MySpace and Facebook held a joint online press conference today where they announced a new integration using Facebooka4ぎa4г social data. Prior to the event, TechCruncha4ぎa4г Mike Arrington described it as a a4ぎAformal surrender ceremony,a4ぎ but MySpace chief executive Mike Jones responded that it just reflects MySpacea4ぎa4г new focus.
a4ぎAMySpace is very committed to the new strategy of social entertainment,a4ぎ Jones said.
In other words, Jones suggested that MySpace has more or less given up on competing directly with Facebook to be your primary social network. Instead, it wants to be a site where users can consume media thata4ぎa4г tailored to their interests.
Specifically, MySpace announced a new product called Mashup with Facebook, where MySpace uses Facebook Connect to import the books, movies, music, and TV shows that you said you liked on Facebook. MySpace then builds customized a page for you around those preferences. The feature will be rolling out to users today.
Mashup with Facebook doesna4ぎa4д seem to reflect a big change in the relationship between the two companies. Instead, it continues the direction that MySpace has pursued for a while. The News Corp-owned site has made it pretty clear that ita4ぎa4г trying to focus on media and content as a way to avoid competing directly with Facebook. Hence the announcement in August that MySpace users could cross-post their status updates onto Facebook. And hence the a4ぎAsocial entertainmenta4ぎ focus of the new redesign.
Ita4ぎa4г not surprising Facebook seems pretty pleased with MySpacea4ぎa4г new direction.
a4ぎAFrom our perspective, we&'ve always been a big believer in focused innovation,a4ぎ said Dan Rose, the companya4ぎa4г vice president of partnership and platform marketing. a4ぎAThis is a great example of MySpace&'s new direction which is very focused on entertainment.a4ぎ
Speaking of the redesign, I asked Jones how ita4ぎa4г going. He said the redesign has only been live for all users for a few days, but that a4ぎAthe core MySpace audiencea4ぎ does seem to be visiting more frequently. Jones added that with the redesign, MySpace is also developing new measurements to judge user engagement.
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Companies: Facebook, MySpace, News Corp
People: Dan Rose, Mike Jones
Companies: Facebook, MySpace, News Corp
People: Dan Rose, Mike Jones
Anthony is VentureBeat's assistant editor, as well as its reporter on media, advertising, and social networks. Before joining VentureBeat in 2008, Anthony worked at the Hollister Free Lance, where he won awards from the California Newspaper Publishers Association for breaking news coverage and writing. He attended Stanford University and now lives in San Francisco. Reach him at anthony@venturebeat.com. (All story pitches should also be sent to tips@venturebeat.com) You can also follow Anthony on Twitter.
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