NEW YORK--Eric Schmidt's presence at a swanky music industry gathering was an illustration of how far digital technology has come and the power it has amassed.

A decade ago, the film studios and top record companies dismissed Northern Californians as a bunch of bearded dweebs who liked electronics. Five years ago, with illegal-file sharing spinning out of control, the entertainment industry looked on techies with fear and loathing, invaders to be repelled before they made off with the treasure. It wasn't that long ago that some in Hollywood considered Google a "rogue company."

Pfft. That's all in the past. On Tuesday, at a launch party for music-video site Vevo, the Google CEO was an honored guest. Schmidt was seated front and center in an area reserved for music industry titans and major recording stars. He rubbed elbows with singers Shania Twain and Sheryl Crow. He chatted up record producer and label exec Jimmy Iovine. He sat and visited with Doug Morris, CEO and chairman of Universal Music Group, the largest of the four top recording companies, as well as the chiefs of Sony Music Group and EMI.

And why shouldn't they show him some respect? Not only is he at the helm of the most successful advertising company in the world and operating YouTube, the Web's No. 1 video site, but Schmidt is also helping to get Vevo off the ground. Instead of trying to stand in the way of a music-video site that is in many ways breaking away from YouTube, Google is providing the service with technological expertise and allowing it to continue to market to YouTube's massive following.

What's that? Google booked $21 billion in revenue in 2008. How can a company like that be satisfied to play rhythm guitar in someone else's band?

 

At the Vevo party, Schmidt said Google couldn't be happier with the situation. This is what he's done for over a year now, held out his hand to big newspapers, film studios, TV networks, and book publishers. By taking a backup role in Vevo, Google sends a message that the rogue image is garbage and the company is prepared to go a long way--even give up decision-making power--to help partners grow their businesses. No threat here.

In many entertainment circles, that message may resonate, especially the ones where the digital revolution has laid waste. Some of the celebs at the Vevo launch were only too happen to tell Schmidt and everyone else how badly recorded music has suffered.

"We've come here to mourn the death of an old cash cow that was the music industry," U2's Bono told the audience during his speech.

"Let's hope Vevo can help salvage something that used to be amazing," said singer Mariah Carey.

If you're anti-copyright and this makes you long for the days when Google and YouTube used to wave the Digital Millennium Copyright Act in the faces of Viacom, NBC Universal, and others that demanded YouTube remove unauthorized film and TV clips from its site, well, it's time to move on.

For more than a year, YouTube's strategy has been to strike partnerships with the top studios, record companies, and TV networks.

 

 

YouTube has content deals with MGM Studios, Sony Pictures, Lionsgate, CBS (parent company of CNET), and all four of the major recording companies.

What probably drove Google to take a softer stance was competition. There might have been a period a couple of years ago when Google could have easily morphed into a pay-TV service, offering feature films and TV shows and been all things Web video. But it played hardball and NBC and News Corp. successfully came up with a YouTube alternative: Hulu.

The competition between the companies to obtain premium films and shows has been fierce. After pursuing a deal to get full-length content from Disney, Google saw the studio sign a deal with Hulu. That was a bitter blow. Google isn't used to losing.

At the same time, Netflix has jumped into the fray. The Web's top video-rental service has deals with makers of set-top boxes that enable customers to watch streaming Internet video on their TV sets. Apple has a slice of this market as well.

Meanwhile, Hulu could pose threat with the music labels. The site could capitalize on any lingering distrust of Google within the sector. Conspicuously missing from Vevo's launch party was Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman. A feud between Warner and YouTube led to Warner's content being pulled from the video site for nine months before the companies made up. But Warner has so far declined to join Vevo.

In addition, EMI recently a music-licensing deal with Hulu. EMI clips will appear on both Hulu and YouTube.

In his speech introducing Vevo, Universal Music's Morris was generous in his praise of Schmidt and Google. But the former songwriter also raised questions about who he was referring to when he said things such as "the best thing about Vevo is that it's our platform" and "no more middlemen" and "we can experiment with anything and everything we want. We don't have to ask anyone's permission anymore."

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10412081-261.html

-- Edited by Tommy on Wednesday 9th of December 2009 10:44:29 AM

Thanks Rita!

Google, Universal to Launch Music Hub ‘Vevo’

by Eliot Van Buskirk
April 9, 2009

Vevo will launch later this year, a collaboration between Universal Music Group and Google the partners expect to be the leading music video service in the world from day one.

Google confirmed to Wired.com Thursday that all of
Universal Music Group’s video assets (music videos, interviews, concert footage and possibly Kyte-style backstage video) will live on Vevo, and that YouTube — and eventually, AOL, MTV and Yahoo — will embed Universal’s videos from Vevo rather than licensing the content directly from the labels.

Although terms of the deal were not disclosed, Google’s licensing worries with Universal are over. The label will be satisfied with its share of revenue from Vevo, YouTube and wherever else these videos end up — plus the control it will have over the Vevo service.
In the end, this is another in a string of deals in which major labels have sued a social media network, settled, licensed, then gained equity in the service (imeem, MySpace and now YouTube).

