As predicted, News Corporation managed to shift social network Myspace off its books before the end of its fiscal year. Digital media firm Specific Media has acquired Myspace for a reported $35 million, although the acquisition could see as many as half of Myspace’s staff being let go. One curveball aspect of the deal: artist Justin Timberlake is taking an ownership stake in Myspace, and will ‘play a major role in developing the creative direction and strategy’ for its future. “There’s a need for a place where fans can go to interact with their favorite entertainers, listen to music, watch videos, share and discover cool stuff and just connect. Myspace has the potential to be that place,” says Timberlake in a statement. Specific Media also says it plans to use Myspace for ‘socially-activated advertising campaigns, enabling brands to turn their campaigns viral by allowing users to share their favorite ads with friends’. News Corporation will take a minority stake in Specific Media as part of the deal, and Myspace CEO Mike Jones has already confirmed that he will leave in a few months’ time after the transition process. “We intend to make MySpace what it was supposed to be. We want to fulfill the original promise of MySpace – be a true home for content creators and artists,” Specific’s CEO Tim Vanderhook tells Advertising Age. Source: All Things Digital Source: Advertising Age
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