Are "the big boys dismissing fair claims for artists"? PRS is pretty large itself, and has statutory authority behind it.

So far as I can tell, YT aren't disputing that composers are entitled to payment, through PRS. All we have here is a disagreement over price. If YT don't want to buy music at the price PRS is asking, that's their choice. If PRS doesn't want to sell music a the price YT is offering, that's its choice.

I can understand that Jim McLean, as a PRS member, has a particular point of view on this. But to paint a straightforward commercial negotiation as some kind of moral crusade is a little unfair.

Furthermore, it strikes me that YT would be acting improperly if they hadn't taken the music down, since they don't at present have a PRS licence.