YouTube locks horns with music labels again over artist royalties

After RIAA criticises ‘meagre’ payouts from Google’s video service, YouTube hits back at ‘apples to oranges’ comparisons

YouTube is at loggerheads with music labels – again – after US industry body the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) criticised Google’s video service for the low royalties it pays out to music rightsholders.

In its annual report on the US recorded-music market, the RIAA called out the “meagre” royalties paid out by YouTube and other free streaming services.