Warner, Sony BMG Partner with Google

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

October 9, 2006, 11:48 AM

Google said Monday that it had signed agreements with both Sony BMG and Warner Music Group to stream each company's catalog of music videos free from its Google Video service. The deal would also eventually allow the company's AdSense partners to also stream the videos as well.

The Mountain View, Calif. based search company is working on technology that would allow Google Video users to incorporate Sony BMG and Warner content into their own content submitted to the service. Such capabilities would be provided for free.

Sony BMG has already made moves to allow free access to its video content through a service called Musicbox Video. Launched in June, the site provides music videos, along with artist interviews and live performances within a Flash-based player.

"Continuing to give users access to premium online content is a key strategic focus for Google," Google content partnership vice president David Eun said. "At the same time, this agreement is a highly visible platform to highlight our continued commitment to protecting copyrights."

Even though the service would be free, both companies stand to generate revenue. Advertising on the music video pages would be split, and in the case of the Warner Music Group videos, downloads would be available for $1.99 USD.

"Google is a defining force in the ongoing development of the Internet, and we're extremely pleased to be expanding our video relationship with them," Sony BMG Digital vice president Thomas Hesse commented.

"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," added Warner Music Group executive vice president Alex Zubillaga.