3UK adds independent artists to video jukebox

September 30, 2004

3UK is enhancing its video jukebox service with a repertoire from Independent artists including Mercury award winners Franz Ferdinand, Stereophonics, the UK's No1 single Eric Prydz and The Libertines.

The video jukebox service offers 3 customers a selection of the latest full-length music videos to watch on their mobiles, four to six weeks in advance of the single launch. The service launched in August with BMG's roster of major artists such as; Outkast, Christina Aguilera, Justin Timberlake, and Britney Spears, has proved popular with 3's customers, who are downloading tens of thousands of music videos every month.

VidZone, which runs Europe's largest online video subscription service, will supply 3 with music videos from the Independent record sector. Fifteen Independent labels are already signed up to offer videos to 3 customers including Beggars Group and XL Recordings, V2, Ministry of Sound, Sanctuary Group and Domino Records.

From this week, the independent video selection will include Franz Ferdinand's Michael, The Libertines' Can't stand me now, Ultrabeat's Better than Life and the UK's No 1 single Call on Me by Eric Prydz.

Graeme Oxby, Marketing Director at 3, commented: "For most of our customers, the mobile phone is the first place that music lovers see the latest music videos - this deal with VidZone gives them an even wider choice."

Adrian Workman, CEO of VidZone, said "Including Independent music videos on 3's video jukebox is a critical step in broadening the distribution of independent music in the UK. The artists from Independent labels that have supported this initiative will benefit enormously from their videos reaching 3's customer base of over 1.2 million."

Videos will be priced at £1.50 and will be available to stream (i.e. play once) or download to the handset.

Alternatively, music-mad 3 customers will be able to purchase a 'Video value Add-on' which for £10 per month will allow them to enjoy as much of 3's music and entertainment content as they can squeeze in over the course of a month.