Fashion and music combine for Hilfiger's TommyTV

By Sarah Marsh

LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. fashion company Tommy Hilfiger and music group Sony BMG teamed up on Wednesday to launch a fashion and music online TV website, a latest sign of ever closer union of the world's of style and song.

TommyTV, at www.tommytv.com, will show live performance by established and new artists sponsored by Tommy Hilfiger alongside exclusive interviews and backstage footage.

Designer Tommy Hilfiger, dapper in a pin stripe suit and orange tie, said the site would also host the Hilfiger Auditions, an online competition where young artists can showcase their talent.

"These musicians otherwise would not have that opportunity in many cases," Hilfiger said at the launch in London which kicked off with a live act by Parisian pop duo "One-Two."

"This is a platform for new young musicians to show their talents on a global stage and have a connection with our partner Sony BMG."

Tommy Hilfiger has built a worldwide fashion brand spanning women's, men's and children's wear to accessories and watches on marketing campaigns presenting hip, image savvy U.S. teenagers.

It has already moved to develop the brand in the music arena by hosting live gigs with only a few hundreds guests known as the Hilfiger Sessions.

Tommy Hilfiger Chief Executive Fred Gehring said the launch of TommyTV in collaboration with Sony BMG, home of artists Justin Timberlake and Leona Lewis, was a unique and momentous new stage in the fusion of the fashion and music worlds.