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Myspace re-enters the social media ring with yet another rebrand Myspace re-enters the social media ring with yet another rebrand
(25 days later)
The new Myspace from Myspace on Vimeo.The new Myspace from Myspace on Vimeo.
In its protracted battle to remain relevant, MySpace previewed a significantly rebooted version of its website on Monday.In its protracted battle to remain relevant, MySpace previewed a significantly rebooted version of its website on Monday.
In a promo video tweeted by Myspace investor Justin Timberlake, the website showcased its new look as an online platform for artists.In a promo video tweeted by Myspace investor Justin Timberlake, the website showcased its new look as an online platform for artists.
"In a single sentence, it's a social network for the creative community to connect to their fans," Myspace owner Tim Vanderhook told the Hollywood Reporter."In a single sentence, it's a social network for the creative community to connect to their fans," Myspace owner Tim Vanderhook told the Hollywood Reporter.
To launch a successful rebrand, the site will have to shed its cloak of irrelevancy and become a destination people will visit without feeling like they are in high school again.To launch a successful rebrand, the site will have to shed its cloak of irrelevancy and become a destination people will visit without feeling like they are in high school again.
Brothers and Myspace owners Tim and Chris Vanderhook aim to do this with the support of Timberlake – who successfully overcame his boy band beginnings to become a respected musician and actor.Brothers and Myspace owners Tim and Chris Vanderhook aim to do this with the support of Timberlake – who successfully overcame his boy band beginnings to become a respected musician and actor.
The revamped website looks like a mash-up between Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook, with a concerted focus on music integration.The revamped website looks like a mash-up between Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook, with a concerted focus on music integration.
Though it's been largely replaced by newer social networks, Myspace has managed to stay afloat thanks to the constant stream of musicians on the site, who still use it as a marketing platform.Though it's been largely replaced by newer social networks, Myspace has managed to stay afloat thanks to the constant stream of musicians on the site, who still use it as a marketing platform.
Emily White, co-founder of Whitesmith Entertainment and Readymade Records, said though Myspace is often written-off, it is routinely the top result when someone searches for artists.Emily White, co-founder of Whitesmith Entertainment and Readymade Records, said though Myspace is often written-off, it is routinely the top result when someone searches for artists.
"They do have all that traffic and all that data from previously being number one, so I feel like if they can rebrand themselves and take advantage of that, then that's going to be really huge," White told the Guardian."They do have all that traffic and all that data from previously being number one, so I feel like if they can rebrand themselves and take advantage of that, then that's going to be really huge," White told the Guardian.
White regularly updates Myspace information for the artists she manages – including Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs and Eric Burdon of The Animals – because of the traffic the site still generates.White regularly updates Myspace information for the artists she manages – including Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs and Eric Burdon of The Animals – because of the traffic the site still generates.
"I don't consider Myspace a social network, I consider it a one-page, informational destination," White said."I don't consider Myspace a social network, I consider it a one-page, informational destination," White said.
One way Myspace may be able to reinvent itself as a relevant social network is with its focus on musicians. The rebrand video showcases what an artist's profile would look like, using Timberlake as an example. In the preview, he's given access to the actions of his top fans and can see who is listening to his music and where they are.One way Myspace may be able to reinvent itself as a relevant social network is with its focus on musicians. The rebrand video showcases what an artist's profile would look like, using Timberlake as an example. In the preview, he's given access to the actions of his top fans and can see who is listening to his music and where they are.
The site has not set a date for its official re-launch and Tim Vanderhook said: "We're really far along, but we really want that last twenty percent to really be crafted by more people like Justin that actually know the tools and things that they need."The site has not set a date for its official re-launch and Tim Vanderhook said: "We're really far along, but we really want that last twenty percent to really be crafted by more people like Justin that actually know the tools and things that they need."
Many big names have attempted to capitalize on the millions of teens dominating Twitter hashtags on a daily basis and to turn the effects of music pirating in their favor without success.Many big names have attempted to capitalize on the millions of teens dominating Twitter hashtags on a daily basis and to turn the effects of music pirating in their favor without success.
