Zoe is one of my favorite musicians working today. I've met and talked with her at least three times and have seen her perform seven. She's an incredibly open and honest person and talks about what's going on in her world and her music frequently, and things like this have come up before. Personally, I think what youtube is doing is scummy, and removing the autonomy of artists and all videos where anything their work is in is even worse. Even worse, this blog of her's is the first I've heard of youtube doing this. It's really shocking that Zoe is the first person to come out and mention it, and that she did is great. More artists should bring their qualms with it forward and see if, collectively, they can get youtube to change its mind. Realistically, blocking all the videos of many artists hurts youtube more than the artists, especially if the people know what's happening and what's happening isn't really the fault of said artist. As a side note, it really is refreshing to see an artist speak so candidly about the business side of her music and her discomfort with it. Just getting that insight was one of the things that really made her shows special, along with her explanations of how her music works and her anecdotes about it. It's nice having someone so approachable be a voice outside of the corporate music industry that knows it well.
So youtube is putting the artist's music in the free and paid catalog. Meaning youtube can make money off your song and not pay you for it? Or that they will, in effect, turn into a service like spotify or itunes and pay you? "High resolution" and mp3 makes me laugh when put together so I think it's funny youtube added the tag. "3) I will be required to release new music on Youtube at the same time I release it anywhere else. So no more releasing to my core fans first on Bandcamp and then on iTunes." This one is also funny, how can they demand or ask you to do this. I am assuming it is binding if you sign and they could potentially come after you, but doesn't this seems a little ridiculous. Are they trying to take the label role here? In which case, are they going to start getting contracted musicians gigs and advertisement and merch and such? Seems kind of weird/jacked on youtube's part.