Universal Music Group is the latest major label to bring its full catalogue to the music-centred online social network imeem. Is Big Music finally embracing – instead of suing – this upstart Web 2.0 site?
Digital Journal — Call it a change of heart. Universal Music Group (UMG) inked a deal with social network imeem to provide it with a full catalogue of digital music and video. Full-length recordings will now appear on the music-focused site, including artists such as Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, The Killers, Black Eyed Peas, Nelly and many others.
UMG has generally been resistant to websites allowing users to download full digital tracks. But recent moves suggest the major label is looking at MP3s in a new light.
imeem is now home to free ad-supported music from all four major record companies. Sony BMG, Warner Music Group and EMI all brought their catalogue to the social network earlier this year.
Dalton Caldwell, founder and CEO of imeem, said about the UMG deal in a press release:
“imeem has pioneered a way to bring fans, bands and brands together in a way that’s good for everyone. Our agreement with UMG will make imeem’s media-centric experience even more compelling and firmly establishes our position as the leading social media network.”
imeem members interact on the site like with any social network, but with a musical twist: they can create playlists from personal content or music from the imeem catalogue; users can comment or rate other users’ content; and members can create groups of their favourite bands or musicians.
According to imeem, more than 19 million accounts have been opened on the site.
Business wasn’t always so rosy for imeem. Warner sued the site, arguing members were infringing on copyright laws by downloading MP3s of Warner artists. But months later Warner dropped the suit and signed a deal to offer imeem its full catalogue on condition of sharing ad revenue.
imeem has signed major ad deals with the likes of Apple, Nike, Microsoft and Toyota. It also offers links for users to buy tracks from sites such as iTunes and Amazon.
It looks like the major music movers n’ shakers are happy with imeem’s business model. Doug Morris, CEO of UMG, said in a statement:
imeem has developed an innovative way to make our artists’ music a central part of the social networking experience. More importantly, they’ve done so the right way – by working with UMG to provide an exciting musical experience for consumers, while ensuring that our artists are fairly compensated for the use of their works.
