Social media influencer gets 14 years in prison for plot to ‘hijack’ website at gunpoint

A social media influencer is charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by force, threats, and violence in Iowa based on an attempt to hijack a domain name. The influencer, Rossi Adams, ran a Snapchat and Instagram brand depicting college students of Iowa State during drunken antics, and other crude behavior. The submissions contain the hashtag #DoItForState, which is the domain name Adams has been after since 2015. He tried to negotiate with the domain owner for several years with no prevail, so he took to drastic measures more recently.

Adams and his felon cousin conspired to break into the mans home, and demand the domain name by all means necessary. Adams drove his cousin to the domain holder’s home, where he held the victim at gunpoint demanding the domain name. The victim then gained control of the gun despite being shot in the leg, and then shot Adams cousin and notified authorities. Now, Adams is facing 14 years in federal prison, and a number of court fees.

This news item is so shocking, because it shows the importance media and fame portray in the current climate of society. The measures people will go to to just potentially increase their brand is disappointing in my opinion. It is sad to see people get hurt and throw their whole lives away over a GoDaddy website name.

TWITTER SUSPENDS PLAN TO DELETE INACTIVE ACCOUNTS AFTER UPSET USERS REQUEST TO KEEP THOSE OF THE DECEASED

https://adage.com/article/digital/twitter-suspends-plan-delete-inactive-accounts-after-upset-users-request-keep-those-deceased/2219226

Twitter recently released a statement that they would be taking down inactive accounts in effort to enforce their inactive account policy. However, this upset many users, who had accounts of deceased loved ones in mind. There was an uproar of rebuttal from these users, who want to memorialize the inactive twitter accounts of the deceased, much like Facebook has the ability to do. Twitter responded to the backlash promising they too will come up with a compromise to memorialize said accounts, and they are currently working on a resolution to the problem.

They clarified the reason why they need to enforce their inactive account policy, and that it would be starting in the EU due to local privacy policies Twitter must follow. The Global Data Protection Regulation is the driving force behind the enforcement of this policy, to delete any data they are not using. By cleaning up inactive accounts, Twitter analytics will be able to provide more accurate, credible information derived from data.

Baby Yoda Goes Viral

Baby Yoda is exactly what you’re imagining it to be…Baby Yoda has become viral on all social media platforms and that’s not the only thing that has a lot of attention.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian Episode 2 Confirms New ...

Not only has Baby Yoda taken over Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter, he is also a passage to the newest streaming service called Disney+.

The Mandalorian is a show on Disney+ which features this wholesome, adorable and cozy version of Yoda, Baby Yoda. Disney+ knows exactly what they’re doing by marketing Baby Yoda as their own meme! Disney+ is gaining a lot of attention due to how many memes are being made that are including Baby Yoda. Here are some prime examples of what I mean:

18 Hilarious Baby Yoda Memes Guaranteed To Improve Your ...
We love a happy meal once in a while!
20 Baby Yoda Memes Because It's The Real Star Of 'The ...
For all of the future gamers out there.
20 Baby Yoda Memes Because It's The Real Star Of 'The ...
I would say that this one is the most relatable to me!

I think Disney is one of the smartest companies to exist. They have been so clever with their marketing tactics and it is amazing to see the rise in various streaming services. Disney is being strategic with using Baby Yoda in order to gain more subscriptions, an massive audience, and a way to lure more popularity towards a show on their service. Disney+ plans to do more of the Baby Yoda luring, except not using Baby Yoda.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/6/20997564/baby-yoda-disney-plus-star-wars-mandalorian-merchandise-stranger-things-game-of-thrones-streaming

Game of Streams – ViacomCBS

Viacom and CBS Corp. are officially joining forces after 14 years since their split. Viacom and CBS first merged in 1999 and split in 2005. Since the two merged, ViacomCBS is now a massive media empire with a collection of cable channels, broadcast networks, and film and publishing divisions. The company celebrated its partnership with a ceremonial ringing of the opening bell at the Nasdaq Market Site in New York’s Times Square. The company’s Nasdaq ticker symbol is VIAC.

The two companies bring a lot of content to each other. Viacom has the right to BET, Comedy Central, MTV, and Paramount movie studios. CBS properties include the CBS Television Network, CBS News and 15 CBS-owned TV stations, as well as the cable network Showtime and the publisher Simon & Schuster. ViacomCBS is valued at an estimate of $30 billion when the merger was announced in August. The company has a lot of competition. Between recent streaming platforms like AppleTV, Disney+ and Netflix, there is a lot of pressure to not only come with good content but how will ViacomCBS make streaming distinct for them.

 

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According to CBSNews, Both CBS Corp. and Viacom have long been controlled by Sumner Redstone and his daughter, Shari through their family’s privately owned company, National Amusements. This company operates in movie theaters in the U.S., U.K. and Latin America. Shari Redstone is the president of National Amusements and has served as vice-chairwoman of CBS and Viacom before their merger. Shari has recently become chair of the combined ViacomCBS board.

