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MySpace will soon be adding the social music recommendation service iLike to its wobbling empire, as a $20 million (£12 million) deal is soon to be completed this week. According to the Telegraph, the deal is being seen as an effort to bolster MySpace’s image as a site for new bands to host their music.

There are more than 50 million registered users on iLike, which takes note of songs that users listen to and in turn makes recommendations on new music based on listening habits. The service – launched in 2006 – also works to keep listeners informed on what their friends are listening to.

iLike has been successfully featured on a number of social networking sites - though it has never before appeared on MySpace, as the site utilizes its own music streaming service in MySpace Music. The move will be the first acquisition on behalf of MySpace’s new chief executive, Owen Van Natta, who has served in this position since April.
Ten million Facebook users currently make use of iLike each month through the social network, even if music applications aren’t high on the site’s agenda. Facebook appears to be content to let tools like iLike do the work for them.

After seeing some share lost to Facebook, MySpace is undergoing a bit of a makeover (and has reduced its international staff by 720 employees during recent months). Mr. Van Natta himself recently appeared at the site’s UK office – also the European MySpace headquarters – in order to make the site’s new position clear.
Apparently the site is seeking a move away from social networking and toward an online stage of sorts for “the youth (16-30) to reflect their creative talents”.  A senior digital executive close to the site tells the Telegraph that “Owen Van Natta has given the team the exact talking to they needed and is a real breath of fresh air. MySpace won’t just be focusing on music as its attraction but on all creative areas. He doesn’t want the company to be backed into one corner, although music is very important for MySpace.”