That platform has only become more vital outlet for musicians during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Access is free for viewing and posting once you have an internet connection.
But it’s not the wide-open wild West that it may seem to be at first glance. There are rules and there are consequences for violating those rules. For repeated violations a user can have his or her videos removed, channel removed, and be restricted from the site. How YouTube applies those rules in a fair and responsible way is not always clear.
I’m familiar with copyright laws and as a songwriter am well aware of the need for the property rights and licensing fees of artists and music publishers to be respected.
I know users avail themselves of YouTube’s services at the pleasure of this private company and aren’t granted any particular rights, but much of the company’s enormous success is due to the contributions of users.
According to Rolling Stone, YouTube is the most popular source for music streaming on the Internet with more the one billion users. With 98 percent of American internet users ages 18 to 24 visiting the site, it has become what radio had been when I was growing up in the last century. The big difference, of course, is that anyone can post on YouTube. Bands are not the mercy of deejays or programming departments and don't have to have record deals or pushy promoters. Although, all that still helps.
The platform has been both a blessing and a curse for the music industry. Music publishers complain about small royalty payments to artists and the company’s inability to efficiently remove illegitimate content from the site. Use of unlicensed music is another issue.
I’ve been dealing with one specific case of removal, a video showing my performance of my original song “Comes the Dawn.” YouTube advised me that my video had been removed due to “inappropriate content.” An appeal link was provided but no opportunity was given to plead my case or ask for detailed information specific to my video. I reviewed all the community guidelines but couldn’t find any rational reason.
The only thing I could possibly imagine was in the introduction to the song I talked about the dark days we have been facing lately ended my introduction by saying, “The dawn is gonna come.” Could there have been someone who attached a sexual connotation to my comment or song title?
YouTube only knows.