A German version of Live@Launch, which offers on-demand live performances and artist interviews through Yahoo!’s Launch service, kicks off today (Feb. 13).
The German edition comes shortly after the introduction of a U.K. Live@Launch on Feb. 10. It will be followed by localized versions on Launch’s Web sites in Italy, France and Spain before the end of the month.
The service offers exclusive video of live performances by established and emerging acts. The performances are recorded either at Launch’s Los Angeles studio or at a dedicated location. The U.K. version featured performances by Missy Elliott, Kelis, the Chemical Brothers, the Cure and the Darkness.
“The performances could have been recorded anywhere, but we try to tailor the artists to the country,” says Shannon Ferguson, Launch Europe’s director.
Ferguson doubts whether the service will ever include live simulcasts of concerts because she doesn’t “think the Web is the appropriate medium; seeing a show live works when you are at the venue.”
Launch, which integrated the U.K. on-demand music service Dotmusic into its own U.K. operation in January, eventually plans to bring its Internet radio player Launchcast to Europe. Launchcast features customized pre-programmed radio stations comprising genre-based music channels.
