Unicorn Media and SXSW
Ethan Smith and Jessica Vascellaro of the Wall Street Journal recently reported on MySpace’s new tinkering in the digital music arena. By offering a new service, MySpace Music, the social networking site will host free streaming and downloads of music provided by major record labels.
MySpace has already held meetings with some of top labels—Sony BMG Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group—in attempts to partner for content that would be supported by advertisements. Users could enjoy free music via their computers and almost any mobile device, like their mobile phone, MP3 player or iPod.
This development is very interesting, as MySpace is looking to amp its entertainment offerings to compete with sites like Facebook and free entertainment dotcoms like Slacker.
While MySpace provided no official comment on the online entertainment news, they are many competing music services that could be affected by the online giant’s foray into the digital music realm.
As I read this article, I thought of new MoPR client Unicorn Media, a soon-to-be-launched digital music service that offers free content to users based on an ad-supported business model, much like MySpace Music will be.
Unicorn stands out from the competition in quality and innovation, as well as service to the consumer and artist. The major difference between Unicorn and sites like MySpace Music and Pandora is Unicorn Media’s unique offering to the musician and the listener.
Unicorn presents content from unsigned and emerging artists, providing free exposure to up-and-comers trying to break into the business. Musicians then have access to a new audience and a platform to launch their success.
Artists will be posted to Unicorn’s site for free and their music sold to a growing audience, while retaining full rights to the content. This means no distribution contracts or exclusivity rights—artists are free to post their music elsewhere, cross-promote and publish work with no restrictions.
On the other end of the headphones, the listener gets access to the newest, most promising bands and the opportunity to be there from the beginning, offering support to budding artists in many musical genres. The artists launching Unicorn Media represent the best and brightest upcoming talent.
Unicorn will not officially launch until the SXSW Music and Media Conference in Austin, TX the second week in March, but free music from fresh artists is a hard deal to beat. The site will go live in about 2 weeks, so keep an eye out!
Thanks to Ethan and Jessica for the great article.
Stay tuned for more updates on Unicorn Media and all MoPR clients in the upcoming months.
