Hmmm. I’ve wondered about this model for a while. Spin Magazine has transferred the print version of its magazine to a digital version on MySpace. But wait. It’s not just read and scroll. It gets cooler.

“Spin Digital. In fact, the digital version is the print edition. Text and photographs are reproduced intact for online viewing, then enhanced with clickable text so that readers can listen to — and buy — the music they’re reading about as well as find out more about products they see in the ads.”

Tom Hartle, president of Spin Media says, “It could point to a way of breathing life into the magazine business — and give a boost to the embattled music industry at the same time.” Hartle said he hoped the digital version would find potential subscribers where they “live” online and persuade them that the monthly and its digital twin, which will probably be reserved for print subscribers after the yearlong trial, are a good buy.

I’m quoting liberally from this article, but I find some points fascinating (red alert: media geek on the loose!)

Early feedback from Spin Digital, which has been available in a lightly promoted “soft launch” on MySpace for three weeks, indicates that viewers are spending an unusual amount of time with it — six to seven minutes per visit, about double the time spent on a typical MySpace visit, according to Josh Brooks, vice president for marketing and content at the social network.

Renewals and new subscriptions to Spin were up 50% in January year over year, a sharp jump over previous months. Although Hartle said it was too early to say for sure, he thought some of the increase could be attributed to the digital product.

Ok–I’ve been wondering for a while why progressive print magazines haven’t taken this leap–especially with the need to reach younger audiences. I’m wondering if it’s cost prohibitive (will try to look into). I think that Spin was smart to support its natural audience of music lovers and use the digital edition to connect to music sites and songs. Why couldn’t progressive magazines do the same? Maybe not with music, but we have plenty of subjects, sources, reviews and so on.

I also think that extending the magazine and its reliable advertising base to a new platform (one that reaches additional demographics) and is interactive, is pretty smart.