MySpace Music Venture Allows e-Commerce, Free Downloads

By Sergio Ibarra

The popular social networking site MySpace has signed deals with Sony BMG, Universal Music Group and Warner Music for a new joint venture, MySpace Music.

MySpace Music will allow fans access to DRM-free digital downloads for purchase, ad-supported audio and video streams, a mobile download store and several sponsorship opportunities.

Artists on MySpace will have the opportunity to integrate different e-commerce solutions on their profiles, including selling music, merchandise, ringtones and concert tickets.

“Today represents the beginning of a new chapter in the story of modern music,” MySpace CEO and Co-Founder Chris DeWolfe said. “We’re proud to announce the marriage of the world’s biggest collection of music content to the world’s most popular music community.”

MySpace Music taps into the biggest online music audience, with more than 30 million unique visitors to MySpace’s music channel alone. According to comScore numbers, the site had 68 million unique visitors during the month of February.

With its built-in audience, MySpace Music is poised to compete with the giant of online music, Apple’s iTunes store, particularly in the way fans will be able to socialize by sharing and discussing music and artists.

The built-in partnership with three of the biggest labels in the recording industry also shows how the music industry is ready to incorporate music distribution into popular media consumption over the Internet as album sales drop and online piracy continues. EMI is the only one of the four major record labels not currently with the program.

“MySpace Music stands as a dynamic vehicle to explore even more creative ways to harness the power of social networking with our leading music and video content,” Universal Music Group Chairman-CEO Doug Morris said. “Our partnership with MySpace fits perfectly within our overall digital strategy of driving innovation, while creating new and exciting opportunities to enhance the relationship between our artists and their fans.”