October 16th, 2007
MySpace to share ad-revenue with Sony BMG
MySpace is continuing its push to be as much a home for big brands and professionally-produced content, as it is for the User-Generated efforts of its millions of members. Today, the News Corp.-owned social networking site announced a partnership with Sony BMG in which ad-revenue will be shared in return for licensing music videos, “select audio material” and other content from the label’s roster of artists.
While the content in question will appear on the official artist profile pages for BMG’s roster of acts, there is no mention of whether MySpace users will be able to embed that content onto their own profiles, which seems like a real missed opportunity. Instead, the BMG tie-up appears to be very old school, embracing more of a broadcast model, rather than treating fans as co-marketeers.
However, by keeping User-Generated Content away from BMG-licensed content, it might be an easier sell to advertisers.
Steve O'Hear is a London-based consultant, educator, and journalist, focussing on the Internet and all aspects of digital technology. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
