MySpace joins with leading record labels for new music service

by Stevie Smith - Apr 4 2008, 12:32

On the same day NPD research has revealed Apple iTunes to be the leading music seller in the United States, News Corp.’s hugely popular social networking website MySpace has joined with several leading music companies to launch a brand new music download service.

News Corp. unveils its new MySpace Music feature for direct music and merchandise delivery via its social network. Credit: MySpace.

The new MySpace Music feature will work by enabling recording artists with profile pages on the social network to sell their music, concert tickets, mobile phone ringtones and related merchandise directly to site visitors.“We believe that the Web is becoming increasingly more social,” said MySpace co-founder and CEO Chris DeWolfe. “MySpace Music is a new way of experiencing music online that everyone can participate in.”While financial details connected to the backing of MySpace Music have not been disclosed, core content support for the service is being supplied by Universal Music Group, Sony BMG and Warner Music Group -- three of the world’s ‘big four’ record companies -- in return for equity in the service.It is believed that remaining ‘big four’ member EMI Group is currently involved in ongoing discussions regarding the licensing of its music content.“A MySpace music store is exactly the right step to get the music industry to the next level because it recognizes that consumers don’t just buy music, they experience it,” commented James McQuivey, digital music analyst for Forrester Research, in an Associated Press report. “That’s what people do with music already on MySpace, it’s what has made Last.FM and iMeem.com so popular so quickly.”Other attributes linked to MySpace Music include the ability for users to stream certain audio and video for free and also the removal of copy protection on selected content.News Corp-owned MySpace presently has a massive 110 million monthly users at its disposal, and more than 5 million site profiles connected to major recording and independent recording artists as well as unsigned artists and bands, all of which will be able to take advantage of the exposure provided by MySpace Music.MySpace Music will be rolled out gradually over the next few months and will be integrated as a full first-party alternative to a similar but not as wide ranging third-party system first launched back in 2006. Pricing details have not yet been released by MySpace or News Corp.

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John WilliamsAug 20th, 2008 - 02:10:59

Pretty nice site, wants to see much more on it! :)

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scoopsytwittySep 23rd, 2008 - 11:22:27

How i may contact the administrator of a site? I have a question.

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MySpace joins with leading record labels for new music service

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