Billboard is reporting this week that UMG (Universal Music Group) has pulled its artist’s music videos from MTV.com, due to a breakdown in negotiations over licensing fees.
UMG has long licensed music directly to MTV but it now does all its direct licensing through Vevo, the joint venture site which includes Sony Music, YouTube and AT&T as stakeholders.
MTV’s deal with UMG has now expired and Vevo was in negotiations with MTV before the talks broke down. The deal is only for online properties and also includes the sites for VH1 and CMT.
The popular TV network had this to say on the matter:
“For almost 30 years, we have enjoyed long and colorful partnerships with all the music labels, including UMG and their talented roster of artists on MTV, VH1 and CMT. As the industry evolves, we continue to seek out new and innovative ways to connect artists with their fans that are mutually beneficial to everyone. However, during our recent discussions with Vevo, we were unable to reach a fair and equitable agreement for rights to stream UMG artists’ music video content. As a result, UMG has elected to pull their music videos from our web sites. We are disappointed by this move and sincerely hope that UMG will work with us toward a fair resolution and allow their artists to once again connect with the millions of music fans who visit MTV.com, VH1.com and CMT.com every month.”
UMG struck back with the following:
“MTVN has been unwilling to negotiate a fair syndication deal with Vevo to carry our artists’ videos and consequently our videos will not be shown on their online properties. We believe that using Vevo as our online music video syndication platform is the best way to maximize revenue for our artists, our songwriters and ourselves, while bringing our videos to the widest possible audience. In less than 8 months since its launch, Vevo has already become the web’s #1 rated video network with over 49 million unique visitors monthly, dramatically eclipsing those on MTV’s online properties, while attracting scores of major advertisers and tens of millions in advertising dollars. As a result, our artists are enjoying tremendous exposure on Vevo on YouTube and Vevo.com, and will enjoy even more as Vevo continues to complete syndication deals supplementing the existing arrangements with leading destinations as AOL and CBS Interactive.”
Result for: partnerships
Wikimedia, the company behind Wikipedia has said this week that they have installed a new server, one that should allow for the “huge influx” of video that is starting to be uploaded to the encyclopedia site.
Besides video coming from volunteers, hundred of hours of footage is coming from recent partnerships with national archives and museums.
In 2008, Wikimedia and open source video platform Kaltura joined forces to bring video to Wikipedia, but apparently the process it “taking a little longer” than originally anticipated.
Says Wikimedia’s Head of Communications Jay Walsh about the delay, via NewTeeVee: “We don’t work with proprietary video systems.” Wikipedia will use the free, open-source codec Ogg Theora for video playback, which many browsers did not even support until recently.
Walsh says to expect at least some rollout of an HTML5-based video player and editor in the next three to six months.
Result for: partnerships
MOG has announced today the launch of MOG All Access, an unlimited music streaming service that will cost only $5 USD a month and has backing by the Big 4; Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music.
Says CEO David Hyman: “Our goal with MOG All Access was to build the best service for listening to and discovering music, period. To accomplish this, we’re providing access to millions of songs (just about everything), with a drop dead easy way to hear any song or album you like in an instant, from the convenience of your web browser. You’ll get access to MOG radio, a revolutionary listening experience that will forever change how you discover music and truly redefines what radio is, and killer tools for discovery through other users of the service. And you get it all monthly for the price of a beer. We’re setting the music listening bar.”
The company adds they have partnerships with thousands of indie labels and the service will launch with over 5 million tracks. “Millions more” are expected before the end of the year.
“Creating a great online music experience requires not only a large catalog of easily accessible songs, but also a compelling, easy-to-use platform that allows fans to discover, share and discuss the music and artists they are passionate about,” added Michael Nash, Executive Vice President Digital Strategy and Business Development at Warner Music Group. “MOG ’s All Access Pass offers fans a fresh and dynamic way to enjoy the music they love and a terrific way for our artists to reach their fans where they are most engaged. We look forward to working with MOG to make that user experience the best it can be.”
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