The Digital Music Fight, Round Two

Ding. Ding. The digital music war just heated up with News Corp. and CBS in opposite corners. Last month's winner based on buzz: News Corp. with its launch of MySpace Music. The site was cast as a maverick new competitor jointly owned by major labels EMI Group, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group. Yet true originality is rare, and this month CBS (nyse: ) rival Last.fm punches back. The site has been pursuing a similar advertising-based music strategy since launching in 2002. Through various distribution methods, Last.fm claims some 20 million users worldwide. Someone must be listening: CBS bought it in 2007 for $280 million. Forbes.com sat down with Chief Operating Officer Spencer Hyman to talk about digital music's next round. Forbes.com: MySpace Music just launched. Like Last.fm, it's... [read full story]