19th May 2012
Universal Music Group Clashes with MTV Over Music Videos
12th August 2010
Universal Music Group (UMG), the world's biggest record label
with hit artists Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, among
others, has pulled its music videos from the websites owned by MTV
Networks (MTVN).
MTVN, which arguably established the concept of music-TV channels
worldwide, including the original MTV, also transmits music videos
on the internet. Its most popular websites are MTV.com, CMT.com and
VH1.com.
MTVN has always negotiated directly with record companies for its
websites' videos. Until last December, when UMG joined forces with
another major label Sony Music Entertainment and Abu Dhabi Media
Company to launch Vevo, an online streamed music-video syndication
service.
UMG is insisting all websites wanting UMG videos must take them
from only Vevo. And until its websites comply, MTVN is now allowed
to show UMG videos.
In a statement, UMG said it believes it can make more money
syndicating its artists' videos through Vevo. It said: "Vevo… is
the best way to maximise revenue for our artists, our songwriters
and ourselves, while bringing our videos to the widest possible
audience."
Negotiations were said to be ongoing and industry observers are
also waiting to see if Sony will also want to remove its videos
from MTVN sites.
Photography by Agnieszka Zychska