Youtube's effect on the music industry

The website YouTube has had an effect on the music industry and CD sales. The website itself allows people to post, view and share videos across the globe, the videos can consist of music videos, film trailers, TV programmes etc. The ability to view music videos online may effect the music industry as it allows people to watch and more importantly listen to their favourite music for free.

The website was created February 14th, 2005 by three former Paypal employees. As the website has grown and is now the most famous website to find video content online major corporations such as BBC, VEVO and CBS have begun to upload videos. There is also an option whilst watching a music video to buy the song straight from iTunes, with some videos getting millions of hits people may be persuaded to buy their music from iTunes due to links on YouTube that allow the song to be bought. The CD industry is rapidly declining due to illegal downloading, however the introduction of YouTube and the link it has to iTunes means more people are either downloading music illegally or purchasing straight from iTunes.