MySpace: The Magazining.
Comments Off | Posted: December 21st, 2006 | Filed under: UncategorizedThere was an interesting announcement earlier today that UK style mag Marmalade was going to create an issue of their magazine using content from MySpace users. While at first, this sounds like the sort of thing that made “You” Time’s man of the year…
MySpace is to make its first move into print publishing through a deal to turn an edition of UK style magazine Marmalade over to user generated content.Marmalade’s March issue will feature cover-to-cover MySpace content submitted by users.
MySpace users can make themselves and their work known via Marmalade’s profile on the website myspace.com/marmalademag, and the magazine’s editorial staff will also be trawling MySpace to find talent.
…I’m starting to feel like somebody needs to keep an eye on the site’s terms and conditions in case this move turns out to be a way to generate more revenue by bleeding the userbase. It’s of note that the service was already forced to change their terms and conditions when musicians found out that they didn’t own their music1 once they posted it on the site.
As someone who makes a little bit of cash writing, I find the simultaneous democratization and exploitation of content to be a fascinating thing.
1In comments, pal Pete Ashton links to a important clarification on this matter that you should read. Turns out that they’re still evil, just not in the baby-eating range of things.