Earlier this month, Apple announced they were shuttering iTunes Ping – their failed attempt at a social music site and smaller start-ups have yet to attract a large enough audience to threaten Facebook.Earlier this month, Apple announced they were shuttering iTunes Ping – their failed attempt at a social music site and smaller start-ups have yet to attract a large enough audience to threaten Facebook.
Comments
42 comments, displaying first
25 September 2012 7:21PM
The last time I logged into the ghost ship that is MySpace, I was spammed with an endless amount of crap promoting some Linkin Park album.
Needless to say, I deleted my account.
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25 September 2012 7:27PM
This is like the fly that just wont die. Bye bye 2004!
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25 September 2012 7:34PM
If the developers make it like FB was before it became top-heavy with redesign-after-tedious-redesign it might have a chance.
Keep It Simple Stupid.
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25 September 2012 7:36PM
It's dull. I've got a professional interest in websites but I didn't make it to the end of the video.
TBH you go to social media to interact with people. If there's no-one there to interact with then you don't go.
Still, hope it takes off. G+ needs more competition.
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25 September 2012 7:45PM
I live in hope that one day (soon) i'll be reading an article about the death of social networking...not another topsy "lipstick on a pig" story...
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25 September 2012 7:47PM
As a writer (occasionally I review music) I use Twitter, pay for Wordpress and enjoy the connection with readers and other authors on Goodreads. My Space and Facebook never appealed. Too amateur.
I'd be interested to see what the MySpace rebrand brings, but if it's not got the creative crossover a pay site like Behance provides for its artists, it might not catch the more 'professional' amateur musicians.
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25 September 2012 8:05PM
Twitter is the new Facebook.
Facebook is the new MySpace.
So what is MySpace these days?
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25 September 2012 8:21PM
This is just another of Cyber Darwinism, just as Facebook will eventually give way to something new.
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25 September 2012 8:31PM
My first reaction was 'ah! Pinterest!!!'

I'm not sure if that was the reaction they're looking for.
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25 September 2012 8:48PM
"The revamped website looks like a mash-up between Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook, with a concerted focus on music integration."
Only 1 out of 4 right. Myspace always had the potential to make it back on account of the music real-estate it has acquired over the years. It's not about competing with Facebook and Twitter but working with them while seeking to be something different.
When Myspace died the first time around (all thanks to Murdoch and Co.) many musicians returned to their blogs. Blogs came back as the new Myspace but Facebook and Twitter were always something else and never the same. Facebook is too much all about Facebook and the same could be said of Google+. Done right, while continuing to let users, brands musicians take over the look as well as the content, means Myspace still has a chance to be something.
Are there really any comparisons to the new look? Yeah Windows 8 for sure. Microsoft must be interested. Looks like a perfect fit.
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25 September 2012 9:07PM
The Queen has a Myspace account under a false name. She posts a few remixes that she compiles "between garden parties." Just thought I'd drop that in...
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25 September 2012 9:19PM
When Myspace died the first time around (all thanks to Murdoch and Co.) many musicians returned to their blogs. Blogs came back as the new Myspace but Facebook and Twitter were always something else and never the same.
What also makes this new venture interesting is that many bands (particularly the smaller ones who rely on exposure to their fans) are more than a little fed up with Facebook's throttling of their audience. Anyone with a Page on Facebook (whether band, fan or other) will have seen for a few month snow that anything they post will only "reach" (ie, appear on the timeline of someone who has opted to read your posts by Liking that Page) about 20-50% of their audience. Want to reach more? Then they have to "promote" their post by paying to reach more people, or begging those who do read their posts to spread them around for them - which is why Facebook is such a dreadfully spammy place to be right now.
Myspace was originally a great community for bands reaching out to their audience, both existing and potential, and while it's true that many were just used as one-way advertising conduits, many others really got into the swing of things before News Corp tried to exert too much control over what went on, and everybody's sparkly animated backgrounds crashed everyone else's computer.
