In the News
Gigs & Bytes: Plugging into PluggedIn
Pollstar | August 11, 2008
"With connections like this, coupled with high-definition music videos, community features and content from a variety of sources, PluggedIn is poised to lead rather than follow as it clears its own path through the often tangled and confusing world that is music on the Web."
Industry Buzz & Snippets
MarketingVox | June 5, 2008
"Santa Monica-based PluggedIn, an online music and HD video streaming startup chaired by Xdrive's Brett O'Brien, said today that it has inked a content and technology partnership with Rolling Stone. According to PluggedIn, it will add Rolling Stone news and video content to its new entertainment web site, with a dedicated Rolling Stone channel and exclusive content."
PluggedIn and Rolling Stone Shake Hands
Mashable | June 3, 2008
"PluggedIn will created a Rolling Stone channel which will feature news and video content from the site as well as exclusive content from the Rolling Stone vaults. Likewise, Rolling Stone will be able to use PluggedIn's high-definition player technology into its own videos and then distribute it to sites like MySpace."
PluggedIn.com Launches With Rolling Stone
socalTECH.com News | June 3, 2008
"Rolling Stone has partnered with PluggedIn on a deal to bring PluggedIn's high-def media player, and its catalog of major label and independent music videos, onto the Rolling Stone site. The PluggedIn website will also include a new Rolling Stone channel."
PluggedIn: Multimedia Music Discovery
PC Mag: AppScout | May 23, 2008
"I took a test run through the site and was amazed by how much content it had and how easy it was to use. The video quality was also impressive; it felt as if I was at home watching TV instead of my small office monitor. I was even surprised by the quality of the sound."
The New MTV?
Young Hollywood | May 8, 2008
"We've set up the call because I heard it through the grapevine Will Smith had a tie into the site. That piqued my interest and the YH crew gave a collective thumbs-up to put it here in the hot column. Now, we're checking out the goods straight from the source."
Music-Video Pros Challenge YouTube
The Wall Street Journal | April 15, 2008
"In a bet on the future of professionally produced online video content, technology start-up PluggedIn Media Inc. is set Wednesday to begin letting users view for free near-DVD-quality music videos licensed from three of the four biggest music companies, along with information about artists and links to buy merchandise and concert tickets."
Will Smith and PluggedIn
The New York Times | April 15, 2008
"A new Internet music company is looking to displace YouTube, MySpace and MTV.com as the hub for music videos on the Internet. PluggedIn wants to be the preeminent online repository for high-definition music videos on the Web and a new place for artists to plant their online flag. The videos played quickly and looked sharp."
Music Site Launching with Big-Name Backers
The Los Angeles Times | April 16, 2008
"A Santa Monica company whose investors include actor Will Smith is launching a website Wednesday that offers 10,000 high-quality music videos and concerts for free. PluggedIn Media Corp. has the backing of three of the four major music companies: Universal Music Group, EMI Music and Sony BMG."
PluggedIn Latest Entry into Music Market
USA Today | April 16, 2008
"Music video site PluggedIn.com flipped the switch today. The ad-supported site has more than 10,000 videos from major labels suchs as EMI, Sony/BMG and Universal. That means videos from Colbie Caillat, Coldplay, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, Rihanna, KT Tunstall, U2 and Van Morrison among others."
PluggedIn Music Site Lauded As The Next MTV
Information Week | April 16, 2008
"Pat Magnarella, a management company founder whose clients include Green Day, The All-American Rejects, and the Goo Goo Dolls, called it 'the next generation of MTV.' Ronn Werre, executive VP of global sales, licensing, and synchronization for EMI, said it's 'one of the best music discovery experiences' he has ever seen."
PluggedIn Wants to be Hulu For Music Videos
TechCrunch | April 16, 2008
"It's time to make room for one more, and it has the potential to be big. Pluggedin, a music video and community site that sees itself as a Hulu for music, has just launched in public beta. The site is very clean, video quality is generally much better than what's found on Youtube, and the amount of content is impressive."
PluggedIn Hopes To Pry Kids Loose From YouTube
Silicon Alley Insider | April 16, 2008
"We know music videos are popular on the Web. The question is whether the kids that drive them to the top of the rankings care enough about quality to leave YouTube. Investors in startup PluggedIn Media thinks they do. The startupwill stream "near DVD-quality videos" on the Web, and has deals with three of four majors."
PluggedIn Launches Site for Music Video Aficionados
Venture Beat | April 16, 2008
"Music videos are plentiful on the Internet. But Jeff Somers, the CEO of PluggedIn, believes that nobody has built a community around them the right way. So PluggedIn is unveiling its web site for music video aficionados today."
