Comments for MySpace Continues to Play Catch-up but Is It Too Late?

MySpace Continues to Play Catch-up but Is It Too Late?

2009-02-27T08:34:56Z

While it used to be a bit of a media darling, it's not often that we write about MySpace anymore, but they continue to plug along - as one of the most popular sites on the Web. And, they continue to roll out new features for their user base. For many, these features may fall into the "too little too late" category. But it's still interesting to see which new MySpace features were a high priority to add or fix - especially for a site that seems to be rapidly losing touch with the audience that once embraced it.

]]> ReadWriteWeb's Sarah Perez covered the launch of the new MySpace mobile site - albeit with a "yawn" - but one would think that's about the best thing they have going. MySpace's take? The big news is "status & moods," and the fact that you now have a status history. Have a hard time remembering the last time you were really pissed off? This feature is for you.

Taking a look at some of the other "new" features shows MySpace continuing to play catch-up in a race that may well already be over.

Sharing music tends to remain the big draw for the site, so it only makes sense that MySpace will improve that service. Now they offer a Music Playlisting feature which allows users to share playlists publicly the same way users have shared songs in the past.
MySpace has added more than 90 new themes under "Profile 2.0," a feature designed to improve the layout of MySpace pages and the management of the information therein

In addition to trying to make MySpace look better, they're also trying to make it easier to use. The development team has worked on "systematically changing the way features work around the site." That means fewer steps to get things done.
Moving MySpace content from online to offline - by printing. You can now print practically everything on the site. Now those embarrassing photos on your co-worker's MySpace page don't have to remain stuck on the site - you can post them in his or her cube.
More than one person in the TO: line. That's right. Being able to send mail to more than one recipient. It's a feature.
Show full name. Running neck and neck with the TO: feature.

Unfortunately, for those well versed in social networking there isn't anything new here - which doesn't come as much of a surprise. But it is new for MySpace. And the MySpace community seems to be liking it. As of this writing, the features post was approaching 2000 "kudos" from the MySpace community.

Truth be told, the most interesting part of the announcement had nothing to do with the features. It had to do with a seemingly innocuous comment about the improved usability, "Plus you see less advertisements. Yay :-)" That's an interesting position for a company that finds its revenue by showing those advertisements.

Are we missing something? Is there a more poignant take of these latest MySpace features? We'd love to hear your take.

Comment from Morgan on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T08:59:33Z

My personal take is this--

Facebook is more and more becoming like Classmates or Reunion or something. If I need to find someone over 50 or someone's mom, Facebook's got me covered. And that has taken a ton of fun out of it. So features, smeatures, it's the neighborhood and the people in it.

The interaction I have with younger people takes place entirely via MySpace. MySpace Music is impressive. Yeah, the usability is not the best, but the profiles do give some sense of personality and ownership to people.

Could be totally anecdotal. But for me, meeting people, I am on MySpace. If I want to babysit for an old classmate, I don't hesitate-- I'm logging in to Facebook.

Comment from Ian Hendry on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T09:21:42Z

I played with MySpace before Facebook, but what put me off was the inability to navigate around the site without being forced to listen to people's favourite songs; and the epilepsy inducing flashing and horrific colour clashes that leapt out from every page. The brutal assault on the senses actually made it unpleasant to use.

It sounds like they have possibly improved this, but then I know the random invitations from strangers is the thing that will THEN cheese me off if I go back.

It's Facebook for me, thanks.

Ian Hendry
CEO, WeCanDo.BIZ
http://www.wecando.biz

Comment from Todd on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T10:02:19Z

"...Are we missing something? Is there a more poignant take of these latest MySpace features?"

Yes - the mark-up. The MySpace activity stream uses the DiSo standard, and they are altruistically participating in its development. By doing so, activity will be portable in and *OUT* of the site. The development team at MySpace must be applauded for adopting Open Standards...

...something that cannot be said about Facebook.

Comment from winnie on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T11:49:33Z

I am a loyal myspace user. All social networking I need to do online, I can do it on myspace. There isn't really any need for me to jump to another site. Myspace is just fine for me, thank you.

Comment from deb lavoy on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T12:15:28Z

It would make sense in this everyone's on facebook world for MySpace to focus on its target market - youth - and stick to it like glue. If its really superb, then all the old farts will end up there anyway.

Comment from TheMindRelaxer on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T14:39:12Z

Using both MySpace and FaceBook.. they're both useful to me :p

Comment from Dave on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T16:48:31Z

I use MySpace to listen to music and follow my favorite bands. Occasionally I meet some cool friends that I'll never meet in real life. They think I'm cool too, but in reality I'm a geek.

I use Facebook the same way I use email - stay in touch with real friends. Its a communications tool and its easy to use. No music or video or other content on it. And all my "friends" on Facebook are people I have met in real life.

I use Twitter the most. It lets me follow people I don't know in real life, and still keep in touch with my "real" friends.

I used to use Last.fm and Pandora and Slacker for music, but MySpace Music has replaced them all - you just can't beat the all-you-can-listen-for-free and listen-to-whatever-you-want-as-often-as-you-want thing that MySpace Music offers.

