X

A revamped MySpace will stay 'true to roots'

Managers are teasing the relaunch of MySpace, the one-time titan of social networking. The site will apparently be reborn as a media-centric network.

Greg Sandoval Former Staff writer
Greg Sandoval covers media and digital entertainment for CNET News. Based in New York, Sandoval is a former reporter for The Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times. E-mail Greg, or follow him on Twitter at @sandoCNET.
Greg Sandoval
2 min read
A screen shot from a video teasing the upcoming revamped MySpace. Click on the photo to watch video. Greg Sandoval/CNET

MySpace's new owners, which includes actor/recording star Justin Timberlake, are teasing the coming of a revamped service.

A video found at New.myspace.com features a slick video touting a service flush with photos, video, and music from young and beautiful people. Yep -- as expected, MySpace appears to be coming back as a media-centric social networking service. The Financial Times spotted the new teaser clip first.

Managers posted a note that says, in part: "We're staying true to our roots."

Before Facebook began stomping all over MySpace in 2008, the then No. 1 social network had become a powerful music platform. If you were in the music business in whatever capacity, you had to visit the site regularly. So the site's new leadership isn't going to try and reinvent the wheel.

But the odds of MySpace coming back from the dead -- or, at least, returning from its current state of suspended animation -- to regain its past glory are very long.

For starters, can you think of a single Internet titan that saw its influence collapse and then make a significant comeback? I didn't think so.

Next up: MySpace will likely have to compete for eyeballs with Facebook, with its 955 million users. Then there are players such as Spotify and YouTube, which already offer ways for people to share music and videos.

That said, who doesn't like Timberlake? 'N Sync, "Justified," "Dick in a Box," "The Social Network" -- the guy has some sizeable celebrity, which can't be overlooked when trying to get an entertainment service off the ground. He won't be the day-to-day guy, obviously, but he can help boost MySpace's profile and breath some credibility into the service.

I hope MySpace does make a comeback. Anything that shakes a stagnate digital-music sector would be welcome.