Vevo Online Music Video Service Begins UK Test in First Expansion Steps - Bloomberg

Vevo, an online music-video service owned by major record labels, began testing a website in the U.K., its first expansion outside the U.S.

Music videos offered at the site will be tailored to U.K. viewers, New York-based Vevo said today on its website. Vevo owners include Vivendi SA (VIV)'s Universal Music Group and Sony Corp. (6758)'s music division.

Vevo is starting to expand its service, which provides advertising-supported music videos, outside North America. U.K. viewers will have access to all U.S. videos, live events and interviews. The U.K. site will also provide live coverage of performances. Vevo will provide performances from the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, held in June in Manchester, Tennessee.

Vevo plans to introduce its site in other countries, though has nothing specific to announce, Jennifer Press, a company spokeswoman, said in an e-mail.

The U.K. site will post new videos from Tinchy Strider and Tom Vek, interviews with James Blake, Adele and Jessie J, as well as performances by Florence + the Machine and Ellie Goulding, Vevo said. The site plans to post a wedding-video playlist in honor of the royal nuptials.

Vevo has been online in the U.S. and Canada since December 2009, Press said. The service is accessible on YouTube in more than 200 countries. The U.K. site marks the first time the full Vevo platform, including mobile, is available outside North America, she said.

The U.S. site drew 57.1 million visitors in March, ranking as the 18th most-visited website, according to Reston, Virginia- based web-researcher ComScore Inc. News Corp. has talked about handing over control of its social network Myspace to Vevo as part of a larger arrangement.

To contact the reporters on this story: Andy Fixmer in Los Angeles at afixmer@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Anthony Palazzo at apalazzo@bloomberg.net