MySpace Lets Celebrities “HiJack” its Site to Attract Users

MySpace introduced what it’s referring to as "MySpace Hijacks" today. This is where curation of featured content on the site is taken over by celebrities, as if they had "hijacked" the site to bombard you with stuff they like.

"On the heels of the newly redesigned Myspace, Hijacks is one of many content-focused initiatives supporting Myspace’s mission to provide the best social entertainment experience possible for the Gen Y audience," MySpace’s Laurie Spindler tells WebProNews.

The whole thing starts today with the Black Eyed Peas. "The Black Eyed Peas are set to reveal how they envision Myspace, transforming the site into the same augmented reality that inspired their latest album, The Beginning," explains Spindler. "The band will create that same beginning for Myspace, flipping key areas of the site into an 8-bit version, which is the style of retro video game."

Today we’re treated to fresh content from the Black Eyed Peas like pages for Avatar, Michael Jackson’s Billie Jean video, and Iron Man 1. Thanks BEP!

After the Peas run through their three-day takeover, users get to be bombarded with Jack Black. "Actor, musician, and cult idol ascendant, Jack Black will ‘Hijack’ Myspace with his own clever antics beginning on December 15," says Spindler. "In the theme of his upcoming film Gulliver’s Travels hitting theaters December 22, the actor’s takeover will focus on all things giant."

After that, more celebrities and musicians will participate. MySpace calls the initiative a way to "discover their personal interests and passions, experience new products, get exclusive content and connect with them."

MySpace is much more focused on being an entertainment site these days than a social network. These "hijacks" reflect that, along with the company’s decision to include Facebook integration.

There are 11 Comments. Add Yours.

james
December 10, 2010 at 8:40 am

Hijack as in they lock you out of your account and mess up the design with their stuff? That actually sounds pretty good.
Chris Crum
December 10, 2010 at 8:48 am

I don’t think they lock you out of your account.
Joe
December 11, 2010 at 4:22 pm

I’ve always said about Bing… If they want to take Google out of its throne, they need to team up with pantyless celebrities (Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, etc.) , rappers, Lady Gaga, etc. Myspace is going this route and that will be a winning strategy. These celebrities roll some sick cults behind them. Good for Myspace.
- Guest
  December 11, 2010 at 7:47 pm
  
  yeah but the new myspace sux, they are already following the celebs on twitter n facebook now and leaving myspace. if you look at alot of peoples account, they don’t even log on anymore.
  - Chris Crum
    December 13, 2010 at 11:16 am
    
    It’s going to be more about exclusive content for MySpace from here on out, which users don’t necessarily have to be logged in to access. I think as far as MySpace’s strategy goes, it will be more about accessing content related to these celebrities rather than following/friending them – something more like an MTV.com.
Guest
December 11, 2010 at 7:45 pm

Yeah it seems like they lock you out. I couldn’t log in and still have log in because of their advertisments. Kept directing me to twilight crap. Then when I got my page where I kinda likes it and made it personel they change to the black eye peas. Changing it to entertainment site verses a social site, the change the name from myspace which use to mean myspace to entertainment page. Its full of artists and celebs tweets n retweets which I don’t care about. site is still full of bugs and wont be fixed til feb they say. EPIC FAIL, if myspace read half the status updates they would see a whole lot of people hate the new version and made the switch to facebook, youtube n itunes. no need for myspace.
Its just going to be artist and celebs tweeting to each other. good job myspace, way to make facebook even bigger and Mark even richer.
jesse
December 12, 2010 at 2:38 pm

i could care less how celeberties wanna use this site and advertise their crap, i dont even like b.e.p or jack black? if i wanted to get their opinions or watch them id watch them id go to mtv!
- tina
  December 13, 2010 at 9:25 am
  
  Yeah I agree. I used to like black eye peas, but that is just rude and annoying for myspace to do that. The new myspace blows. I am on facebook alot more now.
  - Guest
    December 13, 2010 at 2:56 pm
    
    I found out about hi-jacking when I checked my space out of morbid curiosity. It’s like when Tide hijacks the site filling the background with laundry detergent ads. And it’s not even really that bad. It’s more like adding column ads to the sides of your personal site promoting the the new features.
    
    And you don’t -have- to use the new site designs. My design looks pretty much the same as it always has since I last edited it in 2007. All the hi-jacking stuff from the celebs is for the main myspace area, really.
    - hello
      December 13, 2010 at 8:37 pm
      
      yeah we know and yes my page that I personilzed was switch to a black eye peas background. I got an email from them telling me what they did and also Jack black. regardless the new myspace sux. Just like you said you haven’t been on in awhile. Also if you make the switch you cant switch back.
    - hello
      December 13, 2010 at 8:37 pm
      
      yeah we know and yes my page that I personilzed was switch to a black eye peas background. I got an email from them telling me what they did and also Jack black. regardless the new myspace sux. Just like you said you haven’t been on in awhile. Also if you make the switch you cant switch back.