EMI Music Signs Video Streaming Agreement With AOL Europe

EMI Music has signed an advertising-supported music video streaming agreement with leading digital content provider AOL Europe, it was announced today.

The agreement, covering the UK, French and German markets, enables consumers to stream music videos free-of-charge via the AOL portal. All forthcoming new releases will be available for music fans to stream, as well as music videos from EMI Music’s extensive back catalogue.

EMI Music will also benefit from closer links with the AOL editorial team, with additional exposure for EMI’s artists via promotional activity such as “Artist of the Month” and “Breakers.” Exclusive “AOL Sessions” are also planned, with all recordings to be made available for AOL users to stream.

Consumers will have access to music videos from EMI Music artists, including Coldplay, Corinne Bailey Rae, Norah Jones and Lily Allen, as well as Camille, Diam’s and Raphael from France, and Wir Sind Helden and La Fee from Germany.

Mike McMahon, senior vice president of commercial and digital media, EMI Music UK, said: “EMI Music is delighted to reach an agreement with AOL Europe to provide video streams to its users. We believe that the agreement creates greater scope to promote and profile new artists as well as established acts to AOL users, while at the same time ensuring that EMI and its artists are fairly compensated for their work.”

Chris Kennedy, chief financial officer, EMI Music International, said: “The advertising-funded model is one that really appeals to a cross-section of music fans, and we’re pleased to be able to link with AOL across Europe to offer consumers another way to engage with the music and videos of our artists.”

Dana Dunne, CEO of AOL Europe, said: “One of the cornerstones of AOL's new business strategy is to offer world-class, compelling online entertainment to all consumers on the web.

“Our agreement with EMI Music means that music fans throughout Germany, France and the UK will be able to enjoy more than 1,000 top EMI Music videos on AOL”.