Google, which owns the video-sharing website, described the ban as a “painful decision” which it knew would cause “significant disappointment”.
The move comes as Google and PRS for Music, the organisation that collects royalties for performances and licenses music videos to Google for UK users, try to negotiate a new deal.
PRS for Music said Google wants to pay “significantly less than at present to the writers of the music” while the internet giant said the deal it had been offered would mean it would lose money every time a video was played.
A statement from Google said: “Our previous licence from PRS for Music has expired, and we’ve
been unable so far to come to an agreement to renew it on terms that are economically sustainable for us.
“We value the creativity of musicians and songwriters and have worked hard with rights-holders to generate significant online revenue for them and to respect copyright. But PRS is now asking us to pay many, many times more for our licence than before.”
PRS for Music said in a statement: “This action has been taken without any consultation with PRS for Music and in the middle of negotiations between the two parties.
“PRS for Music has not requested Google to do this and urges them to reconsider their decision as a matter of urgency.”