be rolled out in a matter of weeks.
Both YouTube and Merlin have yet to comment on the terms of the deal.
According to the Financial Times (FT), Google has struck a deal for the service with Merlin after months of negotiations.
The service caused much controversy early in the year after reports stated that it would remove content from artists on independent labels who refused to agree to YouTube’s licensing terms.
Many music industry organisations, including BPI and the Music Publishers Association, called on the service to treat independent artists and labels fairly.
Mark Mulligan, music analyst at Midia Research, told the FT: ‘One of the last significant obstacles to getting to market has been removed.’
Merlin represents the rights 20,000 independent labels with artists including Adele and The xx, and Domino, the label behind the Arctic Monkeys.
According to the FT report, which quoted people familiar with the matter as sources, the new streaming service could be rolled out in a matter of weeks.
Both YouTube and Merlin have yet to comment on the terms of the deal.
