MUSIC FOR MASHUPS

Earlier this month Pump Audio, a provider of independent music to content creators, announced that it has reached an agreement with Photobucket to provide copyright-cleared, independent music to all Photobucket users who create and share remixes of their photos and videos. Photobucket users can now easily add music from Pump Audio to their mashups.

Photobucket is the third largest video hosting site behind YouTube and MySpace. Pump Audio provides a proven, legal music solution with original songs perfectly suited for synchronizing to online productions. Photobucket has licensed hundreds of songs across dozens of genres from Pump Audio’s catalog of more than 75,000 tracks.

“Music truly brings a video creation to life, and it was important to us that our users be able to incorporate music into their remixes,” said Alex Welch, CEO, Photobucket. “Pump Audio’s independent music solution helps Photobucket offer our users a wide selection of music that does not violate copyright infringement laws.”

Photobucket recently launched a web-based video remix and editing service, powered by Adobe Systems Incorporated. Using this remix service, Photobucket users can combine images, videos, text, and music provided by Pump Audio to create content mashups from their Photobucket albums, without requiring any additional downloads.

“User generated content, such as photo slideshows and video mashups, has created a significant opportunity for independent music,” said Steve Ellis, founder and CEO, Pump Audio. “Photobucket is an innovator in helping consumers bring their personal media to life, and shares our position that personal media communities can respect copyright law and also expose their users to high-quality independent music.”

Unlike stock music, Pump Audio’s catalog consists of real songs by thousands of independent artists worldwide. Because Pump Audio works directly with independent artists, it can offer a unique licensing system for managing and delivering the rights to use tracks in online productions. Pump Audio’s licensing model already has attracted major media customers, including MTV Networks, NBC Studios, HBO, New Line Cinema and advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi. Under its artist-friendly system, Pump Audio splits licensing revenues with musicians, and the artists retain complete ownership over their music.

Working together, Pump Audio and Photobucket also are creating a new venue for participating artists to gain additional exposure to Photobucket’s massive user base. Pump Audio artists will receive a visual credit with information about the music being used in Photobucket mashups, creating a new promotional opportunity to directly reach potential fans. Photobucket users can embed their mashups into any web page, blog, or social network profile, and also share with family and friends, so artists will have the potential for broad exposure.