Share this video
Direct link
Embed code
Universal, YouTube near deal on music video site
Vevo would be the name of a new Web site jointly run by Universal Music Group and YouTube, according to sources.
Universal Music Group, the nation's largest recording company, and YouTube are closing in on a final agreement to create a new premium music video Web site, according to sources close to the negotiations.
The sources said that the proposed service, which is tentatively named Vevo, would be a destination site closely linked to YouTube. Should an agreement be reached, Vevo would likely be the largest music-oriented site on the Web. Talks are ongoing, but a deal could be reached as early as the next few weeks, sources said.
A YouTube spokesman said: "We are always working with our partners to find creative ways to connect music, musicians, and fans."
Universal's YouTube channel is by far the largest on the video site. The label's music videos have been viewed more than 3.5 billion times. Vevo and the joint venture with YouTube were born out of a year-long campaign by Doug Morris, Universal's chairman and CEO, to build music videos into a standalone business. CNET News first reported in September that Universal Music was planning a "Hulu-like" site.
Morris and Universal have been intent on creating a premium digital music-video business. According to the sources, label executives believe Vevo is the answer.
A standalone music site--which would feature traditional music videos and interviews, along with other artist-driven content--is designed to attract high-end advertisers, some of whom may have been skittish in the past about advertising alongside YouTube's user-generated videos.
Universal has acquired an ownership stake in a large number of digital music services. The deal would give Universal some control over the revenue generated from its music videos while also allowing the company to benefit from YouTube's technology expertise.
Universal executives last year said the label sees revenue in the "tens of millions" from YouTube.
The other major labels, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI, have been approached about joining the service, according to the sources. YouTube and Universal have a vision of the site becoming a syndication platform for all kinds of premium content beyond music videos, such as editorial content, merchandising, Webisodes, or artist-generated videos.
The news comes as the four largest music labels are renegotiating their licensing deals with YouTube.
The labels learned the hard way that music videos were more than just a means to promote music and artists. The story is legend now but MTV built a huge business on music videos while paying the labels little.
Services and Software Guides
SSI Recipients: You're Getting 2 Payments in May. Here's Why
We'll tell you when to expect your Supplemental Security Income money and why you're getting two checks.
As a Supplemental Security Income recipient, you're getting two SSI payments in May. We'll tell you when to expect both checks, as well as why you're getting two payments.
If you're new to receiving benefits or plan to apply for SSI soon, we'll list all the dates you can expect to get your money for the rest of 2024. For more, here's how to apply for your state's TANF program and how to apply for Social Security for your child.
When will I get my SSI money each month?
Here's when you can expect to receive your SSI payments via direct deposit.
- Wednesday, May 1
- Friday, May 31 (for June)
- Monday, July 1
- Thursday, Aug. 1
- Friday, Aug. 30 (for September)
- Tuesday, Oct. 1
- Friday, Nov. 1
- Friday, Nov. 29 (for December)
Why am I getting two SSI payments in May?
Typically, the Social Security Administration disburses SSI checks on the first of each month. However, there are a couple of exceptions to the payment schedule.
1. If the first of the month is on a holiday.
2. If the first of the month is on a weekend.
Since June 1 is on a Saturday, June payments are going out a day early. That means your June payment will arrive on Friday, May 31, which also means you won't receive an additional payment in June.
If I receive other Social Security benefits, will I get those early, too?
No. If you receive other Social Security benefits, you'll still get those on the normally scheduled day since those payments fall on Wednesdays. Here's when May payments will arrive.
May 3: Social Security payments for people who have received Social Security since before May 1997.
May 8: Social Security payments for those with birthdays falling between the first and 10th of any given month.
May 15: Social Security payments for folks with birthdays falling between the 11th and 20th of any given month.
May 22: Social Security payments for people with birthdays falling between the 21st and 31st of any given month.
Receive other Social Security benefits? Here's the Social Security payment schedule and the Social Security Disability Insurance payment schedule. Also, here's a Social Security cheat sheet.
