UMG, MTV forge blanket mobile licensing deal

Universal Music Group has forged a blanket licensing deal with MTV Networks to bring its music, videos and additional content to mobile phones. Rather than striking individual deals for each song desired for use in a mobisode or mobile game, MTV can now access all of UMG's vast catalog at will. What's interesting is that the deal applies only to mobile devices, so MTV can only use its music under this blanket license for content developed specifically for mobile phones. Rio Caraeff says that since most content available on mobile devices is also available on other platforms for less cost, custom mobile content is necessary to drive sales and as such, was the motivating factor of the deal. He also says that similar deals with other content developers are pending and will be announced soon.

Read more about the deal and take a broader look at the state of mobile content:
- in this LA Times article

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