Will Smith And Others Invest About $2 Million In Music Video Startup PluggedIn
PaidContent.org | April 16, 2008
"A new music video destination is launching tonight, and yes, another one. PluggedIn, a new site based in Santa Monica, is launching with about $2 million in venture funding from Will Smith's entertainment company, Overbrook Entertainment and others."
Will Smith Launches High-Def Music Video Site
Wired | April 16, 2008
"Will Smith and Overbrook Entertainment, his entertainment group, unveiled a music video site called PluggedIn on Wedneday, featuring over ten thousand videos from EMI, Sony BMG, Universal and indies. For those who thrill to the latest chart-topping sounds and the hits of yesteryear will appreciate that, when possible, videos have been encoded from HD sources."
PluggedIn
Thrillist | April 16, 2008
"Ever since MTV forsook them for an all-Hills format, even the most visually formidable music videos have been relegated to barely-watchable lo-fi homes. See them presented in all their booty-swanging glory with PluggedIn. Cue up some videos at PluggedIn.com"
Bits & Briefs: PluggedIn Boots Up
Billboard Magazine | April 26, 2008
"Another online music video service has gone live. PluggedIn unveiled its beta HD music videos service that includes license content from Universal Music Group, Sony BMG, and EMI Music Group. More than 10,000 music videos and live concert clips are included which fans can search for by name of browse via individual artist profiles."
PluggedIn Set for Launch
The Hollywood Reporter | April 16, 2008
"PluggedIn, a Web site focused on music videos and other music offerings, is expected to launch Wednesday in public beta with partnerships with Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and EMI and an investment from Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment."
Gigs & Bytes: PluggedIn & Turned On
Pollstar | April 18, 2008
"When it comes to music, what do you like to see on YouTube? Amateur video of a guy playing "Bohemian Rhapsody" with his armpits or professionally produced music videos? PluggedIn Media is betting on the latter, and on April 16th launched a beta of its new entertainment Web site Ð PluggedIn.com"
Universal invests in Buzznet
Variety | April 17, 2008
"Deal comes the day after Universal inked with PluggedIn to offer thousands of high-def videos on Pluggedin.com, joining EMI Music and Sony BMG at the site. PluggedIn went live Wednesday with its beta website, offering free-to-consumer streaming of more than 10,000 HD and broadcast-quality music videos."
PluggedIn Set For Launch
BillboardBiz.com | April 16, 2008
"PluggedIn, a Web site focused on music videos and other music offerings, is expected to launch Wednesday in public beta with partnerships with Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and EMI and an investment from Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment."
PluggedIn Offers Free Music Videos
U.S News & World Report | April 17, 2008
"Want your MTV back? For fans who bemoan the lack of music videos on TV, the Web offers a new alternative: PluggedIn. The site has launched with what it says is a collection of 10,000 music videos from Universal Music, EMI, and Sony BMG, as well as indie labels."
Musical Plug
Los Angeles Business Journal | April 21, 2008
"Amid the dizzying decline in music sales and the heady popularity of online video viewing, three major music companies are betting that newly launched PluggedIn.com will kick start sales."
Will Smith And Others Invest About $2 Million In Music Video Startup PluggedIn
washingtonpost.com | April 16, 2008
"A new music video destination is launching tonight, and yes, another one. PluggedIn, a new site based in Santa Monica, is launching with about $2 million in venture funding from Will Smith's entertainment company, Overbrook Entertainment and others."
Actor, 3 Music Firms Back New Video Site
Chicago Tribune | April 17, 2008
"A Santa Monica, Calif.-based company whose investors include actor Will Smith launched a Web site Wednesday that offers 10,000 high-quality music videos and concerts for free.PluggedIn.com has the backing of three of the four major music companies: Universal Music Group, EMI Music and Sony BMG."
New music video Web site features major label artists
Associated Press Executive Morning Meeting | April 17, 2008
"A company backed by investors including Will Smith and major record labels has launched a new Web site offering 10,000 free, high-definition music videos. Universal Music Group announced Wednesday that it has joined EMI and Sony BMG in backing Santa Monica-based PluggedIn."
PluggedIn Set for Launch
Adweek | April 16, 2008
"PluggedIn, a Web site focused on music videos and other music offerings, is expected to launch Wednesday in public beta with partnerships with Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and EMI and an investment from Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment."
Music Aficionados Get "Plugged In"
Fox 11 News, Los Angeles | April 20, 2008
"Attention music aficionados... you'll soon be able to stream high definition music and music videos to your computers in a new way. Plugged In, backed by actor (and musician) Will Smith and other investors, is providing the service. The best part... it's free."
PluggedIn Delivers Music Videos in HD, Online
CBS2 News, Los Angeles | April 23, 2008
"Video on the web can be hit or miss. Sometimes it's clear. Other times it's slow and choppy. But a company called PluggedIn.com is hoping to change all of that with full-screen, high-definition music videos. Music videos used to be the bread and butter of cable TV. But if you want them now and on the web, PluggedIn delivers in HD."
