Santa Monica, Calif. - PluggedIn on Wednesday announced the beta launch of its broadcast and HD-quality music video streaming site, which features over 10,000 videos from both major and independent label artists.

Pasadena, Calif. - Sony (NYSE: SNE) BMG's Epic/Legacy Recordings on Friday announced a promotion for the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" album, in the form of a video mashup that will let users insert themselves as Jackson in the legendary music video to the title track. The label teamed with Big Stage and YouTube (NASD: GOOG) on the promotion, which prompts users to upload photos of themselves, which will then be turned into a 3D avatar by Big Stage and integrated into a version of the video with its own YouTube page.

London - Mobile network operator 3 UK has launched its first ad-supported mobile music video channel with major label Sony BMG. The service is offered with no data charges to subscribers, but requires that they view short ads at the beginning and end of each video.

Tokyo - Google's (NASD: GOOG) YouTube has reached an agreement with a Japanese rights holder, and will pay an undisclosed royalty for the rights to allow YouTube users to post cover song videos of tracks by Japan Rights Clearance (JRC) acts like Mr. Children and Spitz, Japan's Mainichi Daily News reported.

Tiburon, Calif. - Big Bear Entertainment, a creator of animated music videos -- also known as "Video Mods" -- has raised $550,000 in a first round of funding, PEHub.com reported, citing a regulatory filing.

San Francisco - A number of top music managers say that their artists have not seen any revenue from deals made by their labels to offer their music videos on Google's (NASD: GOOG) YouTube video site, CNET News.com reported. "I don't know any artist who has gotten a royalty statement (from their label that includes YouTube money)," music attorney Chris Castle told News.com.

Chicago - Pitchfork Media, a Chicago-based site that offers independent music news, reviews and other content, announced on Tuesday that it plans to launch a Web-based music video channel next month that will offer "mini-documentaries, secret rooftop and basement sessions, full concerts, exclusive interviews, and the most carefully curated selection of music videos online." "The 24-hour music network was such a great concept. What happened?," reads the Pitchfork.tv announcement.

Los Angeles - Musicbrigade, a Sweden-based distributor of music video content, has ceased operations and gone into administration, according to a note on the company's website.

Los Angeles - Microsoft (NASD: MSFT) has signed deals with Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) MTV Networks and major label Sony BMG (NYSE: SNE), to offer clips of TV shows and music videos on its free MSN Video service in Europe, Variety reports. The deal will bring clips of shows such as "South Park" and "Pimp My Ride," as well as music videos, to MSN Video sites in nine countries, including the U.K.

London - Rhino Records has launched a website that features 2,000 embeddable music videos, as well as artist interviews and other exclusive content, Billboard reports. The label says the site's focus will primarily be to promote its U.K. releases.

New York - Major record label Universal Music Group announced on Monday that it has signed a licensing deal with the imeem social network, that will provide on-demand, interactive streaming of Universal's music and video catalog to imeem's 19 million users.

Alviso, Calif. - TiVo (NASD: TIVO) announced on Wednesday that it will add several thousand music videos and original programming from Music Choice to its TiVoCast service for broadband-connected TiVo boxes. Music Choice, a partnership between Microsoft, Motorola, Sony, EMI Music and several cable TV operators, provides digital audio and video music channels on cable TV services, the Internet and mobile platforms.

Hollywood - Major record label EMI's Capitol/EMI Music Marketing unit announced on Tuesday plans to release a new "John Lennon Video Album" on Dec. 4 at Starbucks (NASD: SBUX) locations nationwide. The "album" will be sold on a "collectible" iTunes Digital Release card, featuring a "silver-toned photo of Lennon," for $24.95. The card will enable users to download the collection of 21 videos -- including "Imagine," "Happy Xmas" and "Working Class Hero" -- from Apple's (NASD: AAPL) iTunes Store.

Santa Monica, Calif. - Yahoo (NASD: YHOO) announced on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement with major record label Sony BMG, extending their video-on-demand deal to allow the distribution of Sony BMG music videos in additional territories. The deal allows Sony BMG music videos to be distributed across Yahoo and through a Yahoo-branded video player, in addition to enabling Yahoo users to utilize Sony BMG audio recordings in user-generated content.

San Francisco - Music-focused social network imeem said on Friday that it has partnered with Canada's Nettwerk Music Group, a privately owned record label and artist management company. Through the deal, Nettwerk's entire audio and video digital catalog is available for streaming on imeem, including artists such as Avril Lavigne, Barenaked Ladies, Dido, Sum 41 and Sarah McLachlan.

Tokyo - Major label EMI's Japanese unit has created its own channel on YouTube in the country -- making it the first major to do so, Billboard reported. "By launching this brand channel, we can provide information on artists, including their new tunes," the Tokyo-based label said in a statement. "At the same time, users can send responses and share information, because YouTube is a major consumer-generated medium."

New York - Viacom's (NYSE: VIA) MTV Networks  announced on Wednesday that it has partnered with video-sharing site Metacafe on a contest that will challenge users to create their own virtual music video. Contestants are charged with creating a music video for one of several emerging artists that is set inside one of MTV Networks' seven virtual worlds, with fans then voting for their favorites on Metacafe or MTV's Virtual Worlds channel.

New York - Music Choice, a provider of digital music services for cable TV providers and mobile carriers, announced on Tuesday that it has signed a licensing agreement with major label EMI Music, giving it the rights to stream EMI's entire music video library on TV and online in the U.S. The videos will be available through Music Choice's free on-demand network from cable operators, and its free online music service for broadband subscribers.

San Francisco - Music-focused online social network imeem announced on Monday that it has signed a licensing deal with major label EMI Music, which will give users free, on-demand access to EMI's music and videos. San Francisco-based imeem, which claims 18 million users, has also secured deals to offer content from major labels Warner Music and Sony BMG.

London - Universal Music U.K. has partnered with Coull.tv on an interactive music video for its artist RyanDan, that allows users to click on objects in the video and post comments. The interactive music video, which also includes links to purchase the identical twin duo's album and tracks on iTunes, has been posted on the band's website, as well as on Universal's site, Coull.tv and social networks including MySpace and Bebo.