I was just reading the article on "How MySpace can beat Facebook in 2010" on CNet. So being one of the many social-media "guru", I have to give my opinion on this.
The purpose-filled MySpace
What I think MySpace should do is to move into a more purpose-based profile pages. MySpace already has all the functions that are useful for musicians and artist to showcase their work in a private profile that has social networking features. I think this can be brought furthur if the community is one that allows these musicians/artists to connect with (charity or otherwise) Causes (which Facebook already has), creating a media rich version of Causes (in Facebook). In your MySpace page now is not only musician friends, but also all the efforts that you support and your "private" page to rally support for these causes. Let me give an illustration so that this doesn't seem like a vague tying of 2 concepts. I will have on my page, TED Talks, Photos of the TEDxSingapore and Charter for Compassion events, people can put in their compassion stories through my page and it will go into Livecompassionately.org. I can tap on a pool of musicians and artist who will support this cause to also allow compassion stories to flow through and from their websites. These artist will be my "friends" and also if com.passion.sg is doing some fund raising, if I am a friend(/supporter), their fund raising cause can also show up on my page making the avenue for contribution more widespread.
So how does this help musicians (the current largest group that is in MySpace)? Look at the entertainment industry and all these performance shows with celebrities and artist making a call for action. It shows an even more complete picture of the artist, who they are what they stand for, what they believe in, and therefore what their music is about. Isn't that great? Now your MySpace page isn't just about you and your music. Now your music and you have depth and character.
So basically everybody has a customised cause page and they don't have to create from scratch a website through google sites/blogspot/wordpress etc and then go through an integration process of social network capabilities (which usually ends up with Facebook Connect). It will become a no brainer quick start and network of individuals with purpose. Having said, we know the underlying benefits of MySpace positioning as a more social conscious.
Imagine a page for myself right now, if this was available for MySpace, I'll definitely use it. Btw, I've never used MySpace in my entire life.
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