Digital

MySpace sees user base rise after revamping music player

By | Published on Tuesday 14 February 2012

MySpace

MySpace has added a million new users to its service since relaunching its music player in December, so take that all you cynical doom mongerers you. Oh hang on, we were the cynical doom mongerers, weren’t we? I suppose we should never forget the ancient maxim – just because your service is shit, doesn’t mean it can’t be successful. I mean, look at BT Broadband.

Anyway, it’s MySpace itself which is hailing this recent success, though its bold claims are seemingly based on independently verified comScore figures. Tim Vanderhook, one of the bosses of Specific Media, who bought the flagging social network from News Corp last year, told reporters: “The numbers tell an amazing story of strong momentum and dramatic change for MySpace. And the one million-plus new user accounts we’ve seen in the last 30 days validates our approach”.

Vanderhook added that the turnaround in user figures – which had previously been declining for years – is a direct result of the service’s new music player launching, coupled with Facebook and Twitter integration. He also stressed once again that the company has a bigger catalogue of digital music than any of its competitors in the streaming music space. Vanderhook: “MySpace is building a meaningful social entertainment experience around content, where consumers can share and discover the music they love. Consumers are getting excited about MySpace again – a testament to a great music product”.

While Specific Media’s complete plan for turning around MySpace’s fortunes, both commercially as well as in terms of users, are not yet known, music and the new music player are known to be key. And, as previously reported, at CES last month Specific chiefs and their MySpace creative advisor Justin Timberblake also revealed ambitions in the second screening space, providing a platform through which net-connected users can watch and comment on content – most likely music – in real time.



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