Vevo
Vevo LLC (/ˈviːvoʊ/ VEE-voh, an abbreviation for "Video Evolution", stylized in all caps until 2013[2]) is an American multinational video hosting service, best known for providing music videos to YouTube. The service is also available as an app on selected smart TVs, digital video recorders, digital media players and streaming television services.[3] The service once offered a consumer mobile and tablet app; however this was shut down in May 2018 to allow the service to focus on its other platforms.[4]
Not to be confused with Vivo (technology company).
Type of site
April 14, 2006 (17 years ago)
New York City, U.S.
Worldwide
Majority:
Universal Music Group
Sony Music Entertainment
Warner Music Group
Minority:
BMG
Independent record labels
Merlin Network
ONErpm
MNRK Music Group
Vydia
Former:
EMI (majority)
Abu Dhabi Media (majority)
MGM Holdings (minority)
The Recording Academy (minority)
US$27.0 million (2022)[1]
December 8, 2009 (14 years ago)
Available on Pluto TV, Roku, YouTube and YouTube Premium
The service was launched on June 16, 2009,[5] as a joint venture among three major record companies: Universal Music Group (UMG), Sony Music Entertainment (SME) and EMI.[6] In August 2016, Warner Music Group (WMG), the world's third-largest record company, agreed to license premium videos from its artists to Vevo.[7]
Initially, the service hosted only music videos from Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, syndicated on YouTube and its app,[8] and the advertising revenue was shared by Google and Vevo.[9][10] Originally, Warner Music Group was reported to be considering hosting its content on the service after it launched,[11] but formed an alliance with rival MTV Networks (now Paramount Media Networks).[12] In August 2015, Vevo expressed renewed interest in licensing music from WMG[13] and a deal with WMG was completed on August 2, 2016,[7][14] making again the entirety of the "big three" record companies' music available on Vevo.
Availability[edit]
Vevo was available in Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, the Philippines, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.[33][34] The website was scheduled to go worldwide in 2010,[35] but as of March 23, 2018, it was still not available outside these countries.[36] Vevo's official blog cited licensing issues for the delay in the worldwide rollout.[37] Most of Vevo's videos on YouTube are viewable by users in other countries, while others will produce the message "The uploader has not made this video available in your country."
The Vevo service in the United Kingdom and Ireland was launched on April 26, 2011.[38] On April 16, 2012, Vevo was launched in Australia and New Zealand by MCM Entertainment. On August 14, 2012, Brazil became the first Latin American country to have the service. It was expected to be launched in six more European and Latin American countries in 2012.[39] Vevo launched in Spain, Italy, and France on November 15, 2012.[40] Vevo launched in the Netherlands on April 3, 2013,[41] and on May 17, 2013, also in Poland.[42] On September 29, 2013, Vevo updated its iOS application that now includes launching in Germany.[43] On April 30, 2014, Vevo was launched in Mexico.[44]
Vevo is also available for a range of platforms including Android, iOS, Windows Phone, Windows 8, Fire OS, Google TV, Apple TV, Boxee, Roku, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation 4.[45]
In May 2018, Vevo announced that it would be discontinuing its consumer website and app on mobile platforms in order to focus on YouTube syndication.[46] However, Vevo is still available through various apps and devices including YouTube, DVRs, smart TVs, gaming consoles and streaming devices such as Roku.[27]
Edited content[edit]
Versions of videos on Vevo with explicit content such as profanity may be edited, according to a company spokesperson, "to keep everything clean for broadcast, 'the MTV version.'"[47] This allows Vevo to make their network more friendly to advertising partners such as McDonald's.[47] Vevo has stated that it does not have specific policies or a list of words that are forbidden. Some explicit videos are provided with intact versions in addition to the edited version. There is no formal rating system in place, aside from classifying videos as explicit or non-explicit, but discussions are taking place to create a rating system that allows both users and advertisers to choose the level of profanity they are willing to accept.[47]