Idolator

Are indie bands going to get screwed by MySpace Music, the social-networking site's joint venture with Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group? If by "screwed" you mean "not getting as much of a share of the ad revenues as the big boys, if they get any at all," then the answer is "of course." Listening Post had a little chat with MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe on the topic of spreading MySpace Music's wealth, and he said that there were just too many bands out there to give a share of ad revenue to every single group of guitar-toting bros with a page on his site. And if they don't like it, they should remember how they should be happy that their bands got access to the "free platform" that MySpace has to offer, what with its unparalleled ability to connect bands with fans from all over the world... and then make those fans think that they're spammers after their accounts get phished. More »

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: More »