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To fully understand the potential scope of the Internet's MySpace at its most powerful, consider the story of Katherine.
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Not Katherine Lester, the Michigan teen who earlier this summer headed to the Middle East to join the man she "met" on America's most popular Web site and, in the process, virtualized every parent's worst nightmare.

Katherine Schell offers another view, the mid-Michigan musician showcasing her music around the world through MySpace and other Internet options. And she is far from alone, even on the Saginaw scene, in playing out her dreams on the cyberstage.

"It's a good way to promote yourself," said Schell, 21, who now lives in Chicago. "Every major artist is there, taking advantage of the opportunities the Internet offers."

Schell was named the VH1 International Songwriter of the Year in the adult contemporary category in 2005, a competition she entered online.

More recently, she sold the rights to one of her songs, "The Gravity Situation," on eBay, "just to gain some kind of revenue," she said. Independent commercial producer Ron Steele bought the one-year rights for $660.

As for MySpace, "I started a year ago, promoting the album, and now I'm communicating with fans and booking shows," said Schell, who was raised in Bay City. "It has definitely made a difference; I'm up to 15,000 hits on my site now.

"It's opened so many doors. This summer, I've performed on the local morning shows on our (Chicago) ABC and Fox stations and WGN, and I don't think I would have had those opportunities if my music wasn't out there."

MySpace founders Tom Anderson and Chris DeWolfe actually had their musician friends in mind when they launched the fledgling Web site, and now 98 million members strong, MySpace soon will expand on those strengths.

There's a new focus on comedians, and talk of ventures into recordings, films and satellite radio.

Copyright © 2006 Saginaw News.