PluggedIn Launches HD Music Video Portal
Engadget HD | April 16, 2008
"We've had plenty of TV shows hitting the web in high definition recently, now PluggedIn is bringing music videos. Its site, just launched in beta, uses the same Move plugin as ABC.com to push over 10,000 HD and broadcast quality videos from EMI, Sony BMG and other labels."
PluggedIn brings HD music videos to the 'Net
Ars Technica | April 16, 2008
"When most of us want to watch a music video, we no longer think of flipping on MTV or VH1 in hopes of catching our favorite artists. Instead, we log on to the Internet to dig up tolerable-quality videos uploaded to YouTube or Google Video. Why not? They're free! Unfortunately, there aren't any well-known places online to get high-quality videos without paying for them, but at least one company believes that's a niche needing to be filled."
Find High Quality Music Videos at PluggedIn
About.com | April 17, 2008
"A lot of the music videos you find around the Web are pretty low quality. That's why I like PluggedIn. PluggedIn offers thousands of really high quality music videos (a lot of them are recorded in HD format) from tons of your favorite artists. For instance, I found Amy Winehouse, Mindy Smith, Beck, and more. Definitely worth a visit."
Will Smith Thinks PluggedIn Can Get Jiggy With It
CNET.com News | April 16, 2008
"Actor Will Smith--or rather, his entertainment company, Overbrook Entertainment--is one of the investors behind a $2 million funding round for PluggedIn Media, a new site for watching high-definition and broadcast-quality music videos online, PaidContent.org reported Tuesday evening."
Music Videos Get Sharper Image on New Site
E-Commerce Times | April 16, 2008
"Another company is making a play at online video. Launched Wednesday, PluggedIn is the new kid on the block in a market of heavy hitters that includes MySpace Music, Yahoo Music, AOL Music, MTV.com and of course YouTube."
Cool Websites to Know
TrendCentral | April 23, 2008
"This new site is positioning itself as the definitive portal for high-definition music videos. While videos are the main focus of the site, each artist's page also pulls media from across the web, including Wikipedia, YouTube, MySpace, and blogs; and naturally, there is also a social network functionality making the site the ultimate fan forum."
UMG, Pluggedin Partner To Bring Fans HD Music
Encore | April 16, 2008
"PluggedIn is powered by an innovative new media player that supports high-definition full-screen video playback with no buffering and DVD like controls, a multimedia search engine and fan centric social networking applications. PluggedIn's Media Player delivers a smooth, uninterrupted, full screen viewing experience and enables fans to watch stunning, HD quality music videos from their favorite artists."
Music Video Site PluggedIn Takes Fresh Capital
The Deal: Tech Confidential | April 16, 2008
"Will Smith's production company has invested in PluggedIn Media Corp., a new streaming video site for music clips that launched late Tuesday. PluggedIn, which might be described as the Hulu Inc. of music videos, has raised roughly $2 million from its founders and Overbrook Entertainment."
Former Zillow manager takes on MySpace, MTV
Seattle Times: Brier Dudley's Blog | April 16, 2008
"PluggedIn, a new social network built around music videos launching Wednesday, is based in Santa Monica, Calif. but it has a few Seattle connections. Like its chief executive, a former Zillow and Amazon.com manager who still lives in Mount Baker."
The Seattle Tie In Will Smith's PluggedIn
Seattle Post | April 16, 2008
"PluggedIn is grabbing a lot of attention and headlines for its new online music video service, partly due to the involvement of big music studios such as Sony BMG and EMI and partly because celebrity actor Will Smith is backing the project."
A Better Way to Watch Music Videos
Daily Breeze | April 16, 2008
"Thanks to the new PluggedIn Web site, you can say goodbye to waiting endlessly for music videos to load on your computer, only to end up with herky-jerky, out-of-synch images on a tiny playing screen for your trouble."
PluggedIn Launches, Gets Funding
socalTECH.com News | April 16, 2008
"Santa Monica-based PluggedIn announced Tuesday evening that the firm has launched a beta of its website, and disclosed funding from Overbrook Entertainment, the entertainment firm run by Will Smith, James Lassiter and Ken Stovitz."
Media Hotline
If you have a media related inquiry, please contact:
PluggedIn Media Corp
Stacey Copeland
o: 310.586.7120
e: scopeland@murphyobrien.com
Christie Stewart
o: 310.586.7123
e: cstewart@murphyobrien.com
If you have a media related inquiry, please contact:
PluggedIn Media Corp
Stacey Copeland
o: 310.586.7120
e: scopeland@murphyobrien.com
Christie Stewart
o: 310.586.7123
e: cstewart@murphyobrien.com
