MySpace has launched its music streaming service into an increasingly crowded market in the UK.
The social networking site hopes the new service will put it on a level playing field with the likes of Spotify and Last.fm. The engine behind the service is Apple’s iTunes, which is collaborating with MySpace to provide DRM-free MP3 downloads to paying customers.
The company claims that it will be able to deliver ‘the most comprehensive catalogue’ of music available anywhere (though they’re still adding much of it at present), with free streaming access to the entire back catalogues of artists on both major and independent labels as well as music and video exclusives.
The free service will be paid for by advertising, Spotify-style, except that they will be visual rather than aural – appearing on screen, but not interrupting the music.