Mog, a platform for music blogs with backing from Universal and Sony BMG, is launching an ad network dubbed MOG Music Network. In conjunction with the announcement, MOG is also adding experienced record producer Rick Rubin to its Board of Directors.
MOG Music Network will allow partner blogs to embed widgets that display content from other blogs, and will also allow bloggers to have their own posts syndicated to Mog.com. The network will also allow bloggers to customize the ads that appear on their sites, and to generate revenues greater than what they’d get from a typical ad network like Google AdSense. Partners will be able to participate in a 50/50 rev share agreement on a CPM basis.
MOG Music Network, which CEO David Hyman has described as a “Federated Media for music sites”, will include 30 partner sites at launch. MOG is instituting an application process to help ensure the quality of partner sites, though it intends to cater to small and large sites alike.
MOG’s network will allow it to increase its ad impressions to drive further revenue (up until this point, its primary source of income has been from direct visits to its site). MOG’s news comes only a few weeks after the launch of iLike’s ad platform, which allows advertisers to place their own ads on iLike. Competitor imeem expected to announce its own advertising service in the near future.
Rubin, who is joining the company’s board, is currently co-head of Columbia Records and has been named by MTV “the most important producer of the last 20 years.” His appointment isn’t surprising, given the site’s affiliation with two big-name record labels (though he isn’t representing Columbia on the board).