Universal Music Group UK has launched Pause, a studio that turns stills from music videos into collectible, one-of-a-kind art prints.
The Pause player allows users to scan a music video, find a frame they particularly like, and have it turned into a print on either A3- or A2-sized paper. Every frame of a video is only ever used once, ensuring a unique collectible product.
Pause is launching with Amy Winehouse’s You Know I’m No Good, a track off the legendary artist’s second and final album Back to Black. For every print sold, UMG UK will donate to the Amy Winehouse Foundation, a charity that helps vulnerable and disadvantaged young people, with a focus on substance abuse. The charity says it has reached over 440,000 people since it was launched in 2011, in the wake of Winehouse’s premature death.
“Amy Winehouse’s legacy continues to resonate across generations, and we’re excited to give fans a new way to connect with her work. It’s about celebrating the creativity and artistry that went into her music videos, and recognizing music videos as an important cultural medium in their own right,” said James Wheatley, Senior Director, Commercial Development & Technology at UMG.
“The beauty of Pause and what excites us about the proposition is that it is easy to articulate to artists, management and fans alike, everyone gets it and recognizes the value. To be able to choose a favorite moment from the artist you love as a one-of-one art piece that no-one else can ever own feels truly special.”
Each print from the Pause studio comes with a certificate of authentication. Prices range from GBP £65 (USD $89) for an A3-sized print without frame, to £495 ($655) for an A2-sized Collector Edition with a walnut frame featuring a magnetic closing system.
“To be able to choose a favorite moment from the artist you love as a one-of-one art piece that no-one else can ever own feels truly special.”
James Wheatley, Universal Music Group
“Music videos are some of the most creative, emotional, and culturally influential pieces of visual storytelling we have. Yet too often they disappear into the digital ether after release,” Pause Co-Founder Steven O’Connor said.
“At Pause, our mission is to resurrect these moments as art, turning single frames from iconic videos into lasting, collectible artworks. We want to give fans the opportunity to own a piece of music history, and in doing so, help people rediscover and celebrate the artistry of the music video.”
Pause Co-Founder Wai Hung Young said the studio’s products are “a bridge between music, creativity, and the tangible world. Our goal is to elevate the music video from a transient screen experience to a collectible art form, inspiring a new generation of collectors while preserving the cultural and emotional significance of these works.”
Young added that the Amy Winehouse collection “is one of our largest launches in the UK and a significant step in building a broader category where visual music culture is valued as art.”
Other artists working with Pause are Norwegian singer Aurora, alt-rock band Keane, singer Self Esteem, and actor and singer Jeff Goldblum.
While its prints are at present focused on music videos, the company says it plans to expand its visual collectibles into film, gaming, TV, fashion, and sport.Music Business Worldwide
