Music videos from Warner Music Group Corp will be back on YouTube in the coming months, said the video site. This decision comes after a nine month dispute over an ad revenue split. By the end of 2009, videos from top artists such as Madonna, Metallica and Green Day will be up for free viewing on YouTube. Generally, YouTube provides content owners with the majority of revenue in ad sharing deals, however, the new contract between YouTube and Warner gets an even larger part because Warner will also be selling ads. For this purpose, Warner plans to obtain the services of an outside agency. This augurs well for YouTube as it ensures that viewers looking for Warner music will visit the site.
The new deal also means more new partnerships for YouTube with three other major recording labels: Vivendi SA’s Universal Music Group, Sony Corp. and EMI Group PLC. In December 2009, Warner pulled all its music from YouTube, citing that payments received did not compensate the company, artists and songwriters. Chris Maxcy, Head of Music Partnerships, YouTube said this deal between YouTube and Warner was separate from the online music venture Vevo which is to be launched later this year by the video site and Universal. In statement he said that YouTube users would be able to access videos and other music-related content from its artists and would also possess access to channels that were feature-rich and had a high quality premium player.