The two companies have a history of trying to merge; they have tried several times in recent years but their management teams could never see eye to eye. Last year, CBS’s board went through a lot go change following the departure of longtime CEO Leslie Moonves over misconduct allegations. This helped make room for the merger. Hopefully, Viacom’s content can help create a bigger name within the streaming platform. It will be interesting to see what content they will make specifically for their platform.

Is a Disclaimer Enough?

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“This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions”

Disney has decided to put disclaimers before classic movies that portray racial stereotypes on their new streaming service Disney+. These movies include Dumbo, Peter Pan, and The Jungle Book, along with other movies that contain any racial undertones. While some people see the disclaimer as a great tool to address these issues and warm consumers about the offensive characters, some people argue this step isn’t enough. A chairwoman of American studies at the University of Maryland named Psyche Williams-Forson argues that the company “needs to follow through in making more robust statements that this is wrong, and these depictions were wrong.”

“This program is presented as originally created. It may contain outdated cultural depictions,” is the current disclaimer that appears before each viewing. On a mobile device or tablet, the disclaimer appears in the description of the program rather than displaying it before the movie starts.

In addition, Disney has decided to completely remove “Song of the South”, a 1946 hit that actually won an Oscar for the song “Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah”. This movie features a character named Uncle Remus who strolls through a plantation and clearly contains racist depictions. Interestingly enough though, movies like Pocahontas and Aladdin do not feature the disclaimer, really blurring the lines of what exactly is socially acceptable.

I find this article interesting because it brings up a lot of questions about classic movies and if they are acceptable to play in a modern setting. I agree with what Disney has down because they are at least acknowledging what they did was wrong without completely removing the movies altogether. With that being said, I feel like more movies should feature this disclaimer because it seems like they only care about the movies with explicit racism, but the ones with subconscious undertones are fine. I guess everyone needs to ask what is the line, and when does Disney cross it?

Article: https://time.com/5730892/disney-plus-content-warnings-racist-movies/

SPOTIFY REVEALS THE MOST-STREAMED ARTISTS AND MUSIC OF 2019—AND THE DECADE

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https://adage.com/article/digital/spotify-reveals-most-streamed-artists-and-music-2019-and-decade/222021

Spotify’s metadata allows the platform to draw conclusions about the music of the year, and the decade as 2020 approaches. Called the “Wrapped List”, the data driven summary reveals the artists and music that has defined 2019, and from there, the most streamed music from 2010 to now.

Post Malone has taken the cake for the most-streamed artist of the year, upon the release of his latest album and contribution to the song “Sunflower,” which was released for the Into the Spiderverse movie. Billie Eilish is the second-most-streamed artist of the year, upon her release of her Grammy-nominated album titled “When We Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?”, which was streamed over 6 billion times.

Other noteworthy artists include Drake, who was the top-streamed artist of the decade, and Ariana Grande is the top-streamed female artist of the decade. Camila Cabello and Sean Mendes’s “Senorita” was the top streamed song of the year, and Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” was the most streamed song of the decade.

This derived data shows media companies and the music industry trends over time, as well as the artists that are up and coming. It is also thanks to the data algorithm you are able to review your personal statistics of your own profile, allowing you to learn about your own listening patterns as the decade went on, and what you enjoyed most this year.

How to win the attention wars by Converging Creative and Media

Image result for creative and mediaNowadays, consumer attention is very important to the media landscape. The most successful companies get their creative, media, technology and data teams to work together to create a seamless user experience with no inconsistencies. This increases the likelihood consumers that something will catch and keep a consumer’s attention.

The article basically explains what influences consumers’ buying decisions. The writer brings up several important points. No one has ever bought as sweater because the ad they saw it in enticed them to do so. An ad isn’t directly going to make a human want to purchase something, there’s a lot more behind it. The way a brand makes the potential buyer/consumer feel is the main factor that drives people to purchase. This is an important fact for marketers and businesses. Companies should be focusing on how their brand makes potential and current feel. For this reason, figuring out your target market as a business is important so you can provide a tailored experience for consumer’s.

The author of the articles says that individuals in the industry often forget how important adding creative aspects is in guaranteeing the effectiveness of media. He says that brands should be looking for ways to create personal, meaningful connections with their current and potential customers. Delta Airlines, for example, used to have a customer service phone line that would frequently have long wait times. Delta turned this experience into a positive one by integrating a chatbot that texts you when an agent becomes available. The alerts also let travelers on their journey know where the nearest airport lounge is and notifies them if there are any changes to their flight. experience uses technology to understand who and where the customer is and then seamlessly serve the right message at the right time. This made customers feel like they were being heard and it resonated with how they feel.

https://www.adweek.com/partner-articles/win-the-attention-wars-with-a-partnership-between-media-and-creative/?mvt=o&mvn=6d912c2488e24fa0aa4e6e8746da3bd3&mvp=NA-ADWEEKRESPSITE-11238673&mvl=homepage-grid-placement-large

 

Lyft becoming a major issue in regards to human trafficking

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2019/12/04/more-than-additional-women-sue-lyft-alleging-rape-sexual-assault-ride-hailing-app/?arc404=true

Human trafficking or sex trafficking, is becoming a major issue and sadly a popular issue. This article discusses the problems customers of Lyft are facing with Lyft drivers.

