Premium music videos have been removed from Youtube in the UK.
YouTube is to block premium music videos to users in the UK, the website has revealed.
The video-sharing platform explained the expiry of its licensing deal with trade body the Performing Rights Society for Music (PRS), which collects royalties, means it has to pull copyrighted material from the website.
Patrick Walker, YouTube's director of video partnerships, said that his organisation and the PRS have failed to come to terms which are "economically sustainable", leading to the decision.
He revealed that the website considers the trade group's fees to be too high, while it also refuses to explain which artists and songs are included in the license.
Mr Walker commented: "This was a painful decision, and we know the significant disappointment it will cause within the UK. And to be clear, this is not an issue with the record labels, with most of whom we have strong relationships."
The director added that YouTube continues to work for a solution and hopes that premium music videos will appear on the platform in the near future.
Earlier this year, Will Lines, communications officer at Music Publishers Association Online, claimed that customers need to be reminded music is not free, despite the availability of downloads.
News brought to you by Tourdates.co.uk bringing the latest in Free Music Downloads.
