Changes at MySpace Records: A Closer Look

In a post last week we mentioned the departure of J Scavo from his role as GM at MySpace Records after being tapped for a digital marketing position at Hollywood Records.  In a seemingly unrelated turn of events, the following day word began to leak that bigger changes were afoot at the label and that a significant portion of the MSR staff was being let go. From there rumors and speculation as to the label’s future and potential demise began to fly, ranging from a slow “wind-down,” to being restructured as primarily an A&R source for its major label partner Interscope Records.

Many reports cited MSR’s likely transition into its originally intended function as an A&R source, though it’s unclear how that might work with the reduction including staff from that very department. Additionally, some are wondering what the future holds for the A&R and artist development-focused program MySpace Friends & Family, which now includes over 100 artists.  While it’s true the initial hiring priority at the label was in artist & repertoire, which is not unusual, a fully-functioning label was then assembled around that.

And what about the artists signed to the label?  Reports last week all similarly stated that MSR acts appear to be out of harm’s way despite all the big changes.  But with the presumed transformation, how can that be?  Surely some of the MSR roster could be folded into Interscope, however it seems unlikely that would be the case for all of their artists, particularly those without any sales history or those unfitting to that major label’s very selective artist mold.

Will MySpace’s principle focus be put into the struggling MySpace Music platform while MySpace Records becomes just a logo on the back of future releases?   That and many other questions still remain, though undoubtedly more answers will be revealed over the coming months. Stay tuned…