About a year ago I said:

“…MySpace will slowly emerge as the new record label of the decade, if they continue to focus on music networking.”

Maybe a little to late. Tumblr might have a better shot now.

In today’s Financial Times:

MySpace abandons race with Facebook

By Matthew Garrahan in Los Angeles

Published: October 22 2009 00:03 | Last updated: October 22 2009 00:03

“Owen Van Natta, a former Facebook executive who replaced Chris DeWolfe as chief executive of MySpace six months ago, said the company instead aimed to become an online hub for music and entertainment.”

“Mr Van Natta wants to capitalise on MySpace’s status as a leading online music destination and used a presentation at the Web 2.0 conference in San Francisco on Wednesday to unveil new features that enhance its music credentials.”

The company has struck a deal with Apple’s iTunes store to allow its users to buy tracks without having to leave the MySpace site. It has integrated iLike, a music application company, and launched Dashboard, an interactive tool for bands and musicians, as well as compiling the largest catalogue of music videos on the web.

“There is a movement around the socialisation of the web,” he said. “People want to experience [what’s available on] the web with other people.”