YouTube and Vevo’s distribution partnership expired last night (Sunday 9 December), but all those music videos won’t be disappearing from Google’s video site just yet. Billboard notes that a 120-day automatic extension to the contract means there is more time for the two companies to agree a renewed deal – or for Vevo to sign with another partner like Facebook, Microsoft, Amazon or Apple.
At least, those were the names floated by Sony Music’s Doug Morris earlier this year when negotiations with YouTube were hardballing up – it remains uncertain which of those companies would have serious interest in a deal. Billboard’s article suggests YouTube and Vevo are still wrangling over how they share advertising revenues around Vevo videos on YouTube: having paid out $200m to rightsholders, much of that earned on YouTube, the stakes are high for Vevo to secure the right deal going forward.
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Tools: Kaiber
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