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Justin Timberlake Invested in Making MySpace Cool Again

Kathy Le |
September 29, 2012 | 4:50 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

 

MySpace is hoping to regain its footing in the social network world with the aid of pop star and actor Justin Timberlake. 

 Facebook)
Facebook)

Ever since the advent of FaceBook, MySpace has all but become a deserted playground. In fact, it’s practically become a “’90s kid” sort of phenomenon, like Walkmans or Tamagotchis (and N’Sync). 

But now, the web is buzzing after a short preview video was released—and tweeted by Timberlake—showing the new design and bits and pieces of all its new functions. 

Twitter)
Twitter)

The new MySpace’s design is almost undeniably sleek and chic and many are describing it as a mix of popular social networking sites like Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and its ultimate competitor, Facebook. In fact, the new MySpace will allow users to connect their Twitter and Facebook accounts. 

The new design continues on the same path as its last re-design, that is, a focus on entertainment, particularly on music. It allows users to create playlists and discover new music, and allows artists to connect with their fans in a whole new way.  

Tim Vanderhook tells The Hollywood Reporter that the new Myspace is, in essence, "a social network for the creative community to connect to their fans.”

An artist would be able to see their fan demographics—how many are male, how many are female, their age group, where they live—and send out messages to a select group. Fans could also be featured prominently on their favorite artist’s page as “Top Fans” are recognized. 

At this point, Myspace is actually looking at music sites Pandora and Spotify as some of its biggest competitors, rather than Facebook as it has been in the past. 

Timberlake is hoping to enlist his famous friends on the site, though he’s not naming any names yet, only teasing, “I know some artists."

The “SexyBack” singer (rather ironically) played someone on the Facebook development team, Napster co-founder Sean Parker, in the Oscar-nominated movie, The Social Network.

He, and a group of other investors, bought MySpace in 2011 for $35 million, mostly in stock. The company that owned it before, News Corp, had paid $580 million for it in 2005. 

There has been no official announcement when the new MySpace will be ready. 



 

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