youtube plan to strangle independents

The Guardian newspaper reported

Independent artists could disappear from YouTube "in a matter of days" after the Google video service confirmed it was dropping content from independent labels that have not signed up for its upcoming subscription music service.

And that subscription service will basically be much like the Spotify model. They'll charge people to watch and listen to music without ads. They further add "YouTube will block videos from labels that do not sign licensing deals for the new premium tier".
The independent labels have naturally accused You Tube/Google of bullying tactics. Billy Bragg joined in saying "They are in danger of launching a streaming service that lacks the innovative and cutting edge sounds that independent artists bring."
The Guardian report goes on

A YouTube spokesman said the site "provides a global platform for artists to connect with fans and generate revenue for their music", adding: "We have successful deals in place with hundreds of independent and major labels around the world, however we don't comment on ongoing negotiations."

So that's a nice state of affairs. YouTube over the years has been an outlet for much of the independent music about and their fans use it as a first stop for the latest releases. And that is exactly what YouTube have been waiting for and the reason the whole pay to hear service will march ahead no matter who protests.
By the way their royalty rates to the labels will be less than Spotify return to artists, which is pretty mean as it is. You just knew it was going to happen. With major record labels squirming over their diminishing returns over the last decade and more they are the first to embrace the whole business. Much better to get what you can than little or nothing at all. The superstars and big business will reign supreme.

Will this eventually catch up to artists that self release there own material? So far they've not been included as independent labels, and rightly so, but the first sign they do there could well be a mass exodus to Vimeo or another rising video channel. And we'll be in that queue as well.

Here's a track that Valis at Trip-Inside-This-House radio program started off his show with this week. It's by Secret Colours doing their version of the Lennon/Beatles classic "Tomorrow Never Knows". It's self released and has no adverts.

seen lora colt yet?

It's always a fascinating thing to see a band in it's embryonic stage, just as Lora Colt is right now.
With only a few gigs behind them and a single released, they are being hailed as a whole new emerging talent. The odd name comes from a little known 1967 Spaghetti Western and with it the band see Morricone's music that accompanied the genre as an important inspiration. That in itself is a clue to the vibe that's surrounding the sound along with the psychedelic/desert rock experience.

The band is based in London, which would be about right in reflecting the cosmopolitan personel. Scandinavian, maybe Dutch or Danish, with probably some London in the lineup. See, it's early days and we're finding it difficult to get any accurate information on who is actually in Lora Colt.
Anyway we have the Scandinavian singer called Gun Overby and guitarist Matt Loft who are the main song writers so the attention will naturally fall at their feet in the future.
So what else is there to tell? Their Influences are Jefferson Airplane - Surrealistic Pillow, The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico, The Jesus & Mary Chain - Psychcandy, Link Wray - Jack The Ripper, Pink Floyd - Meddle.
That figures, and might we say.. really good choice right now, except he left out early Patti Smith which would seem likely and will become clearer once you've heard the tracks below.
In a recent interview Matt Loft made some considerations:
"I’m concerned about how much noise there is out there already. I think our strength right now is as a live band and I hope the word will spread that there’s a band doing something interesting who are worth seeing... rather than telling people we’re interesting on Twitter."
Right, so he probably doesn't want us to say much more although we do not Twitter (can't be bothered) so maybe that's half acceptable. Next year they record the album, suitably produced by Nick Cave.
So here are the new young guns Lora Colt.. the first video is the new single " I Get High If You Get High", the one below is the band live, playing "Away From The Water". Single available from their shop at lolacolt.com