MySpace is teaming up with major record labels to offer a new music service that goes head to head with iTunes.
Users will be able to listen to streamed music for free on their PCs from Sony BMG, EMI, Universal Music and Warner Music, and buy songs for their digital music players, MySpace said Thursday. The goal is to make the entire catalogues of the labels available, comprising millions of songs.
“We’re marrying the largest online music community with one of the largest music catalogues in the world,” MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe said in a conference call.
Called MySpace Music, the service is available in the United States and will be gradually rolled out internationally. No Canadian launch date was available.
The aim is to provide a “very profitable format for both MySpace as well as all of the music companies, which includes all of the artists,” DeWolfe said.
Songs will be offered at a price similar to iTunes, about 99 cents.
In the U.S., MySpace’s music page has been revamped to feature quick links to a personalized music page, which allows users to create customized playlists.
Users will be able to buy music from Amazon.com’s music store. They can also view artist and celebrity playlists, listen to them and add the songs to their own playlists.
One of the knocks against iTunes has been that most of its catalogue can only be played on iPods, while songs bought from Amazon can be played on any device.
MySpace Music will allow users to buy concert tickets and merchandise and be supported by advertisements and corporate sponsorships that include McDonald’s, Toyota, State Farm and Sony Pictures.
