ArtistDirect Lines Up Lyrics Site

ArtistDirect is getting on the lyrics bandwagon, with plans to launch a new interactive lyrics page on the company's Web site. The site, which is expected to go live sometime this fall, is designed to augment the company's existing stable of news, bio, reviews and streaming music and video content.

Unlike other authorized lyrics services that have emerged in the past year, ArtistDirect is pursuing its own licensing deals with music publishers rather than using pre-aggregated lyrics licensing programs such as that by Gracenote.

The company presently has deals with Universal Music Publishing Group and EMI Music Publishing.