MTV, VH1, CMT Debut New Online Hub for Artists

MTV, VH1 and CMT have unveild a new platform to help artists reach a larger audience while creating opportunities for exposure in the process.

The “artist opportunities hub,” announced Thursday, is an expansion of the web platform that was launched last year for the three Viacom music sites, Artists.MTV, Artists.VH1 and Artists.CMT. In the new hub, any artist who has created an account can opt in to opportunities that would ideally increase their fan base and expose their music to more people.

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“Starting today, artists of all levels and genres will be featured across our television channels, sites, stages, blogs, social channels, concert tours, radio shows, and most importantly, provided a direct link to their fans via artist platform,” said Van Toffler, president of Viacom Music Group.

Artists will be given on-air, digital, partnership and advertiser opportunities through the hub. Then, fans are given the power to decide which artists are selected for which opportunity.

“We’re going back to our roots of connecting artists to fans and empowering them to subsidize, support and help their favorite bands get heard, not just by their friends and peers, but by the entire country,” Toffler said.

Among the opportunities being offered, artists will be able to submit music videos for consideration on the on-air Viacom platforms MTV, VH1, CMT, MTV2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, VH1 Soul, and CMT Pure. After evaluating fan engagement, music teams will decide which videos get a spot on air. Artists can also opt for a digital version, with their videos airing on Viacom’s music editorial sites.

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Partnership opportunities are also offered, one being for an emerging artist to be selected as the opening act for country singer Hunter Hayes‘ NYC concert. Another is for two bands to play at the Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Coming soon will be opportunities for artists to be featured in specific MTV/VH1/CMT shows, as well as advertiser sponsored opportunities.

Artists with a page on the hub will expose themselves to the over 2 million monthly visitors to the platform, and the over 100 million homes that are reached by Viacom’s music programming channels.

In the coming months, the three networks will also introduce a mobile app and an artist commerce tool.