Music Video Catching Up To MP3s
Universal Music Group has inked another video licensing deal, this time with the reincarnated MP3.com. The re-treaded music destination, now part of CNet Networks, Inc., will soon deliver hundreds of Universal videos on-demand and free of charge.
As part of the deal, MP3.com also scored an exclusive remix video from 50 Cent. Meanwhile, MP3.com sister site GameSpot will feature an
exclusive interview with the rapper, who will discuss his new game, 50 Cent: Bulletproof. That content is already being heavily promoted throughout the CNet destination, which reports a reach of 25.5 million.
For MP3.com, the new videos offer a nice content addition, with 50 Cent sure to deliver a spike. For Universal Music, the move is part of a growing string of deals with internet video outlets, and follows larger negotiations involving AOL, Yahoo, and MSN. While those outlets could once rely on free video content, a surge in broadband penetration and multimedia interest have caused majors to now charge for their videos. That is a major shift from previous thinking, with top executives uninterested in replicating their promotional-only MTV relationship online. Now, smaller destinations are coming to the table, with UMG recently finalizing a deal with online video outlet Singingfool.com.
Source: Digital Music News
Posted by keefner at July 26, 2005 02:45 PM