Another mail from Google Press..
NEW YORK, N.Y. and MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. - Oct. 9, 2006 - Warner
Music Group Corp. (NYSE: WMG) and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) today announced a strategic business relationship designed to give Google users the
ability to stream on-demand WMG's extensive music video collection
for free, through an ad-supported revenue sharing agreement, or to
purchase videos online for download. Starting this month, users in the
U.S. can watch any of the thousands of music videos, artist interviews,
"behind-the-scenes" footage and other artist-related content from
WMG on Google Video. In the coming months, users can also access
audio-visual content from WMG through Google's partner websites in
its AdSense network. In addition, Google will develop technology that,
when implemented, will enable users to include certain content from
companies such as Warner Music Group in the videos they create and
upload to Google Video.
"Our partnership with Google is rooted in the pioneering approach we've
used to offer fans more music, while benefiting artists and protecting
copyrights," said Alex Zubillaga, Warner Music Group's Executive Vice
President, Digital Strategy and Business Development. "Viewing the
online world as a significant opportunity, we are transforming Warner
Music from a traditional 'songs-and-records' company into one that
delivers rich music-based content on multiple platforms, in a variety
of ways. We are proud to partner with an online innovator like Google
to further our efforts in this space and we are gratified to see that
other major music and technology companies are beginning to embrace
these new models as well."
"In support of our mission to organize the world's information and
make it universally accessible and useful, we're excited to organize
and make available to Google Video users the music video library of
Warner Music Group," said David Eun, Google's vice president of
content partnerships. "This agreement also allows us to realize a
threefold goal of meeting online user demand, providing advertisers
with a new way to communicate with their customers, and giving content
holders a way to monetize their content; we achieve this by combining
Google's network of hundreds of thousands of advertisers,
unparalleled distribution via our publisher network and high quality
content like Warner Music Group's music-video library. At the same
time, this agreement is a highly visible platform to highlight our
continued commitment to protecting copyrights."
Monetizing through Ad-Supported Content
WMG will be able to monetize its music video content online by
leveraging Google's extensive advertiser network of hundreds of
thousands of advertisers. WMG's music video catalog will be
sponsored by Google advertisers, making it free to all users. The
resulting generated advertising revenue will be shared by WMG and
Google. Besides providing ad-supported content on Google Video, select
WMG's music videos will immediately be available for purchase as
downloads on Google Video for $1.99.
Unmatched Distribution through AdSense Partner Sites
In the coming months, WMG will also work with Google to distribute its
substantial video collection to websites around the world via Google's
extensive AdSense publisher network, making it even easier for users to
access free premium content while surfing the Web. Web publishers will
be able to easily display videos that match the tone of their sites
adding value to their online content and creating a new way to earn
revenue from their sites. For example, a fan site devoted to a
particular WMG artist can run ad-supported music videos from that
artist. Each time a user is interested in the accompanying ad and
clicks on the link, the Web publisher, WMG and Google will share in the
resulting revenue.
Facilitating User-Generated Content
WMG and Google are working together to allow users access to music from
WMG's recorded music library for use in their creative user-generated
productions. Once Google's technology is implemented, content
companies such as Warner Music Group will have the opportunity to
monetize the use of music in user-generated content, or if they choose,
have the content removed from the platform.
About Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group (NYSE: WMG) became the only stand-alone music
company to be publicly traded in the United States in May 2005. With
its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group
is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music
industry including Atlantic, Bad Boy, Elektra, Lava, Maverick,
Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros. and Word.
Warner Music International, a leading company in national and
international repertoire operates through numerous international
affiliates and licensees in more than 50 countries. Warner Music Group
also includes Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music
publishers. For more information, visit www.wmg.com.
About Google Inc.
Google's innovative search technologies connect millions of people
around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by
Stanford Ph.D. students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, Google today is a
top web property in all major global markets. Google's targeted
advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable
results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. Google
is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the
Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit www.google.com.
Google on the way !!