MySpace gets back in the game

Feb 21, 2012

MySpace is dead. Or is it? 

The fallen social network is making its comeback - and has the numbers to prove it - boasting a million new users over a thirty day period. 

Its new found success is due in part to new ties with Facebook and Twitter - for example, users can now integrate MySpace into their Facebook pages with its new app, which also lets users join through Facebook directly. MySpace's Facebook app jumped from 900,000 to 1.6 million monthly active users in just four weeks. 

"The numbers tell an amazing story of strong momentum and dramatic change for MySpace," CEO Tim Vanderhook told the Guardian. "And the 1 million-plus new user accounts we've seen in the last 30 days validates our approach." 

In recent years, it's been less than smooth sailing for the once popular social network - Rupert Murdoch's News Corp bought MySpace in 2005 for an eye-watering $580 million (£368 million), selling it again to Specific Media in June 2011 for a more modest $35 million (£22 million).

Since then, owners - and high-profile investors like Justin Timberlake - have taken the social network back to its roots, launching its MySpace Music Player and announcing MySpace TV. 

The MySpace Music Player - which can be integrated into Facebook - boasts the largest online catalogue of free music in the world, some 42 million songs, according to Vanderhook. In contrast, rivals Spotify and Pandora have just 15 million and 800,000 respectively. 

"MySpace is building meaningful social entertainment experience around content, where consumers can share and discover the music they love," Vanderhook said.


Source:  bigmouthmedia.com