Google and Warner Music Group Announce Agreement to Offer Google Video Users WMG's Music Video Content

A Ad-Supported Video Model Provides Warner Music Group With Content Monetization Opportunities and Unmatched Distribution in the Online World A Google Developing Technology to Enable User-Generated Content

Warner Music Group Corp. (NYSE:WMG) and Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) today announced a strategic business relationship designed to give Google users the ability to stream on-demand WMG's extensive music video collection for free, through an ad-supported revenue sharing agreement, or to purchase videos online for download. Starting this month, users in the U.S. can watch any of the thousands of music videos, artist interviews, "behind-the-scenes" footage and other artist-related content from WMG on Google Video. In the coming months, users can also access audio-visual content from WMG through Google's partner websites in its AdSense network. In addition, Google will develop technology that, when implemented, will enable users to include certain content from companies such as Warner Music Group in the videos they create and upload to Google Video.

"Our partnership with Google is rooted in the pioneering approach we've used to offer fans more music, while benefiting artists and protecting copyrights," said Alex Zubillaga, Warner Music Group's Executive Vice President, Digital Strategy and Business Development. "Viewing the online world as a significant opportunity, we are transforming Warner Music from a traditional 'songs-and-records' company into one that delivers rich music-based content on multiple platforms, in a variety of ways. We are proud to partner with an online innovator like Google to further our efforts in this space and we are gratified to see that other major music and technology companies are beginning to embrace these new models as well."

"In support of our mission to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful, we're excited to organize and make available to Google Video users the music video library of Warner Music Group," said David Eun, Google's vice president of content partnerships. "This agreement also allows us to realize a threefold goal of meeting online user demand, providing advertisers with a new way to communicate with their customers, and giving content holders a way to monetize their content; we achieve this by combining Google's network of hundreds of thousands of advertisers, unparalleled distribution via our publisher network and high quality content like Warner Music Group's music-video library. At the same time, this agreement is a highly visible platform to highlight our continued commitment to protecting copyrights."

Monetizing through Ad-Supported Content

WMG will be able to monetize its music video content online by leveraging Google's extensive advertiser network of hundreds of thousands of advertisers. WMG's music video catalog will be sponsored by Google advertisers, making it free to all users. The resulting generated advertising revenue will be shared by WMG and Google. Besides providing ad-supported content on Google Video, select WMG's music videos will immediately be available for purchase as downloads on Google Video for $1.99.

Unmatched Distribution through AdSense Partner Sites

In the coming months, WMG will also work with Google to distribute its substantial video collection to websites around the world via Google's extensive AdSense publisher network, making it even easier for users to access free premium content while surfing the Web. Web publishers will be able to easily display videos that match the tone of their sites adding value to their online content and creating a new way to earn revenue from their sites. For example, a fan site devoted to a particular WMG artist can run ad-supported music videos from that artist. Each time a user is interested in the accompanying ad and clicks on the link, the Web publisher, WMG and Google will share in the resulting revenue.

Facilitating User-Generated Content

WMG and Google are working together to allow users access to music from WMG's recorded music library for use in their creative user-generated productions. Once Google's technology is implemented, content companies such as Warner Music Group will have the opportunity to monetize the use of music in user-generated content, or if they choose, have the content removed from the platform.

Google Video Mashups ....interesting.

"Facilitating User-Generated Content
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT and Google will also work together to create a groundbreaking new service that will allow music fans to access user-created music video content featuring certain material from SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT's library of recorded music, while at the same time respecting the rights of artists and copyright holders. "

With all these new deals for Google video, I doubt Google is acquiring YouTube, perhaps they are working on a deal with YouTube

Or maybe this is linked to the YouTube talks, ie

Google agrees this with Warner Music, and then buys YouTube, allowing legal music videos on YouTube

Wasn't there something in the news a few weeks back about YouTube Bosses wanting every Music Video ever made to be avalible for free on their site?

RRRRRRRRRRRR
"This video is currently not available. Please try again later."
Why does Google block the non-US users???