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LOS ANGELES – MySpace is further defining itself as a place to find music rather than a catchall social networking site as it launched on Thursday a music video player that plays random videos to match users' mood.
The MySpace Music Romeo application lets users select from 15 genres such as pop or hip hop and 13 moods including "chill," "naughty" and "studying." Videos play automatically, interspersed with artist images and an advertisement every 15 minutes or so.
Users can "love" videos (thus, the name Romeo), and then get more videos like the ones they choose. But they won't be able to search for specific songs.
The back-end technology that helps determine recommendations is provided by Australian company We Are Hunted, which scours the Internet for artists and songs with the greatest buzz and mixes that with users' personal tastes.
According to MySpace Music President Courtney Holt, the randomness of the service will prompt users to discover new artists.
"Inevitably if you use this application, you will find an artist that you've never heard of before that you will fall in love with," he said.
The Romeo application launches both as a free app for Apple Inc.'s iPad and as an application that can be played from computer Web browsers.
It won't be available on the iPhone's small screen, as Holt said MySpace wanted to maintain the best video-watching experience possible. Recording companies, which have partnered with MySpace on the MySpace Music joint venture, also have been shying away from free, on-the-go offerings that could sap sales on iTunes. Instead, recording companies have been pushing mobile services that offer $10-per-month music subscription plans intended to boost consumer spending overall.
MySpace, a unit of News Corp., plans to launch several mobile apps in the coming months amid an overhaul to freshen its look and focus more on its core under-35 audience. MySpace, with 120 million users globally, hopes to stay relevant with a younger crowd rather than compete with Facebook, whose user base has ballooned to half a billion and skews older.  Share on Facebook ·  Bookmark on Delicious Apple Inc has acquired digital music service Lala, as the dominant online music retailer explores new models for selling songs.
Terms of the deal weren't disclosed by Apple, which confirmed the purchase on Friday..
ITunes is the leading music service in the United States with more than 70 percent of all digital music sales and it is the leading music retailer overall..
But newer music streaming services from the likes of News Corp's MySpace Music and Spotify have begun to win over music fans in the last year..
"Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time and we generally do not comment on our purpose or plans," Apple spokesman Steve Dowling said..
A source familiar with the matter said the iPod, iPhone and Mac maker is seeking new ways to expand iTunes to move it beyond being a predominantly download service for songs. The source asked not to be named..
"Apple recognizes that the model is going to evolve into a streaming one and this could probably propel iTunes to the next level," said the person..
The iTunes store offers more than 11 million songs. Apple has sold billions of tracks through iTunes since its launch in 2003..
The Lala service allows users to stream from the Internet any tune in its catalog of more than 8 million songs once for free, and then sells unlimited streams for 10 cents per track and MP3 downloads starting at 79 cents..
The Palo Alto, California-based company's investors include...More Apple/Lala  | Posted by marshall
| Wed, November 04, 2009 at 5:28 PM |
 MySpace Music is excited to host a special performance by the producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer Ryan Leslie on Wednesday, November 11 at Level 3 in Los Angeles, CA, as part of "THE RELEASE," MySpace Music's urban music concert series. This installment of "THE RELEASE" will be a special performance to celebrate the release of Leslie's upcoming album titled Transition. The concert will be hosted by Trek LIfe and will include special musical guests DJs dB, Jay-P and Justyle. Doors for the 18+ show will open at 9 p.m. and entry can be obtained by sending an RSVP to hiphoptix@myspacemusic.com and on a first-come, first-served basis at Level 3. MySpace Music's "THE RELEASE" concert featuring Ryan Leslie is being powered by Coca-Cola.
Off the heels of his critically acclaimed self-titled debut album that spawned the radio hits "Diamond Girl" and "Addiction," Ryan Leslie, the inspired singer-songwriter returns to center stage with his sophomore solo effort titled, Transition on NextSelection/Universal Motown Records. Transition, a true summer love story from the passionate multi-instrumentalist, features 11 songs that Ryan wrote and produced. The lead single, "I Choose You," is a ballad that differs from his previous mid-tempo hits and already has radio programmers buzzing. Other tracks on Transition include "You`re Not My Girl," which offers up a video directed by Anthony Mandler (Beyonce, Rihanna, Ne-Yo Fergie), "Something That I Like" featuring Pusha T of the rap duo The Clipse, and "To The Top" which showcases Ryan's signature falsetto.
In addition to putting out his own album (his second this year), Ryan has been busy in the studio handling production for R&B superstar Mary J. Blige's upcoming album, singer songwriter Keri Hilson, pop phenom Chris Brown, Grammy-nominated vocalist Jazmine Sullivan, and rapper Fabolous, among others. Nominated for 2009`s BET Awards and the Soul Train Awards "Best New Artist," Ryan isn`t showing any signs of slowing down for 2010.