If the legion known as Tom have learned the lessons from Myspace's original failure and Facebook's current "like this picture if you have no imagination, want to give your user details to a datafarmer and want to really annoy all of your friends in the process" hell, then it could be a bit of a winner for musicians and fans alike.
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25 September 2012 9:38PM
From a frontend development POV, this looks pretty darned tidy. Sadly it will be hardly used by a soul.
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25 September 2012 10:12PM
Nothing I like better than firing of nonny comments about gigantic socmed sites after a few wines, so here goes:
1. Agree, this looks like pinterest. That said, it is tidier, and a vast improvement over what they had before.
2. Isn't FB just looking rubbish now?
3. MS has a shot if they stick to their mission. Don't think it will get social again, but good luck to them if they can promote music. There does seem to be a niche there - who on earth would take a FB page seriously.
4. "Instagram filters" --- arrrgh. THE thing of 2012. And in about four months, 2012 is going to be "so last year". Big cliff coming up for that look.
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25 September 2012 10:19PM
Yes, it looks nice. And i'm sure Justin Timberlake likes it. But it doesn't actually offer anything new from the perspective of the user. Businessmen and social media really don't seem to mix well.
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25 September 2012 11:45PM
Independent musicians are the people who still find it useful and functional; that's still a huge audience.
MS should(narrow their) focus on them and do everything in their power to please those users.
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26 September 2012 3:39AM
What would be nice is to have a virtual chat with your favorite artists....You know lie to me...I promise I'll believe!
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26 September 2012 6:35AM
It's simple: bands - particularly those with no money - lack the expertise to maintain a decent online web presence. MySpace used to be that place, until it became shit. But that gap in the market remains, and this looks like a decent attempt to re-fill it. My prediction: success.
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26 September 2012 6:42AM
Isn't Cif a form of Social Networking. Irony!
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26 September 2012 7:40AM
Friendster anybody? Well, good luck to myspace, it definitely was always more open, anarchic and colorful than facebook. Before the last makeover at least.
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26 September 2012 7:55AM
As a writer (occasionally I review music) I use Twitter, pay for Wordpress and enjoy the connection with readers and other authors on Goodreads. My Space and Facebook never appealed. Too amateur.
hipster identified. too amateur indeed...
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26 September 2012 7:56AM
They are still soooo clever that they STILL serve you pages in the language of the country you happen to be traveling in by detecting your IP address rather than detecting the language setting of your browser, which is equally easy to do. Stupid approach...and they still insist on it... when you consider musicians today mostly have to tour to survive.
Oh yes, you can fix this by getting lucky and finding the small link at the bottom that they've served you in Cyrillic or FInnish or whatever, and then jumping thru all the subsequent login and account settings hoops they demand so you can tell them what language you want.
Just detect the browser preference you dopes!
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26 September 2012 8:33AM
I like the fact that they haven’t given up with it yet. Personally, MySpace circa 2005 was the best days of social media! I do like Twitter now, but Facebook is really poor – mainly because very few of my friends actually use it.
I think a range of factors made it best in 2005 – I was at university, so were most of my friends – boredom lead to filling in endless pointless quizzes and sending endless pointless bulletins or finding who had the worst self-shot photograph or re-arranging your top 8 friends, or editing the HTML of your profile. Oh those were the days.
Facebook seems to be endless pictures of babies and wedding photos of friends of friends who I don’t really know anyway, part of that is probably me hurtling towards my thirties. And also companies with very boring adverts / pictures etc.
I don’t think the reinvention will work though.
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26 September 2012 8:48AM
I think i speak for everyone when i say "FUKIN HELL" (in the style of the guy on Father Ted at the sheep contest)
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26 September 2012 8:56AM
I can see MySpace doing an 'Apple' here. Facebook is a beige PC or Sony Discman, the new MySpace is the Mac or iPod about to shake things up because it does everything the uglies do, but is 'gorgeous' and cool.
