Netflix is investing big in the Millennial audience — $1 billion big! (After some questionable moves lately — cough, cough, Qwikster — we think this is a brilliant move by Netflix to bring The CW’s shows to it’s streaming service. It’s no secret that Millennials like to get what they want, when they want it, and now they’ll be getting shows like “Gossip Girl,” “Vampire Diaries,” and more on-demand. Deals like this continue to tip the scales in favor of cord cutting for Millennials who are more than comfortable getting — and sometimes even prefer to get — their “TV” online) (WSJ, reg required) (MediaPost)
As Apple and Google continue to compete for tech supremacy (music sales may be the latest battle ground. Rumors are swirling that Google is negotiating with record labels to add an MP3 store, a la iTunes, to it’s fledgling Google Music cloud service that allows users to stream their music from any connected device. At the same time, Apple is getting close to launching iTunes Match, which would compete with Google’s cloud service. In other Google news, Google+ traffic has leveled off after a spike in usage when Google opened the service to everyone. Still, with 40 million users, the service is far from doomed) (Billboard) (Mashable)
While there is a stellar crop of young women making their way in Hollywood (there’s a drought of leading men under age 25, which is why the industry is pinning all its hopes on Taylor Lautner and Robert Pattinson. Who do you think will be the next up-and-coming actor under age 25 to set female fans’ hearts a-flutter? Speaking of Teams Edward and Jacob, check out Twilight Time Capsule, an online community where fans can connect with each other and share fan art and fan fiction) (NY Mag) (Hollywood Reporter)
Fashion on college campuses is changing (reflecting a more sophisticated look. The New York Times paints a picture of fashionistas roaming colleges in designer duds, but we don’t know too many students across the country slogging to school in Chloe boots. The jeans and graphic tee look on which these so-called style mavens cast aspersions is still the wardrobe of choice for the typical student. We do agree, however, that students have more access to style inspiration than ever before; and for some, that means tracking down the Betty Draper look, while others aspire to mimic Kurt Cobain. We say to each their own) (NY Time, reg required)
Is this the end of Lady Goo Goo’s musical career? (Lady Gaga has won an injunction against the animated Moshi Monsters character that mimics her style and music. The character can still appear in the Moshi Monsters site, but her music, parodies of Lady Gaga’s songs, cannot. This may impact Mind Candy’s plan to release an album on iTunes, but perhaps it will move forward with Dustbin Beaver…) (The Guardian)
And finally for a little friday fun… (Check out this video from Heart2Heart, a boy band backed by Lance Bass, for “Facebook Official,” a song that actually uses the lyrics “would you confirm this request, agree to my terms of service…” It just gets better from there. Dance break! And if you need something to get that song out of your head now, check out Ohio University’s marching band breaking it down to “Party Rock Anthem” by LMFAO) (YouTube)