IN PRODUCTION: Ace Hood f/ Trey Songz - Gil Green, dir.

• artist: Ace Hood f/ Trey Songz
• song: "Need Your Love"
• label: Cash Money/Universal
• director(s): Gil Green
• production co: 305 Films
• rep: Labuda Management
• producer:  Claudia Rivas
• exec producer: Judd Allison
• EP/commissioner: Jeff Panzer

IN PRODUCTION: Nicki Minaj - Colin Tilley, dir.

• artist: Nicki Minaj f/ Cassie
• song: "The Boys"
• label: Cash Money/Universal
• director(s): Colin Tilley
• production co: Riveting Ent.
• rep: Labuda Management
• EP/Commissioner:  Jeff Panzer

WATCH IT: Avett Brothers "Live And Die" (Philip Andelman, dir.)

The Avett Brothers and director Philip Andelman keep things authentic and organic in this casual clip: Shot on 16mm on-location at album producer Rick Rubin's famed studio The Mansion, with most of the performance being directed at each other rather than in some slick set-up. --> watch "Live And Die"

The Avett Brothers
"Live and Die" (Universal Republic)
Philip Andelman, director | Jason Baum, producer | Partizan, production co | Omer Ganai, DP | Maxime Pozzi-Garcia, editor | Beau Leon, colorist | Jeff Pantaleo, exec. producer | Kate Miller, commisioner

IN PRODUCTION: Youngblood Hawke - Marc Klasfeld, dir.

• artist: Youngblood Hawke
• song: "We Come Running"
• label: Universal Republic
• director(s): Marc Klasfeld
• production co: Rockhard
• rep: Labuda Management
• producer: Judd Allison
• exec. producer: Nicole Acacio
• comissioner: Kate Miller

IN PRODUCTION: Colbie Caillat - Roman White, dir.

• artist: Colbie Caillat
• song: "Christmas In The Sand"
• label: Universal Republic
• director(s): Roman White
• production co: Revolution Pictures
• rep: Yell Productions

IN PRODUCTION: Anberlin - Jodeb, dir.

• artist: Anberlin
• song: "Someone Anyone"
• label: Universal Republic
• director(s): Jodeb
• production co: Vision Ent
• exec. producer: Geoff McLean
• commissioner: Kate Miller

BACK AGAIN: Alex Clare "Too Close" (Keith Rivers, dir.)

This recently released video isn't really a 'Behind the Scenes' clip as indicated in theembed title — unless they mean it happens backstage at a concert — but it does give us a behind the scenes glimpse into what happens when a song takes off in a way that is pure Music Biz 2012. There has been a lot of focus on viral videos of late, but the financial impact 'internet buzz' can have is still not 100% clear. What does make a song explode, and the artist some money, is getting said song on television. Lots and lots of televisions.

When Microsoft launched IE9 all over the planet, they selected 'Too Close' by Alex Clare and the commercial sent people scarmbling for their Shazam to track down the name of the song. The track is a perfect mix of classic power ballading and just a touch of the latest dub-step wobble-bass to get all the demographics enthused. This led to an all new video — leaving behind the original clip which featured floating martial artists in the best tradition of early Linkin Park.

This new video for 'Too Close' from director Keith Rivers seems to have a strong Microsoft connection — Rivers also directed the IE9 spots and this video was shot in Miscrosoft haven Seattle, which might explain why Clare brings his best 'artisinal barista' style to a much larger stage than ever before. In the end it turns out the whole rise to unseen heights just might be a mirage.

And what is more Music Biz 2012 than that?

Alex Clare "Too Close" (Universal Republic)
Keith Rivers, director | Rebecca Davis & Kyle Seago, producer | Uber Content, production co

Doug Stern often writes music video treatments and the word 'Xi' in Words With Friends. 

WATCH IT: Alex Clare "Too Close" (Keith Rivers, dir.)

Meet the guy behind the song from that Microsoft Internet Explorer ad campaign which has been stuck in your head for many months. Alex Clare can't avoid the spotlight in this new video for the song: He conjures up so much power in the hypnotic hook that he blows the walls off his backstage warm-up room and winds up on stage, where he belongs. --> watch "Too Close"

Alex Clare
"Too Close" (Universal Republic)
Keith Rivers, director | Kyle Seago, Rebecca Davis, producer 

IN PRODUCTION: Akon - Robby Starbuck, dir.

• artist: Akon
• song: "One In The Chamber"
• label: KonLive/Universal Republic
• director(s): Robby Starbuck
• production co: RSM
• producer: Robby Starbuck, Stefan Anderson
• DP: Greg Ephraim

IN PRODUCTION: Havana Brown - Anna Mastro, dir.

• artist: Havana Brown
• song: "You'll Be Mine"
• label: 2101/Universal Republic
• director(s): Anna Mastro
• production co: A Common Thread
• exec. producers: J.P. McMahon, Tristan Drew
• commissioner: Kate Miller

IN PRODUCTION: Nicki Minaj - Colin Tilley, dir.

• artist: Nicki Minaj f/ Cam'ron & Rick Ross
• song: "I Am Your Leader"
• label: Cash Money/Universal Republic
• director(s): Colin Tilley
• production co: Riveting Ent.
• producer: Andrew Listermann
• exec. producer/commissioner: Jeff Panzer

WATCH IT: Gotye "Save Me" (Peter Lowey, dir.)

Various pieces come together to form a man, but he's not whole until he finds a woman to join him. Fans enthralled with the puzzle motif of "Somebody I Used To Know" (300 million YouTube views can't be wrong, right?) should feel very free to view this as a companion piece. --> watch "Save Me"

Gotye "Save Me" (Universal Republic)
Peter Lowey, director/animator | Pie Pants Animation, production co | Andrew Bowler, 3D modeler | Glenn Hatton, compositor

IN PRODUCTION: Mykko Montana - Erik White, dir.

• artist: Mykko Montana
• song: "Do It"
• label: Universal Republic
• director(s): Erik White
• production co: Rockhard
• rep: Labuda Management
• producer: Helen Uriolla
• exec. producer: Nicole Accacio
• commissioner: Kate Miller

IN PRODUCTION: Melanie Fiona f/ B.O.B. - Rome, dir.

• artist: Melanie Fiona f/ B.O.B
• song: "Change The Record"
• label: Universal Republic
• director(s): Rome
• production co: The Field