While royalty negotiations continue to breakdown between Youtube and European music publishers, one Irish-based music video company is aiming to take advantage of the situation. MUZU has struck licensing deals with many independent and major labels as well as unsigned acts to stream music videos, live concerts, video blogs and archive TV footage from programs like The Tube with the aim of sharing the advertising revenue with bands, labels and video owners. Best of all, it’s all 100% legal, and free to watch. So how can a little company like MUZU compete with an online video behemoth like Youtube? “We believe we can co-exist and succeed alongside YouTube which is heavily reliant on poor quality ‘home made’ video and has no definitive focus - a jack of all trades, but a master of none,” says MUZU’s Graeme Slattery pointing out MUZU’s 100% music focus.
MUZU sees Youtube’s decision to block music videos in the UK and Germany as an opportunity to attract users to their service. “Because sites like YouTube are built off the back of user generated content, and have a storied past of allowing ‘illegal’ content to be viewed – brands are resistant to pay premium advertising rates,” he reasons. “While the industry needs to look at the minimum stream rates to make new business models viable and sustainable it should not let YouTube hold it to ransom.”
MUZU has certainly got off to a good start by getting support from the industry from the outset. Labels like EMI, Sony Music, 4AD, Rough Trade and XL have all licensed their video content to the site. “The site was actually purpose-built for the music industry as a way for them to drive new revenue streams and market their artists in a professional, music-only online environment,” explains Slattery. “The unique thing about MUZU is that all bands — regardless of whether they’re signed or not – have the potential to make money”.
While getting bands and labels on board can be difficult, getting internet users to change their music video habits from Youtube to MUZU will be the biggest challenge of all. To facilitate this, MUZU allows users to create video playlists that they can embed on social networking sites. With the site growing by 30% month by month and with advertisers starting to jump on board, as well as the music industry, it’ll be very interesting to see what kind of an impact MUZU can have on Youtube’s dominance.
Our top video picks from MUZU.TV
1. MUZU Live sessions
Tonnes and tonnes of live sessions recorded right in the MUZU Dublin studio from The Jimmy Cake to Bipolar Empire to Mick Flannery to MJEX to Baddies.
MUZU SESSIONS TV on MUZU.
2. Shoegazing Classics
Taking its cue from Rob Da Bank’s recent compilation this playlist compiles the best of Shoegaze from Lush to Pale Saints to the modern-day Deerhunter.
3. The Tube
Brilliant, brilliant interview footage from Thin Lizzy, Mick Jagger, Sting, David Lee Roth, early U2, Ray Charles and many, many more…
4. Britney Videography
The entire Britney video back catalogue is on display for better or worse.. We say better.
5. Eagle Rock live performances
Live, live live performances from all walks of music - James Brown, Johnny Cash, Top of the Pops, Pixies, Eminem and loads loads more hi-definition.
Features
Fri, May 1, 2009