Artists.VH1 hard launch

ARTISTS ONLY: Today is launch day for Artists.VH1, which will serve as the new front door for artists to have their music showcased across VH1's various channels and screens. The new platform has been created to serve worthy bands and artists who’ve been underexposed in the digital space—a discovery destination spanning multiple genres and decades. The first on-air integration will take place during 2012 VH2 Divas debuting live on Sunday, Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Since beta-launching in mid-August, nearly 10k artists have claimed or created their Artists.MTV pages. In a little over three months, the platform has generated more than 3.3 million visitors, with each fan spending an average of four minutes per visit on the site. “With the launch of Artists.VH1, we’re filling a major void in the digital music space by providing non-mainstream pop artists and their fans direct access to one another reflective of what we deliver on air with our Storytellers and You Oughta Know franchises,” said VH1 Prexy Tom Calderone in this morning’s announcement. “The platform offers both established and emerging artists a homestead where they can have more access to their presence across our screens to control their image and opt into a myriad of opportunities including music video rotation and song integration in our programs that will generate both exposure and revenue. I wanted to call it Tom Tom Club, but I got overruled.” (11/14a)