“Vevo will bring the most compelling premium music video content and services to the world’s single largest online video audience,” Universal Music Group chief Doug Morris said in a statement. “We believe that at launch,
Vevo will already have more traffic than any other music video site in the United States and in the world.

Unlike MySpace Music Vevo will not be a joint venture between Google and Universal, Google told Wired.com. The site will be wholly owned by Universal, the largest record label in the world, whose YouTube channel has more views than any other in the world (3.5 billion). Google will run all technology-related aspects of the service.

“Universal owns the site, but Google/YouTube is providing the technology,” said a Google spokeswoman by e-mail. “We will be sharing revenue with Universal on both Vevo and on YouTube. Other labels could join Vevo; they are in talks currently.”

Billboard says it’s now up to Morris to convince the other labels to join the service, making it a premium version of YouTube that might be able to command higher rates from advertisers.

“This traffic represents the most sought-after demographic for advertisers, especially as advertising dollars continue their shift from old media to new,” added Morris. “Vevo will be uniquely positioned to monetize this opportunity and a host of others as we grow it to become ‘the’
destination for premium music video content online.”

At its current ad rates, Google can’t afford some of the majors’ licensing demands. Warner removed its videos from YouTube in the United States, and in the United Kingdom and Germany, all major label music videos have been removed from YouTube.

The purpose behind Vevo is to sell advertising at higher rates than
YouTube does now. If that means loads of overlays, pre-roll and post-roll advertising, users might revolt.

On the other hand, there could soon be no other game in town, at least as far as some of these videos go. If the rest of the majors join,
Vevo could become “the” (as in, “the only”) place on the web that can legally play or allow other sites to embed this desirable content. It could end up powering every licensed service you can access.

If this works, YouTube (as Vevo) really could save the music business.

It’s also worth noting that a potential deal between all the majors to join Vevo could threaten the likes of Muziic and
Songza — believed to have been acquired by Amie Street — and others that deliver music from YouTube, unless Google and the labels don’t mind them using Vevo instead.

http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2009/04/vevo-is-real/

All pictures are in the Picture Forum.

I think it is just the weird top she is wearing..

Adam Lambert And Rihanna Glam Up The Vevo Launch

Last night’s New York City launch party for new online video hosting site Vevo boasted appearances by pop’s flashy elite. Mariah Carey, Rihanna, Adam Lambert, Sheryl Crow, Shania Twain, Bono, Lady Gaga and Pete Wentz all mingled at Skylight Studio with Google CEO Eric Schmidt and Interscope Records chief Jimmy Iovine.

Vevo, which is partly owned by music giants Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, hopes become the music video viewing destination online—the MTV for the iTunes generation, if you will. Theoretically, there will be no more YouTube-like slogging through clips of hamsters dancing around to “Since U Been Gone” or 12-year-olds doing cartwheels on their bed to “Big Pimpin’” while trying to find the artists’ actual videos.

Vevo is said to already have over 14,000 vids up now provided by the various major labels. Of course, each time we’ve tried to log on this morning, we keep getting a server error warning. Guess YouTube (which is backing Vevo, along with parent company Google) doesn’t have anything to worry about yet.

http://idolator.com/5317831/adam-lambert-and-rihanna-glam-up-the-vevo-launch

Loonie Echo wrote:

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She looks great. She also looks like she might be pregnant. Just saying!

Let me be the first to congratulate Shania and Fred, if it is true. If not, just a thougt. But for my own reasons, I think she just might be. 

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I thought the EXACT same thing! She really looks pregnant!

 

Shania Twain Makes A Rare Public Appearance!

Filed under: Shania Twain > Justin Bieber http://perezhilton.com/2009-12-09-shania-twain-makes-a-rare-public-appearance

Vevo's page for Shania:

http://www.vevo.com/artist/shania-twain/09899f85-a2dd-4746-a86d-475299a7ca8f

What The hell is wrong with all of you ? Shania looks great and she is almost 45 I think her baby days are over. I think she is looking really sexy and trust me if she were having a baby I do not think she would make a appearence at this kind of event. We have to relaize something I think she is making a huge return in 2010 so stop with the bull crap because I as a true fan will be excited to hopefully see her return next year. Fred what the hell I think they might be friends lets see who is right because I am so excited because the queen seems to be in the media alot these days and lets all be happy cause I sure am.

Tommy wrote:

Vevo's page for Shania:

http://www.vevo.com/artist/shania-twain/09899f85-a2dd-4746-a86d-475299a7ca8f

PurplePeopleEater wrote:

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IT GIVES YOU A BLANK PAGE?

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That's strange. Then just go to www.vevo.com and type in Shania Twain in the artist search box.

 

Pregnant? If so, that would kill a tour. Of course we need new music to tour with.

It's just the clothes she has on.

That kid looks like it could be Shania's son :)

PurplePeopleEater wrote:

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Thanks - what image quality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is there a way to get the image to fill your computer screen instead of having to look at all the crap on the 4 borders?

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Not that I can figure out.

Well thats not cool.... Vevo isnt available in my country... New Zealand.

Onto the pictures, what is Shania doing in some of them?? Looks like she is having fun but she is doing some crazy poses