Myspace Music launches in the UK

 

Social networking site Myspace has launched a UK version of its Myspace Music service, in what would seem to be a direct bid to compete with streaming sites such as Spotify and Last Fm.

 

In partnership with I-tunes, the service will allow users to download Digital Rights Management (DRM) free downloads of tracks and will feature the back catalogues of many major artists.

 

Speaking with reporters at BBC 6Music, President of Myspace Music Courtney Holt said: “We provide streaming audio, video, a comprehensive suite of artist tools, original content and programming all wrapped up together in one nice package”.

 

The News Corporation owned Company are marketing the service as a ‘social music discovery service’, effectively as an extension of social networking and Myspace’s long established platform for showcasing new acts.

 

Myspace Music service will be browser based with no installation of additional software needed but it will share similar features to Spotify such as advertising and the creation of playlists. One key idea is that artists and celebrities will be able to upload playlists to fans, with Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and, somewhat incredulously, The Vatican already signed up to do this!

 

Similar Myspace Music service services already exist in the US, Australia and New Zealand.

 

As previously reported by The Gen, Myspace has experienced a global decline in users this year. The latest UK Nielsen figures reveal that Myspace attracted 3.5 million unique users in October 2009, which is a decline of 39 per cent year on year.

 

Myspace Music service is co-owned by the ‘big four’ major music labels: EMI, Sony, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group but the venture also recently secured a deal with various UK Independent labels through label rights trade body Merlin.

 

Have your say! Will Myspace Music service be enough to entice you away from Spotify? Will these services reverse the downturn of Myspace? Do you still use Myspace to listen to new bands?