For more information, tour updates and news, please visit Ryan Leslie's official MySpace Music profile: myspace.com/RyanLeslie. For additional info on MySpace Music's "THE RELEASE," please visit: myspace.com/hiphop
 MySpace Music makes its way back to New York City to host a special performance by Clipse on Tuesday, October 20 at The Hiro Ballroom as part of "THE RELEASE," MySpace Music's urban music concert series. This installment of "THE RELEASE" will be a special pre-release show for the new Clipse album titled "Till The Casket Drops" (December 2009, Columbia Records) and will be held during a week where thousands of music enthusiasts visit New York City. Special musical guests will include Donnis, Jasmine Solano, Adam Tensta and DJ dB. Tickets and entry for the 21+ event can be obtained by sending an RSVP to hiphoptix@myspacemusic.com and on a first-come, first-served basis at the Hiro Ballroom. Doors for the show will open at 9 p.m. and dress code will be strictly enforced.
One of the year's most hotly-anticipated hip-hop music releases, "Till The Casket Drops" is the upcoming third label release for Clipse and their first with Columbia Records. The duo debuted with 2002's "Lord Willin'," which reached #1 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart and #4 on the Billboard Top 200. "Lord Willin'" spawned the hit singles, "Grindin'" and "When Was The Last Time," which peaked at #34 and #19 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Their critically acclaimed sophomore effort, "Hell Hath No Fury," was 2006's Top 10 album in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, SPIN Magazine & The New York Times. The duo's high-profile collaborations included Birdman's "What Happened to that Boy" and Justin Timberlake's chart topper "Like I Love You" in 2002. "Till The Casket Drops" re-unites Clipse with The Neptunes, Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo who signed the duo in early 2001 and produced several tracks on the upcoming release. Pharrell is also featured on the official first single from the album titled "I'm Good." "Kinda Like A Big Deal," the scorching buzz record featuring Kanye West, was produced by DJ Khalil.
For more information, tour updates and news, please visit Clipse's official MySpace Music profile: http://www.myspace.com/clipse. For additional info on MySpace Music's "THE RELEASE," please visit: http://www.myspace.com/hiphop  MYSPACE MUSIC PRESENTS "THE LIST" CONCERT FEATURING SEAN PAUL
Multi-Platinum Artist To Perform Free Concert at the House of Blues in Los Angeles on Tuesday, August 11
Special Guest to Include DJ Jay-P; Show to Be Flavored By Sunkist Soda®
New Album, "Imperial Blaze," to Stream Exclusively on MySpace Music August 11th; In Stores and Online on August 18
MySpace Music is excited to announce VP/Atlantic Records recording star Sean Paul as the next artist to join "The List" concert series on Tuesday, August 11 at the House of Blues in Los Angeles, CA. This particular show will be a free show for all MySpace fans that "friend" and respond to a series of bulletins that will be sent out from http://www.myspace.com/thelist before the event. Doors for the show will open at 8 p.m. with the performance beginning promptly at 9 p.m. Sean Paul will be performing songs off his soon-to-be released album "Imperial Blaze," including the single "So Fine" and favorites from his three previous albums. MySpace Music will be streaming "Imperial Blaze" in its entirety on the day of "The List" show on August 11th, a week before it's official release. This show for MySpace Music's "The List" will be flavored by Sunkist Soda®
The List is a live concert event where MySpace users are provided a chance to see the biggest bands by responding to a series of blogs and bulletins posted from the program's official profile at http://www.myspace.com/thelist. Fans across the world will then be able to watch the performance when footage of the entire show is presented on MySpace Music shortly after the concert. Past shows have included Green Day, My Chemical Romance, All-American Rejects, The Roots, LCD Soundsystem, Smashing Pumpkins, Taking Back Sunday, and Serj Tankian.
Approximately 1000 MySpace users will be granted admittance to the special Sean Paul concert for free thanks to "The List" presented by Sunkist Soda®
Sean Paul is the most successful Jamaican artist of all time on the US charts, with three #1 singles ("Temperature," "Get Busy," and "Baby Boy"), five Top-Ten hits (including "We Be Burnin'" and "Gimme The Light"), and eight chart entries over two worldwide multi-platinum albums. "The Trinity" confirmed Sean's stature as truly an international superstar, with total global sales in excess of four million. The album followed Sean's 2002 RIAA double-platinum certified VP/Atlantic debut, "Dutty Rock," which sold more than six million copies worldwide.
