Don't forget, also, that Myspace has of late been used by indie and mainstream bands far and wide as a marketing tool, a way for both established and potential fans to preview a song, a single, a B-side, or even a whole album. Just seen the latest episode of the O.C. and want to hear that one indie-pop song once again? Too bad, Myspace is gone, the latest victim in an increasing onslaught of Web 2.0 sites designed to expand the rights of the user, rather than create more ways for music labels to trap its own consumers.
Unfortunately, this is an inevitable action in a bid by music labels to ensure that the money keeps streaming out of wallets. Of course, they still have the might of Murdoch himself to compete against, but as much of a burden as Myspace appears to be, it has actually done the music industry some good. Rather than relying on Saturday morning video charts for music recommendations, the average consumer can now find for themselves whether a band is worth their hard-earned cash or not. In the continuous battle of industry vs. consumer, the end result is often unpredictable, since there are so many possible forces on it. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope Myspace comes out unscathed.
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