Share This Story  |   Comments (0)

Will Smith's production company has invested in PluggedIn Media Corp., a new streaming video site for music clips that launched late Tuesday. PluggedIn, which might be described as the Hulu Inc. of music videos, has raised roughly $2 million from its founders and Overbrook Entertainment, the production and management company co-founded by the former Fresh Prince.

PluggedIn hosts more than 10,000 short-form videos from major label and independent artists, presented as high-definition streaming content. Three of the four majors have signed on, with Sony BMG, EMI and Universal Music Group supplying videos alongside indies such as Vanguard, Sugar Hill and Doghouse. The site also includes a social networking component, a digital storefront for ring-tones, tickets and merchandise, and a vast selection of artist profiles with licensed content from sites such as the AllMusic Guide.

While much of the same content is still available on YouTube and other sites, PluggedIn aims to provide a superior viewing experience. Chief executive Jeff Somers says PluggedIn built its own video player, which helps its high-quality videos load faster and with less buffering than those found on YouTube. The player does require a brief installation, which I found relatively painless. As with NBC and Fox-backed TV and movie clip site Hulu, the video quality was impressive, although I did find one video filed under the wrong name among my first couple of searches.

PluggedIn will pursue a traditional Web advertising model and share revenue with labels, although that will be balanced by the licensing fees it will pay to content owners. The site's marketplace will also generate revenue through affiliate relationships with merchandisers, including the iTunes and Amazon.com online music stores.

Somers said the company was bootstrapped by its founders, including several former Xdrive Inc. executives and CEO Kevin Welk of Vanguard and Sugar Hill, prior to establishing a relationship with Overbrook. He added that PluggedIn didn't explore investments from traditional venture firms, but will include them in conversations about a future round that could also include strategic investors. -- Paul Bonanos

See April 16 press release from PluggedIn

Also From Tech Confidential

• Venture capitalists: Don't blame us
• Vishay yanks International Rectifier offer
• CEO of Wix, sporting $3.5M second round, feels 'lucky'
• Video Exclusive: Vitals.com finds physicians, draws first institutional VC round
• Seesmic steps up layoffs, look out below

Tech Confidential Home Page

---

Post a comment

Name:

Email Address:

URL:

Remember personal info?

Comments: (you may use HTML tags for style)

Please only click "Post" once. It may take a few moments to process.