Majors Ink O2 Concert Distribution Deal

Digital content provider New Stream Media (NSM) has inked licensing deals with the four majors, allowing it to record and distribute concerts at London's O2 and indigo2 venues.

NSM -- the venues' digital content partner -- has signed deals with Universal Music, EMI, Warner Music Group and Sony BMG in the U.K. to transmit recordings of concerts via digital TV, mobile networks and the Internet. The deal with Sony BMG also includes distribution in continental Europe.

NSM's contract with AEG, operator of the O2 Arena and indigo2, already gave it first option to provide digital platforms for events at the two venues. It has previously recorded live shows by the likes of Elton John, Keane, Kaiser Chiefs and the Sugababes, making them available to download via O2 Active, a mobile service from the venues' mobile carrier sponsor O2.

In June, NSM teamed with U.K. content-production company Spin TV to produce "Live at indigo2," a series of events transmitted on commercial digital-TV network ITV2, and available for audio and video download through online retailer 7digital.com.

And the major-label licensing agreements will create further digital opportunities, according to NSM's managing director, Abigail Hemingway.

"It gives us a stronger platform from which to propose ideas to artists performing at the O2 [Arena] and indigo2, and to create better content from the events," she tells Billboard.biz. "It allows us to be more creative."

Hemingway says deals with several indies are also in place. Future plans include streaming events live.