British based music group EMI Group is to make video clips available to users of YouTube, who will be allowed not only to watch and play approved videos, but also incorporate elements of the videos in YouTube users’ own “user generated content”. Artists include David Bowie, Coldplay, The Decemberists, Fatboy Slim, Gorillaz, Lily Allen and Norah Jones.
“With this deal, all four of the world’s major music companies are now official YouTube partners,” Chad Hurley, CEO and co-founder of YouTube, said in a statement. Last year, Warner Music, Universal Music and Sony BMG Entertainment each signed a content deal with YouTube. EMI will use the YouTube content management system to help the music company track its content and pay its artists.