The Internet has become a vehicle to establish and reinvent one's own identity.
And for many cyber-savvy folks, MySpace.com has become a popular Web site to exercise one of the human race's most prized personal tastes — music. With more than 47 million users, MySpace is still growing with more than 1 million new members each week.
MySpace is similar to other networking sites because it allows users to create their own profiles with photos, blogs and a list of preferences. The site also provides a forum to write messages to friends with a number of other options to create an online personality.
But what makes MySpace unique is its focus on music. The Web site provides music downloads that can be played on users' personal profiles, and there are groups with people sharing similar music tastes. Also, many up-and-coming bands have set up accounts to promote themselves.
Packaging senior Jon Cendrowski is member of the local band Casionauts and said that the band's MySpace page has worked as a great tool in getting the word out about what the group is up to.
Originally, the Casionauts decided to set up a page to advertise their shows and to create a stronger relationship with fans, and in the process have forged some great new friends.
"People seem slightly more brave to come up and talk with us at shows if their ice breaker is, 'Hey, I'm so and so. We are MySpace friends.' So, in a way it opens up real-world connections too; we've actually met some really cool people in person that originally messaged us on MySpace," Cendrowski said.
He also said the Casionauts have booked around 60 shows through MySpace. Bands can set up shows through MySpace because music venues and booking agencies also have accounts.
Steve Lambert — booking agent for Lansing's Mac's Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., and owner of Hood Booking — said MySpace has made the process of gathering information and uncovering a band's sound increasingly hassle free.
"One click on a band's MySpace site and you can hear their music immediately. It just pops right up, and you can hear what the band sounds like and right there it has all their general info," Lambert said. "I have little time to search all around, looking for certain stuff on Web sites, so with MySpace it's a lot easier for me."
Lambert believes that MySpace is a great aid for up-and-coming bands because they're able to make contacts all around the country.
"It used to be a band had a Web site, and it's like how would you get to people outside of Michigan really, unless they somehow came across your Web site, but with MySpace the band can actually go out and seek people," Lambert said.
But the relationship between bands and booking agencies is not perfect, said Lambert, because sometimes bands automatically think all booking can be done through MySpace. Lambert admitted that some booking can be done through MySpace, but he personally doesn't do it.
Sir Charles Rowell, member of San Diego-based band The Plot to Blow up the Eiffel Tower, also expressed some problems with MySpace. Rowell mentioned that he was totally against his band joining MySpace at first.
"I really didn't see a point in it. But then I started to get worried about attendance at shows and if people were getting the word out. So I just kind of went along with it because everyone else was already in agreement with it. And I suppose it's a good thing now," Rowell said.
Rowell, who will be performing with his band on March 4 at Mac's Bar, also said that MySpace has helped keep the relationship between fans personable.
English and linguistics senior Ayla Zachary believes other Web sites are better than MySpace for social interaction, but that MySpace is appealing because of the limited restrictions to become a member. She said she agrees that it is more orientated toward music.
"Bands that don't have a label and don't already have backing can promote themselves," Zachary said. "I have made bands I already knew from real life my friends on MySpace."
Zachary said with other networking sites like Facebook.com, one has to be a college student to join. But with MySpace, all anyone needs to join is a computer and an e-mail address.
No-preference sophomore Sarah Meyer has only been a member of MySpace for a couple weeks, but said she enjoys the ability to download music onto her profile. Meyer had not been exposed to any new bands through her early MySpace experiences but is eager for the opportunity.
"I would be more likely to accept an unknown band as a friend than a person I didn't know," Meyer said.
MySpace has been changing the music industry for fans, bands, venues and booking agencies. With so many bands creating a free account, they are becoming a firsthand witness to the changing face of music.
