Many Japanese YouTube channels are becoming region blocked due to concerns of YouTube RED – a paid subscription service that allows viewers to watch video without any interruptions of advertisement.
Now many users who try to access the videos will be greeted with a message that says “is not available in your country”. This isn’t something new as the “not available” message has been applied to other videos before, but this will be the first time it will be this widespread.
YouTube RED will be rolled out in the US on 28 October and it is already causing some big players to pull out their content – notably ESPN who did so on 23 October this year.
This was due to concerns about “rights and legal” issues which also might be applicable to Japanese content providers on YouTube. YouTube announced that companies that do not sign off on YouTube RED will find their videos unavailable to viewers. Indie labels as a result are hit very hard by this new YouTube monetization plan.
YouTube also plans to launch a worldwide YouTube RED soon. So far, this is the list of Japanese channels and YouTube became region blocked:
Victor Entertainment (and channels by acts under them like Sakanaction, Southern All Stars, Hoshino Gen, and Leo Ieiri)
Columbia Music Japan (and channels by acts under them like TRUSTRICK, clammbon, and Not yet)
Up-Front (and channels by acts under them like Morning Musume, Juice=Juice, LoVendoЯ, and C-ute)
AKB48
SKE48
HKT48
NGT48
Pony Canyon (and channels by acts under them like aiko, w-inds., Katahira Rina, and cinema staff)
Teichiku (and channels by acts under them like Sayuri Ishikawa and X4)
dreamusic
P-VINE
Zankyo Record
UK.PROJECT
tricot
sputniklab
Yonezu Kenshi
Ling Tosite Sigure
Yasuda Rei
LEGO BIG MORL
Stardust
Yamaha
Flower
Alice Project
SCANDAL
The GazettE
Flying Dog (and channels by acts under like Maaya Sakamoto)
Being (and channels by acts under like B’z, Mai Kuraki, Meiri Alaha, and BREAKERZ)
VocaloidOtaku lists
Producers:
U/M/A/A (DECO*27, Sasakure.UK, Powapowa-P)
08yakari (Hachi)
Incstoenterinc (Supercell, Yuuyu)
Being, Inc. (Doriko)
EXIT TUNES (Dixie Flatline, Heisei Project,CosMo/Bousou-P)
Elicense (Nem)
Songs:
Spoiler Hide
Popipo (Lamaze)
Yellow (kz/livetune)
Jitter Doll (cover by kyaami)
The days of generally free YouTube might be over soon. So, what now?
