News
MySpace entering digital music market with indie bands
By LC Angell
Senior Editor, iLounge
Published: Tuesday, September 5, 2006
News Category: Digital Media
Popular social networking website MySpace has announced plans to launch a major digital music service. The News Corp.-owned site, which currently has 106 million users, said it will offer music from nearly 3 million unsigned, independent bands before the end of the year. “The goal is to be one of the biggest digital music stores out there,” said MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe. “Everyone we’ve spoken to definitely wants an alternative to iTunes and the iPod. MySpace could be that alternative.” The indie songs will be sold in unprotected MP3 format, compatible with the iPod. Bands will decide how much to charge per song after including MySpace’s distribution fee. DeWolfe said MySpace will be “enhancing and customizing” its online music service to eventually offer copyright-protected songs from major record companies.
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1
“The indie songs will be sold in unprotected MP3 format” - Ok, I’m listening.
If they’ve got decent quality and decent pricing, I’m sold.
Posted by Steffen on September 5, 2006 at 2:03 PM (PDT)
2
Do you seriously trust myspace though? They do everything else so bad so I wouldn’t expect this to be superduper.
Posted by Adam on September 5, 2006 at 2:31 PM (PDT)
3
Well, I’m not holding my breath. But, if they do it well (someone will eventually) then I’ll be their first customer.
Posted by Steffen on September 5, 2006 at 9:03 PM (PDT)
4
How many of those 3 million bands are listenable?
Posted by wco81 in West Coast on September 5, 2006 at 10:32 PM (PDT)
5
Among the huge number of bands on myspace, there are actually a few that are really good. I heard one that I liked so much I ended up buying the album off iTunes.
Posted by Josh Powell in VA on September 6, 2006 at 5:46 AM (PDT)