K-Pop Trys Elaborate Musicals

      Seoul - The popularity of Korean Pop Music (K-Pop) is prompting the production of musical theatre in Seoul, Korea.  Productions like "Grease," "Bonnie and Clyde," "Guys and Dolls," among others, are currently in running in Seoul.  K-Pop music has become one of Korea's most profitable exports, propelling the so-called Korean Wave of culture through the Orient, thanks largely to the viral video "Gangnam Style," by the singer Psy.  The ultimate goal is to take tours to China and Japan.  See full story, www.nytimes.com.

Britney Spears Opens at Planet Hollywood

         Las Vegas - Friday, December 27, 2013, Britney Spears opened her two-year Las Vegas stay at Planet Hollywood.  The show includes 24 songs, an elaborate and huge stage set, 14 dancers, and two choreographers.  The 7,000 seat theatre, called Axis, is located within Planet Hollywood and is the largest indoor theatre in North America.  See also, www.planethollywoodresort.com.

Score One For The NSA Being Able To Listen To Threatening Telephone Calls

       Washington, D.C. - Friday, December 27, 2013, United States District Judge William Pauley found no evidence the government had used bulk telephone data (that collects information about telephone calls) for any reason other than to investigate and disrupt terrorist attacks.  According to a news wire,  U.S. District Judge William Pauley ruled 11 days after U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, in Washington, D.C., said the futuristic program that collects data from telephone calls, amounted to an "indiscriminate and arbitrary invasion."  Stephen Vladeck, an American University law professor who specializes in national security, said if federal appeals courts in New York or Washington, D.C. accept District Judge Leon's analysis, "then it seems likely, if not certain, that this case, will get to the Supreme Court by the end of the year."  While acknowledging the program "vacuums up information about virtually every telephone call to, from, or within the United States",  Judge Pauley said, it's constitutionality "is ultimately a question of reasonableness."  Pauley said the public interest tilted "firmly" toward the government, for which combatting terrorism "is an urgent objective of the highest order."  See also, www.popularmechanics.com.

Mobile Game Developers Battle For Christmas Dollars

       Silicon Valley - Spending on delivering mobile games to as many Christmas gift devices as possible, peaks globally during the holidays.  The emergence of a handful of dominant players has driven up costs per install (CPI), the cost the developer pays to let the gamer download the game.  Those companies with deeper pockets are focusing on brand building, making their product known.  Some companies like, Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Tap Lab, focus on holiday-themed content.  While, still others, such as Glu Mobile, are turning to new platforms.  A platform runs under the computers operating system and allows application (app) programs to run.  The costs of getting games in front of players is outpacing the ability of the mobile gaming market to keep them affordable for consumers, and profitable for the companies that develop these products.  The costs to acquire users will likely surpass any revenue earned over the holiday season.  This year, during the Christmas season, the CPI "will be about 4 bucks on average and that's twice of what the games will actually make", says Misha Lyalin CEO of mobile game company Zepto Lab.  Costs for the developers should stabilize after the Christmas holidays.  Sell also, www.onlinegaming.com.

New News Corporation Acquires Storyful

      Dublin - On Friday, December 20, 2013, News Corporation acquired social news tool, Storyful, for $25 million.  This is the first acquisition of News Corp since it separated from its cable, TV, and movie companies, now known as 21st Century Fox.  Social media tools monitor keywords, giving you a list of anybody who mentions a topic.  Social media tools also, monitor how often web surfers visit a given website.  Founded in 2008 and based in Dublin, Ireland, Storyful verifies and manages the rights of holders of news and videos on social media platforms, such as Twitter and Facebook, and Storyful does it in real-time.  News Corporation says, it can extend  Storyful's tool to advertisers and marketers so they can verify social chatter around a brand campaign.  See also, www.newscorp.com. 

Britney Spears - Billie Jean (Demo Full song) - new album

Britney Spears Quits Music

        Las Vegas - Britney Spears said, in a recent interview with the British Broadcasting Company, that after her new album "Billie Jean" is released she will take a break from music.  That is, after she does a two year stay at Planet Hollywood that begins December 27, 2013. Britney will earn $15 million dollars per year.  See also, www.planethollywoodresort.com.