The fact that it looks like you can link your facebook or twitter (run windows or import your CDs) suggests that it'll take very little effort to start using MySpace without the risk of 'disconnecting' from any friends on those networks. That's the difference between MySpace and Google+ (the world's most popular ghost town), you're not jumping ship, you're just doing it differently.
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26 September 2012 9:14AM
I used to love Myspace. In fact as much as Facebook defines our generation almost, Myspace had a certain warmth to it that Facebook seems to lack. I think this was with the level of customisation that was available so each user could express their personality.
Sadly I think it is too little too late for the website now but then again, Twitter came from nowhere to compete alongside Facebook so it's not within the realms of impossibility that Myspace could resurface as a competitor.
I see troubling times ahead for Facebook though. Plummeting share prices and privacy leaks not to mention a sense of arrogance from the company. Interesting times ahead.
5 reasons to be wary of Facebook - http://www.psycholocrazy.com/5-reasons-facebook
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26 September 2012 9:23AM
I live in hope that one day (soon) i'll be reading an article about the death of social networking...not another topsy "lipstick on a pig" story...
Yes, let's hope something that millions of people enjoy dies soon, because you don't like it.
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26 September 2012 9:24AM
last time i logged into Myspace my computer was infected with a particularly nasty virus and lost 5 years of travel photos, all my music and personal documents. i had to throw away 2 hard drives.
when i informed Myspace they didnt even bother to reply.
dont use myspace
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26 September 2012 9:40AM
For people saying this is all Pinterest or Instagram - it's not. It just has a bunch of photos on it because that looks nice. All Facebook promos have Timelines bursting with friend photos that suggest the user only knows A&F models.
I see it still has a music focus but with Spotify/Facebook integration I wonder if people want that.
Like Google+, this looks (aesthetically and functionally) better than Facebook but at the end of the day people go where their friends are, regardless of how pretty things are.
I guess (as hinted by the use of Facebook Connect) this isn't trying to compete with Facebook but compliment it. I just don't know what it's offering aside from a very pretty way to browse music.
Oh, and it doesn't have games. Love them or not, but games are a MASSIVE draw for Facebook, especially for young people.
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26 September 2012 9:51AM
Independent musicians are the people who still find it useful and functional; that's still a huge audience.
Not sure of the exact figures, but they're fast losing that audience to better services like Soundcloud and Bandcamp. I don't bother uploading music to Myspace anymore.
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26 September 2012 10:31AM
interesting. like most people i drifted away from myspace years ago. however, it was less to do with the interface itself and more because most of my friends were using facebook, and i've always used FB and myspace to keep in touch with 'real life' friends rather than simply build huge virtual networks in a twitterly fashion. there wasn't any point me using myspace when none of my friends were around.
agree it is still quite widely used by bands.
facebook is so shit these days that if myspace can create a better social network they are in with a chance.
twitter and pinterest, while they may look similar in some respects, are completely different beasts that you use in a different way for a different purpose. neither of them would fill in the gap if you stopped using facebook.
google+ was the best alternative so far but somehow it just doesn't appeal. maybe because it just seemed like another profile to maintain and so few friends were on it, it wasn't worthwhile. myspace may have the advantage there because a lot of people used to have an account, so they can just go back to their old account rather than feel like they're starting from scratch.
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26 September 2012 10:40AM
Probably because you didn't login to myspace but a site that said it was. Really I don't think this could happen also you just threw out 2 hard disks? Why would you do that, a virus won't have infected all your photos it would have been easy to get all the data off them using an OS other then the one you got the virus on.
Myspace was good for music until the spam started, nothing has come close to getting that sort of interest going, soundcloud being alot of spam without the up side, I hope it can concentrate on the music/art and we can start to use it as a good networking tool for bands again
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26 September 2012 10:57AM
Facebook mobile is godawful. Massive fucking adverts every other post make it completely irrelevant for it's actual purpose.
As has already been said, MySpace had a brilliant niche for musical artists. The trouble is how to integrate that for use by "fans". Do you force people to create a profile, or just let them have some kind of basic, anonymous login?
