Ireland-based music video Web site Muzu has inked a licensing deal with Merlin, the self-annointed “fifth major” record label that represents an enormous number of independent artists, giving Muzu access to video footage from major acts like Radiohead, Franz Ferdinand, The White Stripes, and Arctic Monkeys. The deal is Merlin’s first with a video music site, which so far has been unable to reach acceptable deals with industry heavyweights like YouTube and MySpace Music.
Muzu pays artists and labels through advertising revenue generated when users play videos on the site; however, financial terms of the Merlin deal were not disclosed. Muzu users currently play over 7 million videos a month, and the site has generally won acclaim for its design and and performance.
