A shoutout to Vevo

Long-time followers of this blog know that every Sunday there is a "one-hit wonders" post. I don't think I've missed a week in a *very* long time (I don't even remember if there was a break between the 80s and 90s posts).

With the second batch of 80s one-hit wonders posts, I started embedding the videos on the page rather than just posting links to them. That way, I can always tell if something has happened to the video (or picture, or whatever) in question. It makes things a lot easier because I can see if they're gone and I can replace them as necessary.

There are three types of music videos on Youtube right now (leaving aside the "there isn't one at all" possibility).

1) Something posted by somebody in general, which technically is a copyright violation and is subject to removal by Youtube (which does often happen)

2) Something posted officially (or seemingly so, anyway), but which has embedding disabled

3) Something posted officially that does allow embedding.

Most of the videos I find in the third category are posted on Vevo (which is owned by three music companies, including Sony). Looking at the site right now, there is a *lot* of cool stuff there, especially if you're into modern music. Eminem is on there right now, Arcade Fire, Enrique Iglesias (and I won't name anymore, to avoid accusations of traffic-whoring by including famous names).

What's even better about Vevo, however, is that it allows you to share the content on their site in a lot of ways, including embedding on your web site or blog.

Is this cool, or what? No worries about whether the video's going to disappear one day and leave your post barren (and truly, how many people go back to their old blog posts and see if stuff is still there? I only do it because I'm adding this week's entry to all previous one-hit wonders posts).

No worries about copyright violation. This is an official site.



The people behind Vevo get it, unlike some of the other music companies. When I find a video that just says "Official Video" for a song, but isn't under the Vevo name (especially if it says "EMI Music Group" or whatever the official name is), I click on "Embed" knowing that it's likely going to say "Embedding has been disabled by request."

What's the point? You want people to listen to your music, don't you? You want to get your name known? Or, in the case of the ones I use, get your name back out there because you've disappeared? So why would you disable embedding?

When you go to a web site or blog and somebody says "check out this cool video!" and then gives you a link, how likely are you to click on the link? But if that same video is embedded on the page? You're much more likely to click on it, aren't you? (Assuming you're remotely interested in the content, anyway).

There is a way that you can see who has played your video, even if it's embedded on somebody else's site. So why would you not want that to happen? Do you not want to be listened to?

When I'm searching for a song for my one-hit wonder post and I see in the Youtube list that the song is on Vevo, I almost let out a cheer (though I don't, because I don't want to wake the wife).

So kudos to you, Vevo. Yes, I know it's an advertising-driven site and it is a business that you're making money on, and in fact I know that music companies are evil, etc. But not this time. You could have disabled embedding your videos like everybody else does.

Strangely enough, I guess you want people to actually watch your videos, no matter where they are on the web.

What a novel concept.