More than just proving Sean's staying power, "Imperial Blaze" (August 18) represents his evolution from a Jamaican crossover star into a bonafide pop hitmaker with a rare gift for bringing cutting-edge sounds to an international following. "My first album was mainly a compilation of songs that were out in the dancehall," he explains. "On the second album we added a few special ones, and with 'The Trinity' we did even more exclusive songs. But now with "Imperial Blaze," most of them were recorded especially for this album. It's all about my growth as an artist."
On "Imperial Blaze," the songwriting represents a giant leap forward in Sean Paul's artistry. High-energy cuts like "Press It Up" on McGregor's Daybreak riddim are already sparking the worldwide dancehall circuit, but other cuts find Sean in a more reflective mode. "My music has reached the point where it's expanding," he says. "I'm talking about relationships and different things we all go through in life." Not only has the subject matter evolved, but vocally Sean's experimenting with different melodies and harmonies to create a richer new sound.
Check out Sean Paul's official MySpace Music profile for details about his upcoming album, tour dates and news at: http://www.myspace.com/seanpaul  The Originators is proud to announce a partnership with Freedom of Beats. This 13-part event series is a platform for DJ's to express themselves without any musical limitations. The mantra is: NO PLAYLIST. NO FORMAT. NO RESTRICTIONS. The audience will enjoy listening to an eclectic musical selection from some of the world's most respected DJ's...consider this a jam session for DJ's. This event is produced by The Specialist Agency and sponsored by Fusicology, MySpace Music, and The Originators.
The second event of this series will take place Wednesday, July 29, at Seven Lounge in Downtown Los Angeles. This week's line-up will include DJ Revolution (The Wake Up Show) , DJ Adam 12 (She Wants Revenge), DJ Icy Ice (Beat Junkies), DJ Khalil (Aftermath Entertainment). Special guests scheduled to perform at future Freedom of Beats events include DJ AM, DJ Spinbad, Julio G & Tony G, Mr. Choc, DJ Rhettmatic, DJ Crazy Toones, DJ Battlecat, and many more to be announced.
When: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 9:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
Where: SEVEN LOUNGE (Downtown), 555 W. 7th St., Los Angeles, CA 90014 (map World's Premier Music Community Continues Growth with New Leaders Focused on Global Expansion, Online and Offline Marketing, Content, Technology and Business and Legal Affairs
LOS ANGELES - MySpace Music, the world's premier music community, today announced three new additions to the company's expanding senior executive team across several key fields including Global Expansion, Online and Offline Marketing, Content, Technology and Business and Legal Affairs. New leadership roles include Senior Vice President of Strategy and Global Marketing, a Chief Technology Officer, and a Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs.
"We are so excited to welcome these incredibly talented individuals to our growing MySpace Music team," said Courtney Holt, President of MySpace Music. "The passion and knowledge that each of them brings to the table will help to truly solidify the company's position as a global industry leader in the digital music space as well as the platform of choice for music fans and artists."
Jamie Kantrowitz is Senior Vice President of Strategy and Global Marketing for MySpace Music. In this role, Jamie will also oversee the strategy expanding MySpace Music's rich media platform of content partnerships and original programming, artist strategy and label relations, and consumer and product marketing initiatives. Jamie is also responsible for spearheading the expansion of the MySpace Music platform across the company's international territories. She will be based in New York, where MySpace Music will have an office. Prior to this role, Jamie served as MySpace's Senior Vice President, International Marketing and Content based in London during which time she played an integral role in overseeing MySpace's successful expansion into 30 international territories.
Alex Maghen serves as Chief Technology Officer for MySpace Music. In this role, Alex leads all technological and platform initiatives for MySpace Music. With over fifteen years of experience overseeing and developing interactive media technologies, Alex brings a wealth of knowledge to his position, and is poised to reinforce MySpace Music as the most innovative music product in existence. Alex is no stranger to the CTO position, and brings with him six years of CTO experience in Online and Mobile Media. As CTO at Yahoo! Music / Launch Media and at MTV Networks Online, Alex drove a broad and highly integrated set of online properties which dramatically advanced the business and market goals of those companies.
Nancy Taylor joins MySpace Music as Lead Counsel, Vice President Business and Legal Affairs. In this role, Nancy oversees the company's business and legal affairs in the US and internationally with respect to the recently launched MySpace Music. Nancy and her staff work to ensure that MySpace Music maintains its position as an industry leader and innovator while complying with applicable laws. Nancy is a seasoned entertainment attorney and has held creative and senior management positions with major music companies, most recently as Senior Vice President, Office of the Chairman and CEO of Warner/Chappell Music Inc.
Additionally, during the last few months the company has turned out several new product enhancements that have helped to greatly improve the user experience on MySpace Music including a new music player, public playlisting, the opportunity to create an unlimited number of playlists, album pages, artist activity feeds, new music search functionality, artist authentication, and top search terms
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