Chloe Zhang
Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi's 1984 song Plastic Love gained newfound popularity in the late 2010s, thanks to an unofficial upload on YouTube by a user called Plastic Lover. The video, which featured a black-and-white photo of Takeuchi as its thumbnail, amassed millions of views before it was deleted due to a copyright strike by the thumbnail's photographer, Alan Levenson. This article will explore the reasons behind the video's removal and the subsequent reaction from fans of the song.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for deletion | Photographer Alan Levenson filed a copyright strike |
| Date of deletion | 2018 |
| Views before deletion | 24 million, 25 million, or 1 million |
| Channel name | Plastic Lover |
| Photographer's reason for filing a copyright strike | Lack of compensation and proper attribution for the thumbnail image |
| Outcome | Video restored with proper attribution, eventually reaching 63 million views |
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What You'll Learn
- The song's removal was due to a copyright strike by photographer Alan Levenson
- The video was restored after Levenson and Plastic Lover came to an understanding
- Plastic Lover's channel was terminated in 2021 due to copyright infringement
- The song's popularity was catalysed by YouTube's recommendation algorithm
- The song's removal sparked negative reactions from fans
The song's removal was due to a copyright strike by photographer Alan Levenson
The removal of Mariya Takeuchi's "Plastic Love" from YouTube was due to a copyright strike by photographer Alan Levenson. The song, originally released in 1984, gained newfound popularity in the late 2010s through an unofficial upload on the YouTube channel "Plastic Lover." This channel featured audio-videos of Japanese city pop songs, with Takeuchi's "Plastic Love" as the most popular upload.
The video for "Plastic Love" featured a black-and-white thumbnail photo of Takeuchi, which was taken by Los Angeles-based photographer Alan Levenson during the album's production. Levenson claimed that he was never compensated by the label for that photo. In 2018, Levenson discovered that his photo was being used in the "Plastic Love" video when he received an email from Sony regarding the image. He then attempted to contact Plastic Lover to request proper attribution for his work but was unsuccessful. As a result, he filed a copyright strike with YouTube, leading to the removal of the "Plastic Love" video.
The removal of the video sparked a strong reaction from fans of the song, with some sending hate mail to Levenson. However, months later, Levenson and Plastic Lover came to an understanding, and the video was restored with proper attribution. Despite the initial backlash, Levenson's copyright claim brought attention to the issue of uncredited and unpaid creative work, highlighting the importance of properly compensating and crediting photographers and creators.
The incident also underscores the impact of YouTube's algorithm in shaping music trends and introducing new audiences to niche genres such as city pop. The song's popularity on YouTube helped propel "Plastic Love" to new heights, breaking into Japan's top ten sales chart decades after its original release and even receiving a full-length official music video.
In summary, the removal of Mariya Takeuchi's "Plastic Love" from YouTube was a result of a copyright strike by photographer Alan Levenson, who sought proper attribution and compensation for his work. The incident highlights the complex dynamics of creative credit and compensation in the digital age, where viral trends can shape the music industry and bring long-forgotten songs back into the spotlight.
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The video was restored after Levenson and Plastic Lover came to an understanding
The viral success of Mariya Takeuchi's "Plastic Love" can be attributed to the YouTube channel Plastic Lover, which uploaded an extended version of the 1984 song in 2017. The video gained traction due to its catchy melody, hypnotic groove, and the YouTube algorithm, which recommended it to millions of users. However, the video was removed in 2018 due to a copyright strike filed by Alan Levenson, the photographer of the thumbnail image. Levenson claimed he was never compensated by the label for the photo and sought proper attribution. This led to insults and harassment directed at Levenson, as the song's fans had become emotionally attached to the video.
Following the video's removal, Plastic Lover negotiated with Levenson to resolve the issue. The negotiations resulted in an understanding between the two parties, leading to the video's restoration with proper attribution to Levenson. The restored video continued to gain popularity, reaching 63 million views. The song even received a brand new official music video, and the track broke into Japan's top ten sales chart for the first time.
The restoration of the video on YouTube was a result of successful negotiations between Plastic Lover and Alan Levenson. Plastic Lover recognised the importance of Levenson's contribution and agreed to provide proper attribution. This resolution ensured that the video could remain accessible to its dedicated fanbase while also crediting the original creator of the thumbnail image.
The understanding between Levenson and Plastic Lover demonstrates the potential for positive outcomes in copyright disputes. By working together and finding a compromise, both parties were able to protect their interests and ensure the continued enjoyment of the song by its growing fan base. This outcome highlights the value of collaboration and mutual respect in the digital media landscape, where content creation and distribution are highly dynamic and interconnected.
The restoration of the "Plastic Love" video also underscores the evolving nature of media consumption and distribution in the digital age. The viral success of the song, fuelled by the YouTube algorithm, demonstrates how digitisation has transformed the discovery and popularity of niche genres and artists. The restoration of the video further contributes to the globalisation of pop culture, allowing audiences worldwide to connect with and celebrate music that might have otherwise remained obscure outside of its original context.
