MySpace goes for comedy to lure advertisers

After becoming a prominent tool in the promotion of music and film, MySpace.com, News Corp.'s popular online teen hangout, is now targeting the comedy world.

Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. owned company, which aims to give comedy the same kind of boost the site has given new music, on Tuesday said it has launched what it said is the biggest online community of comedians.

The company declared that the site will partner with The Improv, a comedy club chain, which will serve as its primary programming provider. Moreover, MySpace will sponsor industry events, like this week's ‘Just for Laughs’ comedy festival in Montreal, and get exclusive content under those deals.

Nearly 7,500 comedians are currently using MySpace Comedy, the company reported.

MySpace, which has been the most prominent site for teenagers and young adults for online socializing and the sharing of new music, wishes to diversify its areas of interest to attract scores of advertisers.

"I'd heard comedians working MySpace into their routines and giving out their URLs as early as 2004," MySpace president and co-founder Tom Anderson said. "It was a no-brainer to make a Comedy section and features designed especially for them. It's our hope that MySpace Comedy, much like Music and Film before it, will serve as a launch pad for up-and-coming comedians and as an attraction for the biggest names in the industry," Anderson added.

MySpace's comedy section will include areas to post tour dates, video and audio clips and provide a way for comedians to speak directly with fans.

Jim Norton, a comedian who has been appearing on "Opie & Anthony" and HBO's "Lucky Louie,” informed he created a MySpace page nearly six months ago and now has about 33,000 "friends." He said, "I went on it, because word-of-mouth on this thing is amazing," and "It's a great way to organize and meet fans." Besides, Norton puts latest information on gigs, photos with celebrities like Paris Hilton and videos on his page.

Agree with Norton, "Fear Factor" host Joe Rogan says, “MySpace has really revolutionized the way comics reach fans and market themselves on the Internet,” he further says, “The community offers a fantastic resource for promoting gigs and letting people see what your comedy is all about before they ever commit to seeing a show.”

Among the huge comedy success stories on the Web is stand-up Dane Cook, whose MySpace profile has snatched over 1.34 million "friends."