I split my time between Youtube (short funny UGC videos) and Hulu (SNL, 24, Office, Family Guy...) when it comes to video.

When it comes to photo, Flickr is the choice for me.

Comment from David Memkhoff on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T17:51:40Z

These updates may not seem exciting to you, but it sounds like you don't like or use the site. MySpace has made huge improvements over the last year and many of these changes are what I was looking for personally. The only reason I was considering using Twitter lately is because the MySpace status didn't show your old updates. Now that it does, why would I use Twitter? All my friends are on MySpace already. I don't really care about the printing, but most all these updates were a welcome addition. There's a lot more that's happened that he didn't mention either.

Comment from Alex on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T19:05:40Z

Myspace would have definitely lost me as user if not for one thing - myspace music. the fact that you can go in there and make a playlist of practically anything you want with a few clicks is amazing. i love it, and i like the way they set things up a lot. i think it's a really big pull for them bc i can't think of another place where i can do that so easily. if there is, tell me.

Alex
Twitter.com/SantexQ
SantexQ Blog

Comment from Vanessa Oler on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T19:20:12Z

"Mr. Lorenzen and other investors are often dismissive of Myspace. 'MySpace is not based on authentic identities,' he said. "Facebook is based on who you really are and who your friends really are. That is who marketers really want to reach, not the 'fantasy you' that lives on MySpace and uses a photo of a model.'" --NYTimes, Business Day, October 25, 2007

Something printed in 2007 still holds in 2009. That's the rate of change for MySpace and that's not going to cut it in today's fast-paced, media-centric world. If you are only looking for good beats and the occasional booty call, MySpace is for you. Stay there and try not to clog up the Internet for the rest of us.

Comment from Goodmars on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T19:37:41Z

myspace is gone.
http://tr.im/gQS7

Comment from Devin Day on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T20:31:17Z

Seems two things could happen:

1) Myspace is forced to focus on a niche other than general users in the traditional social networking sense. Myabe music, t.v., video, etc. becomes a focus for them if they continue to slip with the general users to Facebook.

2) Everything goes in cycles and trends. It's possible that as Facebook continues to proliferate and grow they become uncool and people start going back to Myspace because it's "hip" again.

At any rate - time will tell.

http://www.devinday.com

Comment from Devin Day on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T20:33:58Z

Another thought is that Myspace needs to communicate with their users more. Facebook has made some big mistakes, but rectified because they are continually talking or responding to what users and bloggers are talking about.

http://www.devinday.com

Comment from Muhabbet on 2009-02-27

2009-02-27T22:46:33Z

The MySpace activity stream uses the DiSo standard, and they are altruistically participating in its development. By doing so, activity will be portable in and *OUT* of the site.

Comment from sleepdawg on 2009-02-27

2009-02-28T00:39:36Z

Is the audience leaving MySpace or just the people who write about tech? While Facebook's ghastly interface is this year's new toy for those late to the social media party, MySpace has actually improved its tools considerably, and it still does what it does better than anyone else: connect bands and music lovers.

Comment from Erik on 2009-03-01

2009-03-01T18:26:43Z

The irony is not lost that I'm using Facebook Connect to help comment on this story. What MySpace should do is focus on the Music niche of social media as they've already lost the war.

American Novel

Comment from Ryan on 2009-03-07

2009-03-07T14:27:59Z

MySpace isn't trying to be a social networking site anymore in my opinion. It's trying to be a Social Entertainment Portal. Movies, Music, TV, etc. Almost every single major movie release and major music album release has a huge presence on the site. In fact, there was a recent article that said MySpace is now the #1 resource for Movie information. Major label musicians release their albums on MySpace every day. Facebook is good for the networking for the sake of networking. MySpace takes Entertainment content, and provides social networking functions to support it. MySpace has a much better, long-term, and sustainable monetization plan and knows what it;s good at. I use both Facebook and MySpace extensively, for different reasons mostly. If you're in Entertainment, crave Media, or want to express/market yourself as much as possible, MySpace is the choice. There is a place for both in the world - Facebook will be a Social Networking Phone Book w/ extra toys. MySpace will be Music Listening/Movie Media/Entertainment Weekly/Spin Magazine/US Weekly w/ social networking options.

Comment from MAx on 2009-03-19

2009-03-19T11:08:28Z

I dont think MySpace is dead but it seems as if no one is really working there.

MySpace strong side is the feature of uploading music. I just cant beleive they use that feature and all the million songs up there in a better way. I might have missed a lot on Myspace so excuse me if the following things already exist, but:

why not create a tagging function to allow the person who uploads the music to tag his/her songs. this could enhance the lame search function that myspace has now.

why not a myspace radio like last.fm (of which the first suggestion is part of). i love to check out friends friends music and check out there friends music and so forth till infinity but when i am working i cant be bothered to after every three songs, find a new profile to listen to.

more user freedom - i dont want to know what all my "friends" do (new pictures, X now friends with Y etc.) let me allow whom i want to see and what kind of update they do.

in general i think Myspace has the most important, interesting content -music- but they seem totally unaware of how to use that content in a more interesting way.
Max