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Plastic Lover's channel was terminated in 2021 due to copyright infringement
The Plastic Lover channel was a YouTube channel that uploaded audio videos of Japanese pop songs by Japanese singer-songwriter Mariya Takeuchi. The channel's most popular video was an audio-video of Takeuchi's 1984 song "Plastic Love", which helped catalyze a global obsession with the city pop genre.
In 2018, the "Plastic Love" video was deleted after Alan Levenson, the photographer of the thumbnail image, filed a copyright claim against the video. Levenson had not been properly credited or compensated for his work, and he wanted to take action to rectify this. This led to insults and harassment directed at Levenson, which caused him to negotiate the removal of the copyright claim, and the video was restored with proper attribution.
However, in 2021, the Plastic Lover channel was terminated due to multiple third-party claims of copyright infringement regarding the material posted by the user. The specific details of the copyright infringement that led to the channel's termination are not publicly known. It is possible that the channel uploaded content without proper attribution or permission, leading to copyright strikes from the original copyright owners.
The termination of the Plastic Lover channel highlights the importance of adhering to copyright laws and ensuring that creators receive proper credit and compensation for their work. While the channel's fans may have been disappointed by its removal, it serves as a reminder that online platforms take copyright infringement seriously and will enforce their policies to protect the rights of creators.
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The song's popularity was catalysed by YouTube's recommendation algorithm
The popularity of Mariya Takeuchi's "Plastic Love" was largely due to YouTube's recommendation algorithm. The song, originally released in 1984, gained newfound popularity in the late 2010s, thanks to an unofficial upload on YouTube by an anonymous user named Plastic Lover. This upload became a viral sensation, attracting millions of views and sparking a global interest in the city pop genre.
The song's popularity can be attributed to several factors influenced by YouTube's algorithm. Firstly, the algorithm played a crucial role in exposing the song to a wider audience. Millions of users worldwide began to see "Plastic Love" in their recommended videos, even if they were not specifically searching for it. This algorithmic exposure created a snowball effect, with more and more people discovering and engaging with the song.
Secondly, the visual aesthetic of the upload also played a part in its appeal. The video thumbnail featured a black-and-white headshot of Takeuchi, taken by photographer Alan Levenson, which captivated viewers and drew them in. The combination of the intriguing thumbnail and the catchy, carefree nature of the song created a perfect storm for viral success.
The popularity of "Plastic Love" on YouTube had a significant impact on the city pop genre as a whole. It introduced millions of new listeners to this niche genre, sparking a revival of interest in city pop and Japanese pop music from the 1970s and 1980s. This impact extended beyond just music, with fan art, memes, mashups, covers, and remixes further boosting the song's popularity and engaging a diverse range of audiences.
While the original Plastic Lover upload was eventually removed due to a copyright claim by Levenson, the song's impact on popular culture had already been made. The song's removal even sparked a passionate response from fans, demonstrating the intense emotional attachment that had formed around "Plastic Love" and its unique cultural aura.
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The song's removal sparked negative reactions from fans
The song "Plastic Love" by Mariya Takeuchi had become a viral sensation on YouTube, with the most popular upload by the channel Plastic Lover reaching 24 million views before it was deleted due to a copyright strike. The song's popularity was partly due to the YouTube algorithm, which kept suggesting the song to users, and the thumbnail photo used in the video, which was a black-and-white headshot of Takeuchi taken by Levenson.
The dramatic spike in popularity for the song and the Plastic Lover channel, which occurred between March 17, 2018, and April 5, 2018, caught the attention of Levenson, who had not been compensated for his photo by Takeuchi's record label. When Levenson was unable to contact Plastic Lover to request proper attribution, he filed a copyright strike with YouTube, resulting in the video's removal.
While the removal of the Plastic Lover video did not stop other clones of the video from being available on YouTube, it did upset a community of listeners that had formed around the specific upload. The intense reaction to the video's removal can be attributed to the cultural rarity and aura that the song had taken on for some consumers, even though it was just a copy.
The song's removal and the subsequent negative reactions from fans highlight the powerful emotional attachments that can form around specific pieces of media in the digital age. It also demonstrates how digitization has changed the consumption, production, and distribution of music, allowing consumers to discover niche genres and artists from around the world.
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Frequently asked questions
"Plastic Love" was removed from YouTube due to a copyright strike filed by L.A.-based photographer Alan Levenson, who owned the rights to the thumbnail image used in the video.
Alan Levenson is the photographer who took the photo of Mariya Takeuchi that was used as the thumbnail for the "Plastic Love" video. Levenson claimed he was never compensated by the label for that photo.
After receiving insults and harassment from fans of the song, Levenson negotiated to remove the copyright claim, and the video was restored with proper attribution.
The popularity of the video can be attributed in part to the YouTube algorithm, which suggested the song to millions of users. The video's thumbnail photo, a black-and-white headshot of Takeuchi, also played a role in its virality.
