The Real Story Behind MySpace?

MySpace is the example everyone’s uses to prove the viral marketing power and potential of the net.  The company’s overnight success is the envy of anyone trying to find a niche on Web 2.0. But like most great stories the real truth may be far more complex.  According to a seemingly well researched story on ValleyWag, the "true story" includes:

• MySpace was not a natural viral success at all.  It’s founders used spam and web ads and promotions to get the site off the ground.
• MySpace is really about a creating a new form of Spam where friends invite masses of other friends to their party.
• MySpace poster boy Tom Andersen did not create the site and is more of a PR creation representing the founders efforts and CEO Chris DeWolfe has a less than stellar internet past.
• MySpace was created to one-up Friendster and early efforts targeted the site directly. (more)

Even if all this true, no one can deny away the power and potential of MySpace for music marketers. (Read Hypebot’s extensive MySpace series here.) However kids found MySpace, they like what they saw when they got there…and millions return daily. But it does call into question just how "viral" viral sometimes really is.