Why You Can Trust CNET Keep Bugs Out of Your Kitchen With These Common Houseplants
Venus flytraps aren't the only plants that can keep unwanted insects from invading your space.
Herbs aren't just for food and cocktails. These potent plants can help keep insects at bay.
Nothing bugs me more than finding fruit flies in my wine, beetles in my flour or ants in a bowl of fresh produce. A thriving kitchen can attract armies of insects, particularly during warmer months, that enjoy our food and drinks just as much as we do.
Exterminators are expensive and bug sprays are often laced with harmful chemicals that are worse for you than a few creepy crawlers. Since there's no single surefire way to prevent pests from making unwanted appearances in our eating spaces, employing a range of tactics will help slow down insects from taking over.
There's one simple and inexpensive method to keep bugs at bay that you may not have considered: houseplants.
Not only do the essential oils and chemical compounds of certain flowers, herbs and other houseplants deter creatures from lingering around for long, but some can quite literally kill these six- and sometimes eight-legged creatures. Plus, plants look and smell lovely, adding instant ambiance to any room you put them in.
Below you'll find a few of the most popular plants to deter bugs from your home and kitchen. For more, see how to keep plants alive for longer and peruse our list of the best places to buy indoor plants online.
Herbs
Herbs can do double duty as flavor-enhancers and bug-deterrent.
Potent herbs like basil, mint, sage and rosemary are great for topping spaghetti or making mojitos, but their scent stops insects like house and fruit flies from coming near. Consider lining a sunny kitchen window with a few of your favorite food and drink garnishes. Not only will the bugs stay away, but you'll enjoy the benefits of fresh herbs year-round and without the hefty price tags found in most supermarkets.
Pro tip: Lemongrass contains citronella oil, which is often used in candles and sprays to repel mosquitos!
Marigold
Marigolds send of a potent scent that not all critters enjoy.
The yellow- and orange-hued flower is so much more than a pretty accent to an oversized pot or home garden -- it's a gnat- and midge-fighting beast that emits a distinct and powerful odor that sends critters scurrying. Perhaps best of all, marigolds are an easy plant to cultivate within your home since they require little maintenance and grow quickly.
Lavender
Lavender is soothing for us humans, but not so much for certain insects.
Lavender boasts calming properties that help us drift to sleep at night, but it has the opposite effect on insects like moths and beetles. Snip a few purple stems and incorporate them into an elegant flower bouquet to ward off any unwelcome visitors.
Catnip
Your feline friend may experience an immediate sense of euphoria when exposed to catnip, but roaches and mosquitoes have quite the opposite reaction. According to scientists, the plant contains an active component that triggers the chemical receptor in insects that causes pain and itchiness. Like humans, when insects feel the slightest bit of discomfort, they tend to retreat and not return to the source of suffering.
Chrysanthemums
Try some Chrysanthemum to slow common kitchen insects down.
This popular flower is an insect's worst enemy. In fact, a chrysanthemum's hit list is extensive and includes roaches, ants, silverfish, lice, bed bugs and mites. Keep these away from your pets, though, as they can be quite toxic when ingested.
Carnivorous plants
The Venus flytrap is the most famous bug eliminator in the plant kingdom.
Lean into the obvious choice and opt for the endlessly entertaining carnivorous plant. Typically, these hungry wonders, like the Venus flytrap, lure in unsuspecting prey with a scent that mirrors delicious fruits and flowers. Once its hair-like lobes, otherwise known as trichomes, are activated, its leaves snap shut and reopen 10 days after the insect has been completely digested. Of course, you'll need a whole lot of carnivorous plants to tackle swarms, but they make great additions to target the occasional fly or two.
No matter the preference, these plants, flowers and herbs make wonderful (and natural!) additions to kitchen pest management plan. They also happen to be delicious and/or beautiful. If you're still not convinced, consider other all-natural alternatives like coffee grounds, essential oils, banana peels, white vinegar and onions. Each has also been proven to stave off an infestation if left out on kitchen counters.