Tuesday, December 04, 2007

MySpace Launches New Music Program Empowering Top Artists to Record and Sell Content

MySpace Launches New Music Program Empowering Top Artists to Record and Sell Content Exclusively on MySpace Multi-Platinum Custard/Atlantic Recording Artist James Blunt Debuts ''MySpace Transmissions''

Leading Social Network Provides Exclusive On-Demand Video Content and Audio Content Available at www.MySpace.com/Transmissions

LOS ANGELES---December 04, 2007- MySpace (http://www.myspace.com), the world’s most popular social network, today announced the launch of “MySpace Transmissions” (http://www.myspace.com/transmissions), a music program that empowers top recording artists with a new platform to create and distribute exclusive video content available for viral distribution and audio tracks available for purchase in the U.S. MySpace Transmissions underscores the company’s commitment to building unique music programming and business models that benefit labels, bands, and fans.

MySpace Transmissions brings the online community behind the scenes and into the recording studio with a top artist to capture a private recording session for the MySpace community and shoot an exclusive video Q&A with the artist. The new program debuts with Grammy nominated multi-platinum Custard/Atlantic recording artist, James Blunt. Blunt recorded five tracks exclusively for the MySpace community including his new single "Same Mistake" and participated in a video Q&A available within the MySpace Transmissions profile and within MySpaceTV. Users worldwide are empowered by Warner Music Group's Atlantic Records to purchase the tracks through the MySpace Transmissions profile at http://www.myspace.com/transmissions.

“Transmissions allows me the great opportunity to connect directly with my fans,” said James Blunt. “Playing my new songs with the guys in the band and having fans able to hear them in a new and unique way is always what I am looking for. I am excited to be the first to launch this with MySpace.”

“Transmissions takes our existing music programming to the next level by creating a unique way to expose users to exclusive content while empowering artists and labels with a new way to generate revenue on MySpace,” said Josh Brooks, VP of Programming and Content for MySpace. “We’re committed to working with all stakeholders in the industry to develop monetization structures that work for labels, bands, and fans. Stay tuned—this is the tip of the iceberg in the evolution of MySpace Music.”

All content from MySpace Transmissions will be archived and available on-demand on the MySpace Transmissions profile and via MySpaceTV (http://www.myspacetv.com). Users will be able to add the content to their profiles and virally share the artists’ videos throughout the network, and purchase the audio tracks via MySpace. MySpace Transmissions represents a progressive music model that truly encourages artists and labels to generate revenue while still maintaining an organic and intimate connection with their fans.

MySpace Music centers around the more than six million major, indie, and unsigned artists that use their MySpace music profiles to communicate and intimately connect with fans and friends. Each music profile empowers artists to upload video content, blog, post tour dates, lyrics, and make their music available to fans for stream or download. As one of the most popular and most trafficked music platforms in the world, MySpace Music has evolved into an offline experience by connecting bands and fans around the world through various concert series and live events including Secret Shows, MySpaceLIVE, and The List.

Additional artists participating in MySpace Transmissions will be announced in the coming weeks.

About MySpace

MySpace, a unit of Fox Interactive Media Inc., is the premier lifestyle portal for connecting with friends, discovering popular culture, and making a positive impact on the world. By integrating web profiles, blogs, instant messaging, e-mail, music streaming, music videos, photo galleries, classified listings, events, groups, college communities, and member forums, MySpace has created a connected community. As the first ranked web domain in terms of page views(a), MySpace is the most widely-used and highly regarded site of its kind and is committed to providing the highest quality member experience. MySpace will continue to innovate with new features that allow its members to express their creativity and share their lives, both online and off. MySpace's international network includes 20 localized community sites in the United States, Canada, Latin America, Mexico, Australia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Denmark, France, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Austria, Japan and New Zealand. Fox Interactive Media is a division of News Corp. (NYSE:NWS) (NYSE:NWS.A) (ASX:NWS) (ASX:NWSLV).

(a) Among the top 2000 domains comScore Media Metrix, November 2007. For more information on comScore Networks, please go to http://www.comscore.com.

About James Blunt

Multi-platinum selling Custard/Atlantic recording artist James Blunt released his critically acclaimed second album, All the Lost Souls, in September 2007. The album, which was produced by Tom Rothrock, is the follow up to the 11 million selling Back to Bedlam. Blunt received 5 Grammy nominations, 2 MTV Video Music Awards and 2 Brit Awards for Back to Bedlam. Blunt kicks off his 2008 Lost Souls Tour in the U.S. in February.

Contacts MySpaceDani Dudeck, 310-969-7148ddudeck@myspace.comorTracy Akselrud, 310-969-2813takselrud@myspace.com