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EMI ties up with Vidnet to stream videos

Musicvideos are really taking off as an online promotional tool, and we expect even greater growth as more people get broadband connections. Windowsmedia is the foremost platform for high-quality broadband delivery. Adam Clampitt, Business Development, Vidnet

EA music video licensing agreement between EMI Recorded Music and Vidnet.com has been announced giving the Web site the right to stream catalogue and new videos from artists signed to all EMI labels.

The musicvids will be free to download. Artists signed to EMI Recorded Music include the Beastie Boys, Smashing Pumpkins, Chemical Brothers and Janet Jackson. Vidnet already Netcasts videos by artists signed with Virgin Worldwide and Universal Music Group.

“(We signed with EMI) for the same reason we signed with all the other companies,” said. Stephen Brown, CEO of Entertainment Boulevard, the parent company of Vidnet. “We plan on being the ultimate video destination on the Internet.” Although precise details of the deal were not released, EMI did receive an equity stake in Entertainment Boulevard. “We are pleased that Vidnet.com will be streaming videos from our artists,” said Jay Samit, senior vice president of new media at EMI Recorded Music. “Vidnet.com’s emphasis on ease of use and quality of service provides a great environment in which music fans can enjoy their favourite videos.”

A sample of the video offerings of Vidnet and EMI Recorded Music were Netcast on Thursday as part of a launch of a music video guide on Windowsmedia.com, a Web site run by Microsoft Corp. The site also features videos from Launch.com, Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group. “Musicvideos are really taking off as an online promotional tool, and we expect even greater growth as more people get broadband connections,” said Adam Clampitt, of business development for Vidnet. “Windowsmedia is the foremost platform for high-quality broadband delivery.”