RECORD LABELS LOOK TO THE INTERNET TO REVIVE MUSIC VIDEO BUSINESS

A generation after the launch of MTV, major record labels are hoping to revive the music video business online by creating a single digital destination for their artists' output.

Plans under discussion include: a partnership with Hulu, the online television and film joint venture between News Corp and NBC Universal; the creation of a premium service on YouTube, Google's video sharing site; and a standalone venture between some or all of the four largest recorded music groups.

Industry members had hailed deals struck with YouTube last year as a new way to profit from the popularity of professional music videos and from the soundtracks to amateur efforts on user-generated content sites.

However, some are now questioning whether either side has made much money from arrangements that require YouTube to share advertising revenues and, in many cases, pay a few 10ths of a cent to the music company each time a video is streamed, regardless of how much advertising is sold.

Universal Music, the industry leader, has said it makes "tens of millions of dollars" from YouTube.

Warner Music failed last week to agree a deal with the site, however. It said it was not being adequately compensated and demanded that the site take down its artists' videos and amateur content using songs from its publishing arm such as "Happy Birthday To You".

Representatives of two music companies, who would not be named, said they were in discussions with Hulu, and added that no partnershipannouncement was imminent but that the site appeared to be the favoured partner.

"If it happens at all it will be with Hulu," one said.

Both added, however, that any such deal to create a standalone music video service would not replace existing deals with YouTube. There was interest, they said, in supplying content for a potentialpremium service on YouTube, which has begun to offer high-definition videos.

　　 全球主要唱片公司可能打造自己的数字平台

在推出音乐电视(MTV)的一代人时间之后，全球主要唱片公司正希望通过为自己旗下艺人的唱片创建一个单一的数字平台，重振在线音乐视频业务。

正在讨论的计划包括与在线电视和电影合资公司Hulu合作，Hulu是新闻集团(News Corp)和NBC环球(NBC Universal)共同组建的合资公司；在谷歌的视频共享网站YouTube推出付费服务；全球四大唱片公司或者其中几家共同创建独立的合资公司。

行业人士对唱片公司与YouTube去年达成的交易表示赞赏，称之为一种新的方式，可以从颇受欢迎的专业音乐视频和业余音乐爱好者在用户原创内容网站上使用的音乐作品中赢利。

然而，一些人现在正质疑双方是否从这种安排中赚取了大量利润，这些安排要求YouTube共享广告收入，在许多情况下，不管广告收入多少，视频每播放一次，YouTube就要付给唱片公司零点几美分。

唱片行业领军企业环球音乐(Universal Music)表示，它从YouTube赚取了"数千万美元"。

然而，华纳音乐(Warner Music)上周未能与YouTube达成协议。华纳表示，该公司未能得到足够补偿，并要求YouTube撤下其歌手视频及利用来自华纳旗下发行公司的"生日快乐"等歌曲的业余内容。

不愿具名的两家音乐公司的代表表示，它们正与Hulu谈判。他们补充称，近期不会发表合作声明，但Hulu似乎是受青睐的合作伙伴。

其中一位表示："如果有合作的话，合作伙伴肯定是Hulu。"

然而，二人均补充称，推出独立音乐视频服务的交易不会取代与YouTube的现有交易。他们表示，为YouTube可能推出的付费服务提供内容是有利益的，YouTube已开始推出高清视频。
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