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26 September 2012 12:06PM
Here is the big problem: flash. you cant listen to music or videos on iphones or ipads. And the site is pretty buggy on most laptops.
easy.
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26 September 2012 12:40PM
party like it's 2006... gonna struggle with twitter and instagram on the scene now. It might work though, like many others thought it always had more personality than Facebook.
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26 September 2012 12:54PM
I know, it's so bloody difficult to keep the proles under control when they're communicating.
If only we could get rid of this sort of thing. Free communication is bad.
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26 September 2012 12:54PM
"In a single sentence, it's a social network for the creative community to connect to their fans,"
I think that's still a gap in the market, to get access to latest updates giglists, free / paid downloads Facebook & twitter don't do the trick. Bands need their own websites, but often aren't that good at it - but the MySpace brand may be too tarnished to work anymore.
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26 September 2012 12:55PM
Governments hate social media; it encourages political dissent and free thought.
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26 September 2012 3:04PM
Your irony is lost on me...at least I hope you're being ironic.
Maybe your Mr. Mitchell...
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26 September 2012 3:24PM
I like the fact that they haven’t given up with it yet. Personally, MySpace circa 2005 was the best days of social media! I
yeah, i loved waiting 10 minutes for buggy html to load, to then be deafened by some shite nu-metal blaring out of my speakers.
definitely the peak of the internet, that.
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26 September 2012 4:18PM
it was a genuine Myspace server that had been hacked and infected shortly after Myspace changed whatever code they were using.
the photos werent infected no, but they were tied up in several different and unusual file extensions. like russian dolls, making them inaccessible, even using Linux. the files could be moved but not accessed.
i was working as an IT technician at the time. Myspace were negligent
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26 September 2012 8:22PM
Oh sure, I bet Cameron lies in bed at night shitting himself about Facebook.
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Justin Timberlake shed his boy band image to launch a successful career. Can he help Myspace do the same thing?
The new Myspace from Myspace on Vimeo.
In its protracted battle to remain relevant, MySpace previewed a significantly rebooted version of its website on Monday.
In a promo video tweeted by Myspace investor Justin Timberlake, the website showcased its new look as an online platform for artists.
"In a single sentence, it's a social network for the creative community to connect to their fans," Myspace owner Tim Vanderhook told the Hollywood Reporter.
To launch a successful rebrand, the site will have to shed its cloak of irrelevancy and become a destination people will visit without feeling like they are in high school again.
Brothers and Myspace owners Tim and Chris Vanderhook aim to do this with the support of Timberlake – who successfully overcame his boy band beginnings to become a respected musician and actor.
The revamped website looks like a mash-up between Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook, with a concerted focus on music integration.
Though it's been largely replaced by newer social networks, Myspace has managed to stay afloat thanks to the constant stream of musicians on the site, who still use it as a marketing platform.
Emily White, co-founder of Whitesmith Entertainment and Readymade Records, said though Myspace is often written-off, it is routinely the top result when someone searches for artists.
"They do have all that traffic and all that data from previously being number one, so I feel like if they can rebrand themselves and take advantage of that, then that's going to be really huge," White told the Guardian.
White regularly updates Myspace information for the artists she manages – including Brendan Benson of the Raconteurs and Eric Burdon of The Animals – because of the traffic the site still generates.
"I don't consider Myspace a social network, I consider it a one-page, informational destination," White said.
One way Myspace may be able to reinvent itself as a relevant social network is with its focus on musicians. The rebrand video showcases what an artist's profile would look like, using Timberlake as an example. In the preview, he's given access to the actions of his top fans and can see who is listening to his music and where they are.
The site has not set a date for its official re-launch and Tim Vanderhook said: "We're really far along, but we really want that last twenty percent to really be crafted by more people like Justin that actually know the tools and things that they need."
Many big names have attempted to capitalize on the millions of teens dominating Twitter hashtags on a daily basis and to turn the effects of music pirating in their favor without success.
Earlier this month, Apple announced they were shuttering iTunes Ping – their failed attempt at a social music site and smaller start-ups have yet to attract a large enough audience to threaten Facebook.