Article
December 3, 2009
All-star launch for MySpace Music UK.
LONDON: Thursday 3rd December 2009: MySpace has today announced the UK launch of MySpace Music, a new platform offering users free access to the most comprehensive catalogue of audio tracks and music videos available on the web.
The new service will provide music fans with unlimited free streaming and unlimited free playlisting. It will enable users to download, stream and personalise their music content, creating and sharing their playlists using the MyMusic system. MySpace Music users will also now be able to purchase DRM-free songs on Apple iTunes, playable on all digital music devices. For a seamless listening experience, music fans can also listen to their playlists on a personal online music player while browsing MySpace or other websites.
A host of leading UK and international acts there are supporting MySpace Music. The launch kicked off with an intimate concert last night from one of UK’s biggest live acts, Kasabian.
50 Cent, Pixie Lott (picture above), Florence & the Machine, Alicia Keys, Chipmunk, David Guetta, Lost Prophets, and Nelly Furtado are among a number of high-profile acts who are taking part in the launch in a series of interactive films that can be personalized by users, and personal playlists that allow fans to get closer than ever before to the artists they love.
The new service premieres with exclusive personal playlists from a wide cross section of famous music fans ranging from Katie Price to The Vatican. The Vatican’s playlist features artists as diverse as Muse, Mozart, Dame Shirley Bassey and Tupac. Katie Price’s playlist, which she plays when “getting ready for a night out” features tracks including Kanye West’s’ ‘Heartless’ and Beyonce’s ‘Single Ladies’.
Artists are also set to benefit from the launch via the MySpace Artist Dashboard – a free tool which allows all artists unlimited access to unique in depth demographic, social and activity data of their core fans.
MySpace has also announced that it has agreed an online music licence with PRS for Music, which represents 65,000 of the UK’s songwriters, composers and music publishers. The agreement allows PRS for Music songwriters and composers featured on MySpace to receive royalties for their work, demonstrating the ongoing commitment of both companies to nurture creative music talent in the UK.
MySpace Music UK will also support artists represented by Merlin, The Orchard, IODA, Nettwerk Music Group, INgrooves, IRIS Distribution, Big Fish Media, RoyaltyShare, Curb and Merge.
MySpace Music functionality includes:
• The new MyMusic personal music management system
• Free and unlimited ad-supported, full-length audio and music video streaming
• Fully licensed content catalogue and artist discographies from majors and indie partners
• Free and unlimited playlist functionality organized in a user friendly ‘drag and drop’ way
• Exclusive audio, video, and playlist content from top UK artists and icons
• DRM-free downloads via iTunes
• Free artist access to the MySpace Music Dashboard – a unique and free analytics tool which allows artists to have a much greater insight into what their fans are doing.
• Charts – a front door to the most popular artists, songs, albums and videos on MySpace Music from all artists globally
“We’re excited to be launching MySpace Music in the UK, a genuinely innovative service that brings artists and fans closer than ever before” says Courtney Holt, MySpace Music President “MySpace has always had an unrivalled reputation for encouraging the enjoyment, discovery and sharing of music, and this launch concentrates and expands on that distinctive character. The way people are consuming music has changed dramatically, and we’re aiming to develop a next-generation platform that builds a sustainable business for MySpace Music, content licensors and artists, while serving fans in a completely unique way.”
Press Contact: [email protected]
Notes To Editors MySpace: is a technology company connecting people through personal expression, content, and culture. MySpace empowers its global community to experience the Internet through a social lens by integrating personal profiles, photos, videos, mobile, messaging, games, and the world’s largest music community. MySpace is a division of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSL). For more information, visit our Press Room. PRS for Music: PRS for Music is the leading copyright and royalty collection society representing 65,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers. A not-for-profit organisation it ensures music creators are paid whenever their music is played. PRS for Music provides business and community groups easy access to 10m songs through its music licences. In an industry worth £3.18bn PRS for Music is uniquely placed to be a voice for music and can provide data for all aspects of the business: live, broadcast, sales, online, touring and music creation and up to date analysis, research and trends about the industry.