(CelebrityAccess MediaWire) —
Network LIVE, a partnership between AOL, XM Satellite Radio and concert promoter AEG that produced and distributed live concerts over the internet, have ended their partnership after 14 months. However, CEO Kevin Wall, who produced last year’s Live8 concert that inspired Network Live, will continue with his live, online music concept with new partner Microsoft. The new venture, called Control Room, is expected to launch on October 2, with a concert from artist John Legend.
Under this new multiyear, global live content distribution arrangement, MSN will be the exclusive online worldwide distributor for live and on-demand streaming for Control Room's menu of live music programming, as well as through other Microsoft platforms, including Xbox Live, MSN Messenger, Microsoft Windows XP Media Center, and Microsoft's Windows Media Player.
"With the video content market surging as it has been in the last year since Live 8, we have proven that there is a robust market for a company like ours to change the way live entertainment is consumed, now and in the future," said Wall. "With MSN, we have found a global partner that sees the value and profit in providing our rich and cutting-edge live entertainment content to its consumers worldwide."
“With this collaboration, artists now have an extremely valuable, cohesive, global marketing and promotion avenue to reach and connect with fans worldwide, while in turn it creates another key access point for consumers to get high-quality content from the musicians they love,” said Rob Bennett, general manager of Entertainment and Video Services for MSN.
Last year, Network LIVE produced and distributed more than 59 concerts with artists like Beyonce, Madonna, Green Day and Dave Matthews Band, as well as global events like Live 8 and the Rolling Stones from Copacabana Beach. — Jane Cohen and Bob Grossweiner
