MTV And WMG Ink Landmark Deal

MTV NETWORKS and WARNER MUSIC GROUP (WMG) today announced a global licensing agreement for the use of music videos from WMG's record labels in original mobile programming developed by MTV NETWORKS. Effective immediately across the globe, the agreement allows MTV NETWORKS to create and distribute new short-form video content for mobile devices that contains audiovisual excerpts from WMG's music video catalog. This represents the first global agreement of its kind between a media company and music label that covers programming on mobile networks. 

"Today's digital age has created a new world in the music industry, one that requires innovative thinking about the way business has to be done to meet the evolving needs and demands of our audiences," said MTV NETWORKS Chairman and CEO, JUDY McGRATH. "I want to thank WARNER MUSIC for pioneering change in the industry, and in so doing, providing us both with a way to bring more music to more fans across the globe. This is a great leap forward in the evolution of our mobile video strategy, and we look forward to developing more exciting initiatives in this space over the year to come." 

"This is a highly unique and exciting relationship, one that helps us realize the full potential of our music video assets while giving WARNER MUSIC's emerging and established artists new platforms for reaching more of their fans on a global scale," said WMG Chairman and CEO EDGAR BRONFMAN JR. "MTV NETWORKS' fantastic programming expertise, its roster of world famous music and entertainment brands and its important demographics in the wireless space make them an ideal partner for taking the mobile entertainment experience to the next level and helping more of our audiences connect with the music they love." 

Content will include short mobile programming derived from network shows such as VH1's "Driven" and "You Oughta Know," CMT's "CMT Insider" and "Studio 330," as well as made-for-mobile content from MTV NETWORKS' broadband programming such as "Box Set" on VH1's VSpot. Original programming developed by MTV NETWORKS and featuring music video content from WMG will be available for mobile devices globally via streamed and downloaded video on-demand formats across the company's brands and wireless sub-brands. How users purchase the content is determined by the carrier in each market and can include both subscription and a la carte pricing.

« see more Net News