Feargal Sharkey labels Google's actions 'cynical' and 'manipulative'

13 March 2009 - Head of UK Music has expressed his views on the YouTube – Performing Rights Society dispute and believes Google’s actions are damaging to the music industry.

Feargal Sharkey claims YouTube manipulated the situation by briefing the media with the announcement that it was blocking official music and promotional videos, the day before they were due to discuss their new license with PRS, which expired in December 2008.

“I think it's a fairly blatant, cynical, manipulative attempt by Google,” Sharkey told BBC Entertainment. “For me this is a large company thinking they're in a position to bully around a little society that represents 60,000 songwriters.”

The row kicked off because PRS want to raise the royalty rates they charge YouTube every time users click on a video."It's a necessary step because the amounts that we are being asked to pay are many, many times higher."

Google spokesman

Frustrated with the way the matter was dealt with, Sharkey said: “The normal, grown-up thing would be to sit in a room and discuss that and not throw some sort of e-tantrum.”

The music industry mogul added he’d hoped Google would alter its position: “Quite clearly they're still in the mood to bully our songwriters, our musicians, and that's not acceptable.

“For most artists in this country 95% of the songwriters and composers who are members of the PRS earn less than £5,000 in royalties. So every small increase is a quite considerable thing in their lives.

“A small increase or decrease has a fairly major impact on the vast majority of songwriters and composers in this country.”

‘We’re talking’

Google has since responded to Sharkey’s comments and said it had no alternative but to pull the videos.Patrick Walker, the Director of Video Partnerships for YouTube in Europe, told 6 Music: “Nobody wins when the music is blocked, but it’s a necessary step because the amounts that we are being asked to pay are many, many times higher than we’ve paid in the past and that even takes into account the growth of YouTube.”As for scheduled negotiations he continued: “We’re talking, there have been several emails exchanged today.“Face to face meetings are planned for next week and we do look positively towards some developments and we hope, as they do, for a solution. It takes two to tango.”Highlighting their commitment to artists, the Google spokesman added: “There’s no question as to our dedication to the industry, the protection of copyright and to the compensation of artists.“The reason we did this is not about whether or not we should pay artists for their work - that’s something we 100% believe in.“It’s a question of; ‘Can we work together with the PRS on rates that create a sustainable business to grow the pie over time in a win, win environment?’”