Do You Even Lyft, Bro? Well, Now the Chippewa Valley Does

Lyft and Uber are both very popular apps in our modern society, overtaking taxis. The real question is… are these apps actually a safer alternative?

Most recently, about 20 women have sued Lyft on behave of sexual assault and rape. Lyft obviously didn’t do a good job on ensuring safety of their customers. It is interesting to know that Lyft no only didn’t ensure safety of their customers but also aware that there were complaints of sexual misconduct for the past four years…

Lyft responded by updating features on the app such as adding a “panic button” and an immediate request to dial 911. These features did little to nothing to really focus at the overlying issue. Lyft has to do more than just add more features to their app that might not even prevent sexual assault and rape to occur.

There was a viral video that was about a mother who needed to be transported to work, as soon as she mentioned that the driver was going another way he locked the doors and attempted to take her to an eerie area. There are many videos like this one where the customer will literally record themselves and let everyone know which area they were in, what kind of car the Lyft driver was driving and more information in order to keep other customers safe. Wouldn’t that be Lyft’s job…?

Ford and Lyft will work together to deploy autonomous cars ...

Personally, I am a user of Uber and Lyft and its quite sad to realize that it can be ANYONE. There are so many places that were once safe, now super dangerous and require you to be super cautious. You would think that these drivers are double-checked in regards to their background records but Lyft’s lack of care and responsibility makes us think otherwise.

The Spotify Music Awards??

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https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiU-O7U_prmAhViQt8KHZi6Cz0QjRx6BAgBEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcelebrityaccess.com%2F2019%2F11%2F22%2Fspotify-announces-its-own-music-awards%2F&psig=AOvVaw25l_tYa03neCTkSb_8IC0U&ust=1575514403518017

 

In recent news, Spotify has announced that it will be launching their own music awards. The first Spotify Awards will be held in March 2020 in Mexico City. Spotify has teamed up with Warner Media to broadcast the award show live in all Spanish-language countries. Spotify states that Mexico City is their largest market with more listeners than other major markets including New York City, Los Angeles, London, and Paris.

The award show will be entirely based on user-generated data, like the majority of their other features. According to Spotify, “Your plays, patterns, and habits will help determine the award categories, finalists, and winners for the Spotify Awards by providing a true reflection of what fans are listening to. You can get excited for an awards ceremony that actually speaks to what the people are streaming”. Spotify hopes that by making the awards show based on data, users will be encouraged to stream as much music as possible from their favorite artists.

The company is modeling their awards show off of the Billboard Music Awards where most finalists and winners are based on three criteria; sales, streaming, and user-engagement data. In 2019, Spotify’s active monthly users grew by 30% and paid subscriber growth grew by 31%. With the amount of users and data that Spotify is able to collect on a yearly basis, it is no wonder that Spotify is creating an awards show that is entirely based off of their user’s listening habits and engagement.

https://variety.com/2019/digital/global/spotify-launching-music-awards-1203413060/

Starz-Comcast contract dispute draws Department of Justice informal inquiry

Brian Roberts, Chairman & CEO of Comcast
Photo Credit: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/starz-comcast-contract-dispute-draws-department-of-justice-inquiry.html

Article Credit: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/05/starz-comcast-contract-dispute-draws-department-of-justice-inquiry.html

The Department of Justice has contacted Comcast & Lions Gate, the owner of Starz, in the midst of what seems to be an informal inquiry into the two companies’ contract negotiations. The root of the issues seems to be that TV providers (ie, Comcast) may be abusing their market position in negotiations concerning content licenses.

Comcast accounts for a large portion of Starz’s 24 million subscribers. However, Lions Gate supposedly told Comcast Xfinity customers that they may no longer have access to Starz amid the contract dispute. In the case that the two companies do not come to terms over a new contract, Comcast has planned to replace Starzchannels with Epix channels in its Xfinity TV bundle.

According to the article on CNBC, Lions Gate shares have plummeted 49% this year, since Comcast customers were informed of the potential cutoff last month. As pressures build on each side of the equation, Comcast faces the growing competition from a la carte streaming apps and the rise of cord-cutters. Starz, on the other hand is fighting to stay afloat as carriers begin to rethink just how much they are willing to pay amid the hundreds of other content options.