MySpace Downloads. iTunes Killer?

Myspace announced last week that it will be offering DRM-free downloads for sale from MySpace. They will feature the big 3 label’s materials and promising to represent the indie and independent artists, as well. Until recently MySpace was victim of a lawsuit filed by Universal Music. (Part of Universal’s “sue people in to fans” campaign. Closely related to their “Stop the Tide” initiative.) Apparently the two settled quietly and their business buds, now.

Sounds like a winner, except for one problem. MySpace is a dog. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve got a page, and most of the writers I work with and love have a myspace page, but MySpace’s capacity has always been just barely behind their growth, (always clogged and slow) and its always drudgery editing and viewing pages. Couple that with all the glitter postings, and youtube loads that people put on their pages, and often it is unbearable. My myspace surfing consists of clicking with my finger on the backspace key, just in case I click on a page that won’t load until next Tuesday.

If the public likes the new DRM idea, I predict it will be even slower.

Now, everyone I know who carries around their tunes uses an iPod. I see other players from time to time, but if its someone I know, my experience is they never use them long term... I don’t know if they’re too complicated, or just boring... but the defacto winner of the mp3 player contest is Apple Ipod.

On a tangental ADHD note, does anyone know what’s a Zune is? Ever played with one, or known someone who has one? I’ve seen them in glass cases at the store, but I’ve never run into someone who owns one... just wondering.

iTunes software is the main reason that iPods are successful. It just works and its easy. You don’t have to know where your files are.. they show up in the menu. If you rip a CD or buy a song off of the iTunes store.. it shows up.. simple. Next time you plug in your iPod, the song’s there and waiting.

So, say you buy a song on mySpace. Do you know what to do with the songs you get from myspace? You download them.. then... where do you put them? How do you get them into iTunes?.. how many steps does it take? Let me know, will you?

I'm sure its not that hard, really, but that's not the point. Consumer products need to be easy to use and consistent in their operation. I think Apple did that with iTunes. Its one of the foundations that many do not recognize. This is why Apple captured the market. If iPod users had to relearn their software every time they sync'd, iPods would be just another part of mp3 player history. So... If the new MySpace system integrates with iTunes, then they may have something.. That will probably not happen.

Too little, too late? My expectations of mySpace underwhelming. It is based on what its delivered in the past.. Its an also-ran to Facebook, and although it has its core membership and networking to draw on, I don’t have any confidence that they can raise the bar high-enough to make a difference.

So.. Question of the day: Is mySpace going to kill iTunes?

Not likely.