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Justin Timberlake's life imitates art as he lands an ownership stake in Myspace
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Image Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Facebook’s 600 million user base isn’t cool. You know what’s cool? Thirty five million users. Er, yeah, that doesn’t really work, but they’re what Justin Timberlake – pop superstar and actor in The Social Network – has to work with now that he’s got an ownership stake in onetime Facebook rival Myspace, which was acquired today by online ad company Specific Media from News Corp. for a reported $35 million.
In the deal, Specific Media announced that Timberlake, along with his ownership stake, would “play a major role in developing the creative direction and strategy for the company moving forward.” In the same release, Timberlake said, “There’s a need for a place where fans can go to interact with their favorite entertainers, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff and just connect. Myspace has the potential to be that place…. I’m excited to help revitalize Myspace by using its social media platform to bring artists and fans together in one community.”
How Timberlake would accomplish that goal wasn’t clear; Specific Media simply stated he and the company would reveal their plans “in an exclusive press conference later this summer.” One thing is for sure: Timberlake managed to discover a way to make conversations with Mark Zuckerberg even more awkward than they already are.
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Read more:
Myspace changes hands after years of struggle with News Corp.
Justin Timberlake on his music career: ‘I don’t have a single song ready to go’
Justin Timberlake razzes Justin Bieber, himself in unaired ‘Saturday Night Live’ sketch
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Who Craig Wed 06/29/11 8:05 PM
-complete death- at this article. Really Justin? No one uses myspace for ANYTHING. Except the really loyal myspace wh.ores who still continue to add strangers xD I think he’s doing it so that when he comes out with his next album (whenever that may be) he can promote it to his 35 million users.
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KLF Wed 06/29/11 9:56 PM
There’s a lot of porn stars still on the ‘Space, so it isn’t all bad..lol
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KLF
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Chris Wed 06/29/11 8:35 PM
Only Hispanics still use Myspace. Telemundo should have bought it. Or Univision….whatever.
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Sharlin Wed 06/29/11 11:15 PM
Uhhh… This Hispanic does not have a Facebook. Can we ban you?
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jp Thu 06/30/11 7:42 AM
What a stupid, completely inaccurate comment. Did you pull that out of your arse, Chris?
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jasper Thu 06/30/11 9:36 AM
i think it’s funny.
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Miguel Thu 06/30/11 1:39 PM
Eres un estupido Chris, tonto pendejo que no sabe nada. jajaja
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jasper
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Sharlin
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Andy Wed 06/29/11 8:43 PM
This is the cold, dark, sucking black hole of a once brightly-shining star. There’s a catchphrase like “jumping the shark” in here somewhere… “That business model is so irrelevant – all they can hope for is a Timberlake Acquisition.”
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GeorgE Wed 06/29/11 8:58 PM
Say what you want, but in terms of music, Myspace still has an edge over Facebook.
A bunch of artist make their albums fully available for stream there, something that doesn’t happen on Facebook (as far as I know).
I do think it’s a good idea for Myspace to focus on music.Reply-
SaraS Wed 06/29/11 10:01 PM
Agreed. I never sign on anymore, but I do check out new bands’ Myspace pages because their perceived top hits are listed at the top and it’s easy to listen for free and see tour dates.
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SaraS
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jawz Wed 06/29/11 11:18 PM
myspace is dead in the water. what does justin t’lake know about revamping a social networking site? the guy can sing and dance but can he finagle the myspace turnaround?
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e4ia Wed 06/29/11 11:31 PM
What I really liked about myspace was that you could design a profile page that really reflected your personality (hence “myspace”). Plus you could add songs to your page that you were currently listening to and wanted to share with anyone who visited your page. It was just so much more of an expression of you than the plain cookie-cutter profile pages on Facebook. And it was a great place to listen to music from both upcoming and established artists. The only reason I don’t use myspace much anymore is because everyone I know went to Facebook exclusively. I would love to see myspace catch on again.
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Jack Thu 06/30/11 1:19 AM
Agree about the personalization, but some people’s profiles were eyesores. The bright, flashing symbols and code you had to copy were just crazy.
With the pic slideshows and the loud songs starting up as soon as you went to a page, it also slowed everything down.
They just let it get out of control.Reply
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Jack
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Jill Thu 06/30/11 12:47 AM
Myspace is certainly no longer popular for regular social networking, but it’s still the most popular site for bands to have pages, upload their music, and connect with fans. This looks cool, cause now they’re just organizing and refining that.
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Sis Thu 06/30/11 1:34 AM
He’s (not) bringing myspace back! Ya
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Yaya Thu 06/30/11 2:03 AM
I think it would have been easier for JT to start something new. Myspace is laughed at now & it will take more than JT to revive it.
I have to say JT doesn’t lack confidence…
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KC Thu 06/30/11 8:33 AM
let’s hope his crappy acting career suffers the same fate as myspace
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Valerie Thu 06/30/11 8:52 AM
I HATED the personalization of pages. I often just gave up, because it took so long to load a stupid page with all the glittery graphics and what-not.
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One Thu 06/30/11 9:52 AM
MySpace is still big with music, but what’s the point when I’m sure the artist/band refers you to their Facebook and Twitter account?
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Crystal Thu 06/30/11 12:23 PM
I hope this means Justin will go back to his roots and start making music again…’cause otherwise…
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Kathy Thu 06/30/11 11:29 PM
Myspace is only good for unknown bands and girls who make videos of themselves doing disgusting things. Why on earth would Justin Timberlake want that on his resume.
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tresorparis Sat 11/19/11 8:36 AM
Thanks for interesting blog post. You guys are always provide information that it makes it impossible not to want to buy your next product ;I cant wait to see what you guys come up with based on all your research and data that you gather.
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