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Radar exits Beta, matches bands with hopeful music video directors

Steve O'Hear

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Steve O’Hear is probably best known as a technology journalist, currently at TechCrunch where he focuses mainly on European startups, companies and products. He was previously co-founder and CEO of expertise platform Beepl where he helped the company navigate its first VC round, along with seeing the product through development, private alpha and a high profile public launch. In November... → Learn More

Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
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Today sees the launch of Radar Music Videos, a platform that enables artists, bands and music labels to commission music videos from established and upcoming directors.

The site, which has been in Beta for just over a year, is entirely bootstrapped by ex-BBC producer Caroline Bottomley and is already cash-positive. That’s thanks to a business model that shuns free or freemium in favor of paid-subscriptions only, for both the artists who are commissioning works and the directors who are hoping to land a gig.

Overall, Radar is pitching itself to the music industry as a simpler and more cost effective way to commission music videos. Commissioners are charged £19.99 per-month, while director hopefuls pay £3.99 per-month to be listed and to be able to respond to music video briefs.

Radar has already seen a number of commissions come to fruition, the latest of which is a music video for Fat Boy Slim’s latest track Machines Do The Work. Others who have used the platform include Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip, Mercury Records, and a number of other independent artists and labels.

Music videos commissioned through Radar must credit the site and can also potentially benefit from “distribution” through Radar’s YouTube channel and presence on other video platforms, including a recent tie-up with the BBC Film Network.

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Radar Music Videos
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  • http://www.cdnpal.com Christopher

    This is a pretty good idea. In this age of free music, bands just don’t have the cash to produce good music videos anymore.

    Most of them just use Adobe Premiere or final cut and do it themselves. You can get high def camcorders for $300 on Techbargains.com.

    If directors and producers were willing to cut deals to struggling musicians where they would do a whole shoot and post production for $1000, they would get a lot of business.

    Unfortunately talented directors now make car commercials instead of music videos because they need to go grocery shopping.

  • Greg Watkins

    This is similar to a site I have used to commission a viral video called Wooshii (www.wooshii.com). They also have a lot of projects which are listed and creative’s pitch to make ideas a reality. They also have music videos listed. Maybe some competition for Radar?

  • http://natts.com Dave Nattriss

    Congrats Caroline – great to finally see your project come to fruition :-)

  • http://rawjamtv.com/ sophia

    If directors and producers were willing to cut deals to struggling musicians where they would do a whole shoot and post production for $1000, they would get a lot of business.

    party

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