Universal Music takes down YouTube video from its own artist

It appears Universal Music Group (UMG) does not discriminate when it takes down videos, even nonsensically taking down music videos from its own artist.

Following the release of his official video for "They Burn Me," UMG took down the track from its artist 50 Cent, leaving the usual "this is blocked due to copyright" message in its place.

UMG and 50 Cent have a long history of disagreement. Earlier this year, 50 Cent (real name Curtis Jackson) accused Interscope (division of UMG) of leaking his first single and the artwork for his second single. Jackson had not wanted to release any of his tracks until later in the year. As retaliation, Jackson threatened to leak one of Dr. Dre's latest tracks, off the decade-in-the-making "Detox" album, but in the end he did not.

Furthermore, UMG publicly declared 50 Cent's personal website "a pirate site."

It is unclear why UMG took down its own artist's video, especially from such a prominent rapper.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Dec 2011 22:38

KillerBug

Quote:It is unclear why UMG took down its own artist's video, especially from such a prominent rapper. Seems perfectly clear...UMG are fascists and they don't want anyone releasing anything online under any circumstances.

27.12.2011 23:08 #1

jookycola

UMG should be worried about how well Louis CK's show sold on his personal website. If this is going to be how it's done, I think artists will all jump ship and sell direct.

28.12.2011 02:53 #2

Tristan_2

I may not like 50 Cents Music but this officially means War,what the hell UMG...just what the hell!

28.12.2011 03:39 #3

KillerBug

Originally posted by jookycola: UMG should be worried about how well Louis CK's show sold on his personal website. If this is going to be how it's done, I think artists will all jump ship and sell direct. Of course, this just proves that nothing will stop UMG from trying to take down videos...not even if they are promotional videos that make them money...so others really need to watch out.

28.12.2011 03:57 #4

Dmite30

bs .. just shows what poeple get when they give the "big wigs" to much power bc they are greedy fu*ks.

Stupid questions are for google. Learn how to use it, because everyone has a stupid question every now and then.

28.12.2011 07:20 #5

Jeffrey_P

One can only hope Congress has been watching the latest chain of events the music and movie industries have been pulling. Not that it will change the way they will vote on SOPA since some members of Congress have had their pockets lined with industry money. Time will tell.

Jeff

28.12.2011 09:01 #6

dab0ne

Wow! How stupid! I mean if UMG owns the rights then they can do whatever they want but it's incredibly stupid to remove it from your artist's YouTube channel. It's free advertising. Sure people can download it illegally from YouTube but there are like 1 million places they could get the song illegally.

28.12.2011 09:03 #7

hearme0

Originally posted by KillerBug: Quote:It is unclear why UMG took down its own artist's video, especially from such a prominent rapper. Seems perfectly clear...UMG are fascists and they don't want anyone releasing anything online under any circumstances. I'm gonna go the extra step and elaborate on KillerBug's comment by stating they are "Fascist Jagoffs". Plain and simple. 50 Cent should send them packing.

28.12.2011 15:45 #8

xboxdvl2

50 cent should tell UMG where to go and make and market his own material and advertise them how he wants.

saving that im a fan of raP and from what ive seen they are making pretty bad music.90's had the best rap music,even stuff from 5 years ago is better than what it is now.

R.I.P. mr 1990 ford falcon.got myself a 1993 toyota corolla seems to run good.computers still going good.

29.12.2011 01:27 #9

Jeffrey_P

Lynyrd Skynyrd
Working For MCA

Seven years of hard luck comin' down on me
From a motor boat, yes, up in Nashville, Tennessee
I worked in every joint you can name, yes, every honky tonk
They all come to see Yankee slicker saying, baby, you're what I want

Want you to sign the contract
Want you to sign the date
Gonna give you lots of money
Workin' for MCA

Oh, nine thousand dollars just to sow to the wind
Come to smile at the Yankee slicker with a big old southern grin
They're gonna take me out to California, gonna make me a super star
Just pay me all my money, mister, maybe you won't get a star

Want you to sign the contract
Want you to sign the date
Gonna give you lots of money
Workin' for MCA

Slickers steal my money since I was seventeen
If it ain't no pencil pusher then it got to be a honky tonk queen
But I signed my contract, baby, and I want you people to know
That every penny I make, I gotta see where my money goes

Want you to sign the contract
Want you to sign the date
Gonna give you lots of money
Workin' for MCA

MCA, now defunct. Disassembled after being purchased by Universal.

Jeff

Cars, Guitars & Radiation.

29.12.2011 06:51 #10

llongtheD

Great post Jeff, couldn't be more relevant. Now watch UMG swoop in and have this thread taken down...I wouldn't put it past those worthless pr*cks.

29.12.2011 10:45 #11

ST2006

SmokeThis2006

29.12.2011 13:02 #12

xtago

Originally posted by xboxdvl2: 50 cent should tell UMG where to go and make and market his own material and advertise them how he wants.

saving that im a fan of raP and from what ive seen they are making pretty bad music.90's had the best rap music,even stuff from 5 years ago is better than what it is now. Easier said than done.

If you want to sell in a store CDs etc then you want the studios otherwise they just block you out block your stuff from being played on the radio or TV and sure you can sell stuff on line but how many people really look at it and then want to buy it, it'd be a handful of those who actually buy stuff around the world.

The problem though is you never own your own stuff you only get a cut of what is owed to you and probably in a perpetual credit scheme where you always owe money to the bank.

That's why you see many bands never make it past the first CD, as the costs to make the first CD is all paid for by the company and you only get money if the costs are fully paid out and if you make enough to make another CD then you'll be able to make another otherwise you die out as the music company won't want to put up the cash for another CD that doesn't sell.

30.12.2011 01:19 #13

KillerBug

50 Cent is world famous...he even has video games for f**k sake. If he wants to go out on his own he can do it. Sure, his sales would be lower...but he would get a much larger cut of the sales and he would probably be doing better, especially in the long run.

30.12.2011 05:51 #14

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