Myspace

The new Justin Timberlake-backed Myspace went public early this year on the web. The site, now a social media site for artists and fans, has launched its new iPhone app, including its built-in Internet radio service.

The free streaming radio service boasts 53 million songs, with genre- and artist-based channels.

CNet describes the iPhone app's Net radio iteration: "Just as on the Web, Myspace's radio feature is ever-present, meaning you can start listening to songs and stations wherever you are in the application by swiping up to reveal the music menu. In addition, play buttons sit atop artist profiles and offer people personalized radio stations tuned to the tastes of that particular artist."

Myspace VP/product marketing Ali Tahmasbi told CNet: "When you play an artist radio station, you're not just listening to their music, but you're listening to what they're interested in and the music that inspires them. We think it really helps establish a stronger connection between artists and their fans."

Not their first go-round with online radio, MySpace launched a webcast service back in December of 2011 (see RAIN here).

CNet has more here.

After a "free fall," MySpace is reportedly signing up new users again and seeing an increase in traffic -- developments one investor attributes in part to new music offerings.

The New York Times reports the social media service has signed up one million new users since December. Additionally, data from comScore reportedly shows "monthly traffic on MySpace rose in January, the first increase in almost a year." 

December saw the launch of a new streaming radio service from MySpace (pictured). It allows users to listen to a continuous stream of music either from a specific artist or for a genre (RAIN coverage here).

One of the investors who purchased the social network service from News Corporation in June 2011 for $35 million, Chris Vanderhook, says the growth is due in part to MySpace's music offerings and its 42 million track library ("several times more than Spotify or Rhapsody," writes NYT).

Vanderhook plans to continue "emphasizing [MySpace's] role as a music and entertainment hub," aiming "to be the conduit for music and other forms of entertainment that can be shared through other networks."

The New York Times has more coverage here.

Like Imeem, Napster, and Lala before it, streaming music service iLike has now been shut down after years of slow decline following its acquisition by a larger company.

As one of the pioneering music streaming/social networking services, iLike attracted 55 million registered users and was one of the first music apps on Facebook, before Myspace bought it in 2009.

"Turns out, serving up free, ad-supported music is really, really hard," writes Janko Roettgers in GigaOm. He reminds the reader that Imeem offered a very similar service and was also absorbed and eventually shuttered by Myspace. Likewise, Rhapsody eventually shut down Napster after acquiring it, as did Apple with Lala.

Read Roettgers in GigaOm here.

Social network Myspace has launched a new music service called Myspace Radio. It allows users to listen to a continuous stream of music either from a specific artist or for a genre.

Myspace Radio also features a list of similar songs and artists to the currently-playing track. Users can skip songs and each track links to the artist's profile on Myspace. Those profiles let users listen to music posted by the artist in an "on-demand" environment. The new Myspace Radio offers a more "lean-back" way to listen to music on the social network.

You can find Myspace's announcement here.