If a tree falls on MySpace, does anybody care?
A few months, ago, maybe not, but today? You bet they do!
Since Justin Timberlake and a group of investors bought the site in June 2011, millions of new users have signed up. Many of them registered after MySpace Music Player was launched, in December.
With a reported 40,000 new users signing up every day, what does this mean to affiliates? Could MySpace be the new (old) social media? Perhaps, but as mentioned in an article on Mashable, it may be Spotify and not Facebook or Google+ that it is competing against: MySpace has a music library, featuring unsigned artists as well as those with record deals, with 42 million songs. In addition, a music player is hosted on the social network as well.
“The numbers tell an amazing story of strong momentum and dramatic change for Myspace,” said company CEO, Tim Vanderhook. “And the one million-plus new user accounts we’ve seen in the last 30 days validates our approach.”
Vanderhook and the pop idol Timberlake were part of the group that purchased MySpace from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation for $35 million. MySpace had had a rocky time these last few years, dropping in popularity as Facebook soared.
“Myspace is building meaningful social entertainment experience around content, where consumers can share and discover the music they love,” said Vanderhook. “Consumers are getting excited about MySpace again.”
Here’s what some affiliates had to say about the MySpace “comeback” on LinkedIn:
“Wow! No kidding? I remember MySpace- but I shudder to think what it would mean to re-address my old profile…yikes!” Curious to see in what time frame affiliates can start getting in on this social media channel.”
“Seems to be geared mostly toward musical and recording interest now… That and its a playdom and znyga playground, I don’t see it coming back any time soon.”
“How in the world are they getting so many sign-ups?
“Do you think if they start with games they may then venture into online gambling?”
Can MySpace continue at this pace, reaching great heights? Will it become a social network that marketers will use to promote their products? Or will it take its cue from the popularity of its music service and begin to offer games – and then online gambling? Let us know what you think.