YOUTUBE MUSIC COPYRIGHT — YouTube.com is doing an oustanding job in tracking and properly giving copyright credits to the companies that own the musical content being played in salsa music or dance videos posted on their service. 

This goes a long way for salsa music lovers who used to get tired of asking in the comments section: "Does anyone know the song that's playing?"

Inquiries that would go unanswered many times to the frustration of many who really wanted to know the artist, the name of the song, perhaps the CD it was on, and buy it either as an MP3 or a whole album. 

I truly believe that this is something that will go a long way for labels, bands, and artists who have struggled with making income, as MP3s are easily ripped and shared online, via email, or in burned dics. Salsa dancers and lovers everywhere know that they have been at some point, culprits of these actions that have damaged the music industry so much (except me, of course). Even musicians are quick to send you an MP3 if you are their friend, and simply because they love sharing the music that they love so much. 

YouTube.com is not being mean about it, but I believe that their take on the videos you might've posted depends on the requests made by the content owners.

That means that some content owners are unhappy with their music being played without permission, and they want all videos taken off YouTube's service, in which case, YouTube simply complies. YouTube sends out a notice to the user who posted the video and shortly after, the video is gone! Very sad, indeed, but that's the reality of things.

But other more clever content owners, simply want the credit to be posted along the video on YouTube's service, which can result in thousands or millions of views on popular videos, which amounts to a massive amount of FREE marketing and promotion. Moreover, YouTube.com is contributing to the artists pockets when thy are clever like this, by allowing users who watch the video to BUY the MP3 from online or mobile sources, such as Android Market, Amanzon MP3, iTunes, eMusic, etc. 

Recently I was contacted about a video I shot in 2008 at the San Francisco Salsa Congress, which told me that my video had content that was owned and licensed by The Orchard Music. I feared the worst as I felt my video would be taken down. Obviously, I have lots of videos with lots of hits, but this video I really liked because of the song and the dancers in it. 

YouTube.com did not take down the video, but simply added copyright info with links to go purchase the MP3 or the album at the bottom right corner of the video. This was great, in my opinion! I was happy to still have my video online and happy to be able to buy the music I loved and for so many other people to also be able to do the same. [ See the video here. ]

The Internet and the access we have to content everywhere has truly changed the markets in which our musicians try to make a living for them and their families. Incomes are not as grand as before and not as easily obtained either. So, I am very joyous that YouTube.com is doing the right thing when it comes to content owners and their service, and for allowing them to make extra-income by the videos that we, the people who love what they do, shot and posted on their service. 

Thank you, YouTube.com!