Hear here! Tunes

Gay- and lesbian-targeted cable network here! is expanding into the music business.

The network said Wednesday that it has launched here! Tunes, a full-service music-publishing company and virtual record label.

The service focuses on artists from the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, but it will accept all submissions.

“We have made here! Tunes as artist-friendly as possible,” here! executive Brian Goldman said in a prepared statement. “By participating in the artist's publishing, we have a vested interest in the artist's success and their career.”

He continued, “A typical film or television company licenses a song for a single but does not spend time or money promoting or nurturing the artist's work. We want to help expose the artist not only on here! Networks, but also via the here! Web site [www.heretv.com], cell phones, soundtracks, videos and free-VOD [video-on-demand] concerts.”