The Rupert Murdoch owned MySpace announced on Friday that it would move
into
the download space by offering the estimated 3 million unsigned bands
signed
up to the platform's music service the facility to sell their songs via
their MySpace artist pages.
Songs will initially be sold in the non-DRM protected MP3 format,
meaning
they will be compatible with Apple's iPod. However, the move is very
much a
first step in a bid to take on iTunes in the wider download space -
which
presumably means MySpace will have to also start selling the kind of
(non
iPod-compatible) DRM protected files that major labels still insist on.
Reports suggest MySpace are already in negotiations with the major
record
companies regarding a wider download service, and in particular EMI,
though
those reports are yet to be confirmed by either side.
Announcing the plan, MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe (hang on a
second,
where's Tom? And he said he was my friend...) told Reuters: "The goal
is to
be one of the biggest digital music stores out there. Everyone we've
spoken
to definitely wants an alternative to iTunes and the iPod. MySpace
could be
that alternative."
The e-commerce side of MySpace's download service will be managed by
Snocap,
the digital music company launched by the original Napster founder
Shawn
Fanning. Bands will be able to decide for themselves what they charge
for
their music, over and above the "small distribution fee" that MySpace
will
charge.