YouTube is handing six-figure promotional budgets to artists – in exchange for a guarantee that these performers won’t publicly criticize the platform’s royalty payouts.

That’s according to a new report from Bloomberg, which says that YouTube also requires other partners to agree to these ‘non-disparagement agreements’ – including those who create shows for its paid-for YouTube Red service.

YouTube has, in recent weeks, reportedly given a handful of artists marketing budgets of around $200,000 to produce videos and take out billboard advertising campaigns.

Source: www.musicbusinessworldwide.com