August 2003
Following the 2002 launch of Friendster, a primitive from of MySpace is conceived by staff from Intermix Media (nee eUniverse), including marketer Chris DeWolfe and former computer hacker Tom Anderson.
October 2003
Chris DeWolfe's plan to begin charging users to access the site is nixed, proving to be a critical juncture in MySpace's success.
January 2004
Using eUniverse's extensive email marketing directory, DeWolfe and Anderson are able to quickly recruit members to join the website, also targeting local bands and club owners.
The domain MySpace.com is launched, purchased a year earlier by DeWolfe who was planning on using it for a data storage site.
April 2004
MySpace launches an early version of MySpace Music.
January 2005
Intermix Media gets a $15m cash injection from investors at Redpoint Ventures.
July 2005
News Corp CEO Rupert Murdoch is the envy of the media world after his $580m acquisition of MySpace, then the fifth most-viewed internet domain in the US, a move seen as a masterly stroke in the business space. MySpace has 20m members, now more popular than Google.
October 2005
MySpace experiences its first security crisis and is infiltrated by the 'Samy' worm, one of the first instances of malware and phishing on social networking sties. MySpace launches MySpace Records, a joint venture with Interscope.
January 2006
A new website called YouTube proves to be popular with MySpace users, who enjoy being able to embed videos into their pages. Fearing competition for MySpace Videos, the company bans YouTube from its site, lifting the ban a month later after users protest. By the end of the year, YouTube passes MySpace in monthly visitors.
May 2006
MySpace Mobile is launched in conjunction with mobile network Helio.
June 2006
One million members sign up for the launch of MySpace UK. MySpace is now the most popular website in the US.
August 2006
Google agrees to pay MySpace $900m in a search advertising deal that allows MySpace users to use Google to crawl through the site in exchange for Google ads.
MySpace launches in Australia.
September 2006
MySpace announces it has signed up its 100m account, which includes 2m bands, 8,000 comedians and thousands of filmmakers.
January 2007
The company launches its YouTube rival, MySpaceTV, which proves to be an uneven success.
April 2007
Launch of MySpace News, which displays user submitted RSS feeds.
July 2007
MySpace UK hits 10m.
October 2007
MySpace partners with Skype, allowing users to make free calls to one another. The company also opens up its site to third party developers for branded widgets.
November 2007
MySpace rolls out targeted ad system, allowing brands to place ads that appeal to users interests.
January 2008
Attorneys general of 49 states write guidelines for online safety for MySpace and other services. They included restrictions for behaviour on social networking services.
Aussie teen Corey Worthington becomes overnight sensation after hosting a party that manifested into an out-of-control riot after sending out invites on MySpace.
May 2008
MySpace wins landmark $230m (£118m) claim against a pair of persistent spammers, who sent hundreds of thousands of unsolicited and inappropriate messages to the site's users.
Facebook is now by far and large the most popular social network in the UK, MySpace visits plummet 14% year-on-year, ad revenue stagnant.
January 2009
News Corp axes 100 jobs at its Fox Interactive Media properties, including MySpace.
February 2009
MySpace bans 90,000 users who are registered sex offenders.
March 2009
MySpace chief operating officer Amit Kapur and two other senior MySpace executives leave the site to start a new venture.
Jonathan Miller is named new CEO of News Corp's digital arm.
April 2009
DeWolfe and Anderson leave the company before contacts end in October 2009. Former chief financial officer and Facebook executive Owen Van Natta is named new CEO.
DeWolfe continues to serve on the board of MySpace China and is strategic advisor to News Corp. Anderson discusses new role with Jonathan within Fox Interactive Media.
Facebook reaches 200m users worldwide to MySpace's 130m.
May 2009
MySpace sheds 45 jobs.
June 2009
Facebook officially passes MySpace for monthly visitors in the US.
MySpace lays off 420 employees in its US offices.
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