MySpace Set For Artist 'Exodus' Over New Music Service

MySpace's new music service will accelerate the “exodus” of artists moving away from the social-networking website, a record label owner has claimed.

The website's new MySpace Music platform, which allows users to stream songs by a host of big names musicians, has been criticised by independent record labels.

When it launched earlier this month it had the backing of the world's four major record labels - Sony BMG, Universal, Warner and EMI – but only one independent label had signed up in time.

Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Tommy Boy Records owner Tom Silvermann said: "MySpace has been floundering lately already, and people have been moving toward Facebook and so on. This is going to accelerate that exodus.”

MySpace was credited with helping launch a number of indie bands, but Silvermann said their latest move showed how “our lovers were cheating on us".

"Now we need to hire a great divorce lawyer," he added.

Last week, Martin Mills, chairman of Beggars Group, the UK's largest independent label base, also expressed his frustration at the lack of independent involvement.

MySpace hopes the service, which is currently restricted to the US, will make a dent in Apple's dominance of the digital download market.

All songs purchased by users will be DRM-Free, making them compatible with a wide range of MP3 playing devices.