MTV and Universal Music Group have kissed and made up — temporarily.
Viacom-owned MTV.com recently lost its rights to stream videos from Universal artists such as Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Kanye West when their deal expired in July. The two companies couldn't agree on digital-advertising terms.
But according to MTV, Universal has provisionally allowed the website to publish its artists' videos strictly for the purpose of the Video Music Awards, to be held in Los Angeles on Sept. 21.T
he awards show is perhaps the premier event for popular music, a necessary stage for every label's artists. Many of this year's nominees and headliners are signed to Universal, the world's largest record label.
A significant part of the awards process allows viewers to vote online, which ends Aug. 24. Though MTV.com had been proscribed from running Universal's videos, the temporary truce allows for the viewing of their videos for the voting process.
