So, MySpace Music! It's going to change the distribution of recorded music as we know it... or at the very least entice people into giving their credit card numbers over to the site, thus setting themselves up for a lifetime of fake Macy's gift card offers. No, but seriously, it's going to be an incredible leap forward for the entire industry, because it'll give money to artists and labels and allow people to listen to said artists' and labels' music for free, right? Well, actually, that whole "giving money" part may not be true for the many independent labels out there whose bands account for millions of pages on the site, but who aren't part of the joint venture that MySpace has entered into with three of the four major labels. A letter from the indie-leaning digital distributor
The Orchard outlines some of the concerns that those not affiliated with a major label might have about the service:
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Idolator
Dear MySpace HR department: I know you guys are having a hard time finding a CEO for your big joint venture with the music business, having asked a ton of people, all of whom have turned you guys down. Sure, the whole structure over there is a mess, with people from Universal Music and News Corp. making demands, and there's no particular structure through which to make money. But if Andy Schuon, formerly of CBS Radio, doesn't take the gig, I'm probably still available. CNet mentions that your company should consider someone from iTunes, and I've compiled quite a few Essentials for the site on a freelance basis. That sort of counts, I think. I don't have all that pride baggage of needing to make the site successful to feed my own ego, so that should help when the whole thing ends up shuttering in a year or two. Give me a call and we can talk benefits. [CNet]
MySpace music: It's about as well-thought-out 