Variety:
Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music recording company, is in talks with Google’s YouTube division to create a musicvid venture. Instead of just receiving licensing fees or a share of ad revenue from the online video site, UMG is seeking an equity relationship on an ad-supported site focused on high-quality musicvideos unlike the grainy, user-generated fare common to YouTube’s main site.
Writer/director/producer David DeLay is getting his music video noticed, thanks to Jason Mesnick of “The Bachelor”. His ex-wife, Hilary stars in the music video “Happy” that DeLay wrote and produced for Seattle band, Out From Underneath. Portions of the music video are rumored to be aired on Entertainment Tonight and The Insider for the evening of March 3rd. The music video was selected and screened at the prestigious One Reel Film Festival during Bumbershoot in August 2008. Since “The Bachelor” started in January, DeLay has received nearly over 100,000 views for the music video from people wanting a look at Mesnick’s ex.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvIm3CKAUMY]
Check out the new music video from Death Cab for Cutie for their song Grapevine Fires:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmpMQA0qfuM]
Hollywood Reporter:
Online TV firm Next New Networks and Verizon FiOS are launching an online network Thursday called $99 Music Videos to showcase the talents of emerging musicians and filmmakers. The companies say they are looking to create an MTV for the digital and iTunes age against the backdrop of strong consumer interest in online music videos. The network pairs musicians and filmmakers to produce original music videos for no more than $99, potentially giving them exposure to new fans.
[vimeo http://vimeo.com/3162969]
Check out A Gun That Shoots Knives brand new music video for “Dinosaurs Are Real.” The video was directed by AGTSK lead-singer Stubby Abbot, with a fantastical set created by the entire band.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVoDnCEE3BI&eurl=http://www.soundonthesound.com/?p=3808]
Snowy days getting you down? Want a little SXSW preview? Check out these music videos by Seattle directors that will be screening down in Austin next month:
[vimeo=http://www.vimeo.com/1309452]
“White Winter Hymnal” by Fleet Foxes, dir. Sean Pecknold
[vodpod id=Groupvideo.2075104&w=425&h=350&fv=]
“Jerk It” by Thunderheist, dir. That Go
[vimeo=http://vimeo.com/3190612]
“Count It Off” by The Saturday Knights, dir. Travis Senger
Three Imaginary Girls:
The Dutchess and the Duke, the heart-melty duo sings with the wisdom of Bob Dylan and the striking magnetism of Leonard Cohen. What’s not to love?
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc73HbtpSHI&eurl=http://www.threeimaginarygirls.com/blogentry/2009feb/winticketstoseedutchessandthedukeatshowboxsodo]
NPR:
The days of waiting patiently for a favorite music video to appear on MTV are long over, swallowed up by the instant gratification of the smaller screen. But as MySpace, iPhones and Youtube allow music videos to be seen anywhere and anytime, directors are discovering that viewing habits aren’t the only things changing. Grammy-winning music video director Sean Drake says part of the shift is an effort to capture the attention of an audience that never seems to stop multitasking. “When I make a video, I just assume the majority of watchers are going to be on the Internet … IM-ing someone in a chat [while] … doing some other task on Word and checking their Facebook,” says Drake.
