Music's over as Google blocks YouTube song clips in licence dispute

Music fans will no longer be able to watch their favourite videos on YouTube from today after Google blocked viewings during a dispute over licensing.

Google, which owns the video-sharing website, started to block UK viewers from watching "premium music videos" late last night but said it will take several days until all professional music videos are covered by the restriction.

The internet giant described it as a "painful decision" which it knew would cause "significant disappointment".

The Performing Right Society for Music, an organisation which issues licences and collects royalties on behalf of copyright holders, licenses Google to make music videos available to UK users on YouTube but the firms are negotiating a new licensing deal.

PRS for Music said it was shocked by Google's "drastic action". But Google said the deal it had been offered would result in it losing money every time a video was played. A statement from Google said: "Our previous licence from PRS for Music has expired and we've been unable so far to come to an agreement to renew it on terms that are economically sustainable.

"We value the creativity of musicians and songwriters. But PRS is now asking us to pay many, many times more for our licence than before.

"We would lose significant amounts of money with every playback. In addition, PRS is unwilling to tell us what songs are included in the licence they can provide so that we can identify those works on YouTube. We're still working with PRS for Music in an effort to reach mutually acceptable terms."

PRS for Music said it was "outraged on behalf of consumers and songwriters that Google has chosen to close down access". A statement from the society said: "Google has told us they are taking this step because they wish to pay significantly less than at present to the writers of the music on which their service relies, despite the massive increase in YouTube viewing.

"This action has been taken without any consultation with PRS for Music and in the middle of negotiations between the two parties." Chief executive Steve Porter added: "Google's drastic action only punishes British consumers and the songwriters whose interests we protect and represent."

Google said it would be working "to create more ways to compensate musicians and other rights-holders on YouTube". It recently introduced the option for YouTube users to pay to download a song. "We hope that professional music videos will soon be back on YouTube for our users in the UK to enjoy," its statement added.