MySpace Music Launching Tonight: 9 PM PT/12:00 AM ET
This story was written by Joseph Weisenthal.
MySpace's long-awaited music music store is going live tonight at 9:00 PM PT/12:00 AM ET. EMI, the last major holdout among the major labels is now on board, as is major indy The Orchard (NSDQ: ORCD). The company, owned by News Corp. (NYSE: NWS), calls tonight's launch "the first phase in an iterative global product rollout". This first phase will include:
-Free and unlimited ad-supported, full-length audio streaming,
-Free and unlimited playlist functionality,
-DRM-free MP3 music e-commerce downloads powered by Amazon (NSDQ: AMZN) MP3,
-Ringtone e-commerce powered by Jamster
So, how will this all work out? It's hard to say anything until we've had a chance to take it for a spin, load up some songs and see how well the site works (First we'll have to locate our old MySpace password...). And though we know that MySpace users already use the site to listen to and discover music, it remains an open question if that will actually translate to buying or even streaming music. Full release after the jump
LOS ANGELES-September 25, 2008-MySpace, the world's premier social
network, alongside its landmark joint venture partners which include
EMI Music, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT, Universal Music Group, Warner
Music Group, Sony/ ATV Music Publishing and The Orchard
today unveiled the new 'MySpace Music' product
(http://www.myspace.com/music) injecting the world's richest online
music community with a host of new features for both users and
artists. The new suite of products, which includes an ever-growing
catalog of premium audio and video content, e-commerce offerings, and
user and artist playlists, aims to further enhance the MySpace Music
experience as well as provide monetization opportunities for its
active music community.
Today's announcement marks the first phase in an iterative global
product rollout which will ultimately include a vast catalogue of
premium and promotional content, a wide selection of new user-to-user
sharing tools, and additional e-commerce opportunities for artists
including merchandise and ticketing. Starting today in the U.S. and
launching internationally in the coming months, the new MySpace Music
functionality will also be available in Spanish and fully localized
for the MySpace en Espaol
products including the newly designed music player will be available
globally to MySpace's more than 120 million global users (comScore
July 2008).
The first phase of the new MySpace Music unveils:
* The new, 'MyMusic,' personal music management toolset
* Free and unlimited ad-supported, full-length audio streaming
* Free and unlimited playlist functionality
* Free discography and content catalogues for SONY BMG, UMG and WMG artists
* DRM-free MP3 music e-commerce downloads powered by Amazon MP3
* Ringtone e-commerce powered by Jamster
The 'MyMusic' toolset empowers the MySpace Music community in the U.S.
to download, stream, and personalize their music content. The new
product allows MySpace users to create playlists for both personal and
public consumption and profile display, allowing profile visitors to
stream all playlisted content on-demand and purchase MP3s of their
favorite songs. Users can virally add a friend's playlist to their own
profile or take songs from a friend's profile to their own.
In addition to managing and discovering new music, users will now be
able to utilize MySpace Music's enhanced search capability to browse
and search for music by artist, song title, or album title. Users can
freely stream their preferred content through a pesonal music player
for a seamless listening experience while browsing MySpace or the
other websites.
Beginning today, U.S. users can purchase DRM-free MP3 music downloads
through MySpace Music's new e-commerce solution powered by Amazon MP3.
Now, adjacent to licensed songs within artist profile media players,
user-created playlists, and certain music editorial pages, MySpace
Music will feature buy buttons that will allow users to download and
purchase MP3s playable on all digital music devices, including the
iPod. Similarly, users can click on a "Find Ringtones" button-powered
by Jamster-within music players to purchase ringtones of their
favorite artists.
The first four integrated sponsors to advertise on MySpace Music are
McDonald's, Sony (NYSE: SNE) Pictures, State Farm, and Toyota. These brands will
be powering customers' access to a host of new music services.
McDonald's will have presence on MySpace Music's personal music player
giving away a variety of free music downloads. To promote the opening
of Sony Pictures' comedy "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist," the movie
studio will be skinning all MySpace Music users' profile playlists for
an entire week with branding from the film. State Farm will have
rotating ads among all pages including the Featured Playlist, the
Personal Music Player, and MyMusic where members go to create and edit
playlists. With "Toyota Tuesdays," the auto company will offer free
music downloads and have a strong presence on MySpace Music's Personal
Music Player every Tuesday for a year.
MySpace Music hosts more than 5 million major, indie, and unsigned
artists within the site's music profiles section, which provides for a
vast artist-powered collection of songs, music videos, tour dates,
blogs, and photos. MySpace's deep, long-standing ties to the music
community have allowed for numerous exclusive features from the most
groundbreaking musicians in the world and the its new marketing
initiatives will greatly enhance the existing MySpace Music offline
concert franchises including Secret Shows, MySpaceLIVE!,
Transmissions, Front to Back and The List.
MySpace Music executive quote sheet, screen shots, logos, b-roll, and
fact sheets are available upon request at press@myspace.com.
By Joseph Weisenthal