Just when we thought things were looking up, they deliver a blow like this. Two important musician YouTube accounts were suspended: jloch84 and Munkybarz. Both bassists, and both damn good at it. Munkybarz specially was the object of a huge following by players from all ages, since his videos served as a huge inspiration for young rookie players, and his huge library of rock bass lines got other older musicians and music fans to re-discover some classic rock songs and records.We in the music community are affraid this might be a new way to deal with the evil copyright infringers that we apparently are in the eyes of the big record labels. As of late, many of us have stopped being afraid and contested the videos we got removed. Some even got a notification with the magic words "dispute successful."Maybe it's a bit of a conspiracy theory, but one cannot help but to think their new strategy might be: "no accounts, no counter notifications."
This theory can seem like a stretch, but ask yourself: "why else would they close these two accounts?" and while you're at it, "is my account next?"
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Suspended means gone, dead. There are means by which one could grovel, bow and scrape to have the suspension lifted but it involves a whole lot of stuff that I simply won't do.
ReplyDeleteI believe I made one fatal mistake and after I had 14 videos were taken down because of copyright claim issues, I suppose I should have deleted all my videos, well at least those that I figured would be a problem. I didn't delete any of them in the naive hope that, hey, maybe this shit will get resolved. Not so. The last video that I got a message for was the Immigrant Song, then my whole channel got shut down. I've had it. They're so desperate that they need to attack guys like us? Wow.
Anyway, let's just head right back to YouTube to watch all the cute pet videos and kids playing Guitard Hero or whatever the fuck else is still okay to watch.
Take care and keep in touch.
-Bill
I've just noticed Munkybarz' account deletion and I deeply regret it. I enjoyed your covers, man. I've also posted several bass covers (not so many) and actually one of them has been deleted so far. Filled the dispute form explaining that I'm not earning any money nor claiming any ownership over the copyrighted material but it didn't work. WE ARE NOT STEALING ANYTHING! Proof that "law" and "justice" aren't synonyms. :(
ReplyDeleteWhy would Munkybarz account be deleted, but his 'band' Virtual Zep, be left alone? What would be the difference? Also, many others are doing the exact same thing that he was doing, i.e. playing a bass (or guitar, etc.) along with a recording. And, those videos are still up. Either they're all "illegal", or they're not. Maybe you tube is trying to make an example of someone. If you are not selling the songs and/or making money from them, then what is the problem? People are just watching the videos. What about the concert videos that are posted by the many concert goers? Are the artists being compensated every time a video is viewed? I think that this type of behavior by you tube will be their ultimate undoing in the end. Remember Napster? Everyone is going to go to a MyTube and post what they want without all of the b.s. hassles. File sharing is not going to go away.
ReplyDeleteWow... this sucks. I loved watching your videos munkybarz. I was wondering why I couldn't find you on youtube so I googled you and found this. I had no idea this was happening. WTF? Hope I can see you on some other website. I've learned a lot and been inspired by your videos.
ReplyDelete-ProgMom67
I totally loved Munkybarz videos, they helped me alot as a bass player. Is there where out there I can see his videos maybe posted or archived? I've googled and googled to no avail.
ReplyDeleteAny chance of getting your videos moved to a site that they can stay on.. I was a huge fan and would love to see those videos again.
ReplyDeleteYou know what? Stop watching videos on YouTube. There is an up and coming website called DailyMotion... (www.dailymotion.com) that AT LEAST FOR NOW isn't bothered by copyright infrigments. There you can watch old video clips fro the 80's(Motley Crue etc.) that normally you wouldn't be able to watch on YouTube. YouTube is now something mainstream, and that's why the big music corporations are trying to destroy everything we love about it, there's simply so much money to be made... Anyway, I just think that YouTUbe isn't the one to blame, but, what the fuck, I just want to post videos. You can't do that? BYE
ReplyDeleteJust came back to read this ten years later
ReplyDeleteI just googled munkybarz again. Such an inspiration. I remember that Killing Joke's bass cover from like 11-12 years ago, still in love with the song. And many other songs he made me discover. What is munky up to now? Anyone knows? If you read this, your inspiration is remembered man! Hope to see new stuff in form of original music or covers from you in the future! Andy
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