Shareware showdown, Mytunes vs. iTunes

MySpace Music competes with iTunes, offering live streams, free online playlists.

By: Stephen Shepperd

Posted: 10/13/08

The latest contender attempting to dethrone iTunes as the top online music retailer has arrived, and it may be the same Web site that introduced the world to millions of doomed online relationships.

MySpace Music launched Sept. 25, allowing users to stream entire songs from artists' full catalog and purchase music legally. Eventually users will be able to purchase merchandise and concert tickets.

The social networking site teamed up with the music industry's four major labels: Warner Music Group, Sony BMG, Universal Music and EMI. The labels will use MySpace to revive diminishing record sales. MySpace introduced the feature hoping to increase the site's diminishing Internet traffic.

"When I want to listen to a variety of music, I will use free applications online like Pandora," said Katherine Cantrell, senior community health major. "But if I'm looking for something specific, I will go to the artist's Web site."

Before the September launch, musicians were allowed to put a maximum of four songs on the MySpace page. They were not able to offer songs for purchase on their page. With the updated version, artists can upload an infinite number of songs for users to stream for free with a link beside each song for an MP3 purchase available through Amazon.com.

MySpace Music also gives users the opportunity to create a playlist of up to 100 streaming songs using drag and drop action. The playlist can be positioned on the left of the screen, much like iTunes, and is accessible at all times when browsing the MySpace network.

Although MySpace is not announcing how the labels will receive revenue, the Web site is selling ad space on artists' pages.

With agreements reached with the four major record labels, which make up around 85 percent of album sales each year, smaller independent labels are left out in the cold. Fans of artists such as Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend will not be able to stream or purchase any of their music because the bands are part of independent record labels.

"If I want to listen to a new upcoming band or DJ, I will usually go to MySpace because it's free and easy," said Joseph Sanchez, a senior economics major.

Sanchez said the smaller independent bands were made popular because of the MySpace Music network. The social networking site played a large role in the growing fame of independent artists such as Lily Allen and Gnarls Barkley. However, MySpace has not yet signed with any independent labels.

In only the few days after the launch of MySpace Music, the site's executives said 1 billion songs had been streamed.

While MySpace may eventually offer the most free streaming music, iTunes controls nearly 70 percent of online music purchases, mainly because of the minimal amount of difficulty it takes to transfer a song from a computer to an iPod.

"I usually use iTunes to buy my music," said Chelsea Jensen, senior anthropology major. "But if I don't necessarily want to buy the album, then I will just listen to it on MySpace."