Music videos are a big part of the online video sector. They’re hugely popular on YouTube, and there’s a new YouTube-backed music video site called Vevo launching soon. But Muzu.tv has beaten Vevo to the punch and launched while our backs were turned.
Music Videos Online
In terms of online video, music videos are big business. They are a guaranteed draw for viewers and the most popular music videos are more in demand than the other big draws of movie trailers and one-off viral hits.
And it’s for these reasons that there is so much aggravation surrounding music videos, with YouTube desperate to keep them on the site and record labels pushing their luck to grab a heftier slice of the revenue pie to make it so.
Complications
This has lead to disagreements between the major record labels and YouTube in particular. The Warner Music Group even removed all its videos from the site for nine months, a situation that has only recently been resolved, with WMG demanding better terms to concede an inch.
It has also lead to the development of Vevo, a YouTube-backed site which will be made up entirely of music videos. The major record labels are either on board or negotiating to be so, but the launch of Vevo is still a few months away.
Muzu Beats Vevo To Launch
While Vevo is still getting its act together, a lesser-known competitor called Muzu has launched. All four major record labels, Universal, Sony BMG, Warner, and EMI are on board, as well as more than 7,000 smaller independent labels.
All the music videos on the site are officially licensed, with a 50/50 revenue share between Muzu and the content owner. Live footage and archive interviews are also available to watch on the site, all of which can be embedded and shared on social networking sites and the like.
Conclusions
Muzu has come from nowhere to offer everything, and possibly more, that Vevo is promising. Muzu is certainly a rival to both YouTube and Vevo, and looks to have all the right elements in place to offer a good service. And all for free to viewers.
I’ve only been using Muzu.tv for a few hours but hope to review the site in-depth in a day or two’s time. Until then, sign up, have a play around, and let us know what you think in the comments.
