MuchMusic to Play Rotisserie Entertainment

Trying to find another way to differentiate itself from MTV: Music Television, MuchMusic USA plans to launch a new program that will allow viewers to trade stock in their favorite artists, albums and songs.

IMX: Interactive Music Exchange, set to debut Jan. 20, will value each artist depending on the Billboard music charts, radio airplay, concert-ticket sales and other variables.

"IMX is like fantasy football, but with rock stars," MuchMusic president Marc Juris said.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.