Friend to the fat cats

Universal Music has become the latest record label to sign a distribution and promotion deal with social network imeem.

Under the deal, Universal Music will provide music and video to imeem. The content will be available to the streaming music site's members, which can access it for free and share it on their profile pages. imeem will insert ads into the content and revenue will be split between the two parties.

imeem already has similar deals in place with other labels, including Warner Music, EMI and others.

In a slight nod to its contentious relationship with some online distribution platforms, Universal says Imeem has gone about music sharing "the right way," working with the company to fairly compensate artists.

Some months ago, Universal enacted a :90 limit on streaming songs for artists under its multiple labels. Either music available online was cut to :90, or they feature promotional voice-overs.