MySpace are set to relaunch their company with a redefined focus on an entertainment niche.
With many writing off MySpace after its feud with Facebook, the company have broken the news they are to relaunch the company on October 27th. This relaunch will have a back to basics focus aiming to connect its users with the music, movies and TV they like.
CEO of MySpace Mike Jones recently explained that the organisation aims to “narrow our focus.” Retrenching on other strategies and taking the company back to what it does best is the aim. Jones states:
This is a first step toward a long-term strategy for the Generation Y audience.”
Jones explained that although MySpace has always been about music and artists, the relaunch is set to target the curators, their users.
MySpace believes this is where they differ from market leading Facebook.
With MySpace users not knowing each other offline, as is the norm with Facebook users are connected online through a common interest and subsequently the sights content.
As a result of this differentiation their new strategy is about creating premium content instead of user-generated content. Meaning the sight will aim to keep its users informed on such issues as what are the latest bands, what’s cool on TV and what are the latest movies coming out.
MySpace hope this attempt at differentiating their Social Network will mean their website will become used alongside other more established Social Network sights. Jones even hinted towards a potential functionality with Facebook Connect in the future.
Users will be able to visit the pages of movies, TV shows or bands and interact with other fans, and these will feature competitions and space for conversations between fans.
The most prolific user on a specific page will be appointed ‘top curator’ in a system similar to Foursquare, where the top curator must continually post to ensure they do not lose this position to another fan.
Aesthetically, the relaunch features an entirely different layout for the pages. The new layout is described as featuring ‘Tetris-style tiles.’ The titles or tidbits will be divided into information, music videos, real-time updates and photos.
Critics of the new layout have suggested that this causes an information overload for users. However, Myspace have defended this, explaining that the new layout ‘tested extremely well with the younger crowd.’
Although many wrote off MySpace long again in the battle for Social media dominance, this relaunch of the site, taking it back to its core values, could breath life back into the company, helping it to develop a niche in a highly completive and saturated industry.
