by Jay Garrett on December 3, 2009
MySpace has launched a UK version of MySpace Music and are prepared to take on the sonic streamers such as Spotify and LastFM with the brag that it holds “the most comprehensive catalogue” on the internet.
Myspace has buddied up iTunes and will enable DRM-free MP3 downloading as well as offering free streaming access to entire back catalogues of artists on both major and independent labels.
MySpace Music already has 13 million UK accounts and is generally the first thing people ask for when chatting to unsigned bands like Subset.
Speaking to BBC 6 Music, Courtney Holt, president of MySpace Music, described the new look MySpace as a “social music discovery service” and that “We provide streaming audio, video, a comprehensive suite of artist tools, original content and programming all wrapped up together in one nice package”.
Kasabian played an intimate gig in London on 2 December to mark the launch of the site, which is run by a subsidiary of News Corporation after its owner was bought out in 2005 for more than £300m.
Artists will be able to publish playlists so fans and friends can see what their fave artists are listening to and get a sense of what influences them. Check out what Britney Spears, Lady GaGa, Katie Price and even the Vatican are grooving to.
Holt believes that this is going to be huge in the UK, adding: “MySpace Music is the number one music site in America and since we have launched in Australia and New Zealand we have seen double the engagement than pre, so we believe this is going to be great for MySpace in the UK.”
Are you on Myspace?
by Jay Garrett on October 21, 2009
It sounds as though Google will definitely be parading out a new rival to Spotify, Napster and the like.
Word on the web is that Google is in talks to shore up content from major music labels ahead of launch.
Nothing has been confirmed, but one tipster has called the service Google Audio, and it will launch in the US soonish.
The other thing that isn’t clear is whether this thing will be a download or streaming service, or both.
Google actually already has a pretty decent music search engine that can be accessed by simply typing “music:” before a query but songs are not available for streaming or download from those searches.
Google is hooking up with LaLa and iLike but they’re keeping a tight lid on everything – one thing is clear though: it looks like a big win for LaLa and iLike which ever way this is sliced as both will get massive flow from this deal.
On top of that it seems that MySpace made a genius move with their acquisition of iLike.
Whatever this Google Audio is chances are it won’t be like Google’s Chinese music service engine, which hunts out free tracks so you can help yourself.
Peter Kafka over at AllThingsD seems to have his own sources who seem to know a lot more:
Sources describe the service, which will be called “One Box”, as a refined set of answers for music queries. The idea: Punch in, say, “Madonna“, and you’ll be presented with one or more songs, which may be partial clips or full-length versions, then guided to other sites where you can purchase the music.
All in all, this just sounds like a new search interface—not a new iTunes, Spotify-killer, or anything else worth getting overly excited about.
More on this as it arrives – word is to expect something happening on the 28th……..
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