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Broadband entertainment company Sudden Industries announced today that it had trademarked the Web application Vmations: full-length, Net-ready videos created with Flash animation and digitized video optimized for Web playback. The Vmations not only are poised to compete against streaming video on the Web—by being free of server timeouts, buffers and poor image quality—but music videos for broadcast as well—by costing less. Viewable using standard plug-ins (thus making the room smell nicer), Vmations can be constructed using video footage, still photography, animation or any combination of these elements. Sudden has also added interactive elements, such as toggle-able lyrics and hyperlinks, to the videos. "I believe in streaming media," said Sudden CEO Lawrence R. Lux, "but we all know it needs some time to develop. Sudden has created an alternative that is fully developed, better, cheaper, faster and works on the Web now, instead of five years from now." Sadly, five years from now is about when music execs will have this whole Internet thing figured out. The Internet of today, anyway… Online music superstore Marsmusic.com—the "destination for music lovers and creators"—announced that it was sponsoring Metallica's Summer Sanitarium Tour. Kicking off June 30 in Foxboro, MA, the 11-stop Summer Sanitarium Tour also features Korn, Kid Rock, Powerman 5000 and System Of A Down. "Metallica's 20-year history in the business of making great music, their loyal fanbase and the inspiration they give music lovers around the world make them a perfect partner for Marsmusic.com," said Marsmusic President David MacBlane. The instruments and equipment that Metallica uses to create their incredible sound are available on the Web site. However, anyone visiting the site without actually buying something will be persecuted to the fullest extent of the law… Today, Shockwave.com announced a development deal with the Michael Ovitz/Rick Yorn/Julie Silverman-Yorn-founded Artists Management Group, providing a development fund for AMG and its clients to create animated content for distribution on the site. AMG Animation's clients already include the creators of "Rugrats," the producers of "Daria" and "Futurama" and top creative talent involved in animated shows such as "King Of The Hill" and "Men In Black." "We're excited by the prospect of working with AMG's diverse roster of talent," said Stefanie Henning, VP of Content Acquisitions at Shockwave.com. "We look forward to working with the AMG team to develop next generation entertainment content for the Web." Industry insiders were shocked that the two-page press release did not contain the word "synergy"… Motley Crue has signed a strategic partnership with Earjam.com for help in promoting the band's new disc "New Tattoo," due out July 11. With Earjam's ARC (artist-retailer-consumer) service, the Crue's album will come pre-loaded with a desktop application that will allow consumers to easily download and play a personalized selection of music and video from artist sites and retailers. The desktop app includes an Internet Music Player sporting—in the case of Motley Crue—a Motley Crue skin and customized retailer and artist content. "Motley Crue have always supported any outlet, Internet or otherwise, that allows us to connect to our fans," said Crue co-founder and bassist Nikki Sixx. "Our fans will dig Earjam!" Recent surveys show Sixx's last statement to be true, and that Crue fans also enjoy toe jam and "any brown liquid found at the bottom of a fridge."