MySpace has become a replacement for MTV

The creators of MySpace, Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolf, told Spiegel Online about the history of their project, why MySpace killed MTV, and that 75-year-old Rupert Murdoch is not a hindrance to their business.

The future creators of MySpace worked for the same company. It was there that they met, and then created an online community, which joined their friends - the creative personality of Los Angeles. DeWolf says that they initially hoped for universal success and popularity: MySpace did not plan to remain a “local site”.

Anderson believes that MySpace is the next step in the evolution of the Internet user. First, people begin to communicate via email and instant messengers, and only then they come to social networks, which in essence resemble cell phones: this is another means of communication. True, unlike the phone, the user is not obliged to answer when he is called.
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MySpace has become an excellent platform for communication, and not only young people use it, say its creators. If 2 years ago it was impossible to meet people over 30 years old among MySpace users, now this is a common occurrence. This social network, due to the fact that it is used by a huge number of Internet users, attracts people of all ages.

A social network is somewhat similar to a photograph, but it shows not only what a person looks like, but also what he thinks about, what interests him, who he communicates with, etc. People want to express themselves - and they have this opportunity.

MySpace replaced MTV, claims Anderson. The new generation chooses MySpace because there you can choose, unlike MTV: TV itself decides what information to give to the viewer. Sitting and waiting for your favorite show will be shown on the “box” is not interesting: it is much more interesting to log in to the network and find what you need.

For advertisers, MySpace is not just a website that sells banner displays. A company can create its own account and build a “community” around its brand. MySpace managed to make good money on Google: the company paid $ 900 million to “be” on this site. MySpace has good financial indicators (despite the fact that the service is only 3 years old): in 2007, the creators are planning to earn a couple million dollars.

Adnderson and DeWulf like the new MySpace owner, Rupert Murdoch. Despite the fact that he is 75 years old, their cooperation is quite successful and not at all burdensome for each other. The contract with Murdoch ends in October, but the founders of MySpace are counting on extending it - and on the further development of the most visited site in the world.