In the past few years, MySpace has undergone some significant changes. The site started as a simple space for users to share music, which was great because it was a place for musicians to find at least some of their audience. Over the years, MySpace expanded to include more features, such as blogs, events, and contests. But the most significant shift was in 2012, when MySpace decided to become a lifestyle, entertainment, and culture site.
As a result of this change, many musicians either dropped out or greatly reduced their presence on the platform. This is because they felt that it wasn’t profitable to be on there anymore. Many blamed record labels for pushing them into the online world. Now, as MySpace turns 15, it’s facing its biggest challenge: keeping music fans and artists connected while also appealing to a generation that grew up with social media.
The Biggest Names In Music History On MySpace
While MySpace isn’t as popular as it was in its glory days, the site is still an important part of any musician’s career. Since the site’s inception, musicians have been able to put their music out there and find at least some of their fans on MySpace. It’s a place where legendary bands like The Police, Led Zeppelin, and The Clash were able to build their catalogs and connect with fans. Since the site’s main focus shifted to entertainment, many big-name music acts saw their fan base dwindle on MySpace. But that hasn’t always been the case. Here are some of the biggest names in music history that graced the platform with their presence.
The Police
One of the first major bands to really make use of the fact that musicians could upload music to MySpace was The Police. After establishing themselves as one of the most popular British bands of all time, the band started appearing on the site regularly, usually sharing cover songs or new material from their upcoming album. Since their first appearance on the site, The Police have always been devoted to sharing new music and connecting with their fans on the platform. They’ve even released several live albums exclusively available on MySpace. Besides music, The Police frequently posted news stories, interviews with other stars, and even the occasional funny video. They’ve also held several fan clubs on the site, allowing members to keep in touch and share new music with each other.
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin had the most significant impact on how music is shared on the internet. The band’s history of creating cover songs and collaborating with other bands and artists put them in a unique position to influence the way music is shared. Many bands and artists have covered Led Zeppelin songs, either paying homage to the band or promoting their music. Since their first two albums, Led Zeppelin have always released new music and kept their fans updated on what’s going on with the band. Since 2012, Led Zeppelin have mostly kept to themselves, appearing on the site only when they have new music to promote or a special anniversary to celebrate. But they have occasionally uploaded videos of themselves performing, as well as shared news articles and interviews about their music and legacy. Most importantly, they’ve always kept their music available for their fans, constantly releasing new songs and updating their catalog with songs from their back catalog. So, while they may be missing from the site these days, fans can still find all of their music on Spotify or other streaming services.
The Clash
Like The Police and Led Zeppelin, The Clash were able to establish themselves as one of the most popular British bands of all time, thanks in part to their eclectic mix of music. As with many other bands on this list, the band began appearing regularly on the site, initially sharing mostly covers of other bands’ songs before creating their own original music and gradually expanding their activities to include live videos and interviews. But what makes The Clash unique is that they kept their music available for their fans, regularly releasing new songs and recording covers to keep their catalog fresh. It was only in the past few years that The Clash have really pulled back, only occasionally posting news articles and live tweets about their brand new album, Father of All Bombs.
Queen
While some might consider Queen to be a classic rock band, their music spans many genres. As with many other artists on this list, Queen started out simply by sharing music with fans, gradually expanding their activities to include news articles, interviews, and even podcasts. Unlike most of the other bands on this list, Queen did not regularly post new songs to the site. But that didn’t stop them from building a catalog of classics that continue to this day to gain popularity on the platform. Like The Clash and Led Zeppelin, Queen has kept their music available through various platforms and platforms, regularly performing live and releasing new material to keep their fans interested. Thanks to their devoted follower base, the band continues to this day to have one of the larger followings on MySpace. As a result of their popularity, the band was even invited to play at the White House in 2016, marking the first time a band had ever played at the White House (Kingston College also performed there that day, but it was an all-souvenir t-shirt kind of day).
These are just a few of the biggest acts in music history to have appeared on the platform. But, like I said, since its focus shifted to entertainment, many big-name acts saw a steep decline in their following on MySpace. The site now primarily serves as a means of connecting with fans who are part of the younger generation. But whether or not that’s a bad thing is up to you. Since the site’s beginning in 2002, it’s provided a unique opportunity for musicians to connect with their fans and establish themselves as an artist. And while it might not always be profitable to be on there, it’s always been a place where musicians could find an audience.