As part of its promotion for ‘Smash’ (NBC is launching an intitiative with 20 underserved schools across the country called “Smash: Make A Musical.” The concept is similar to “Glee”‘s Give a Note initiative. Schools can still apply to be part of the “Smash” program in which they’ll earn funding to put on a musical production. It’s a good time for TV nets to get involved in social causes to earn the attention of Millennials. Recent data reveals Millennials are the most likely to have cut or consider cutting cable TV) (LA Times) (GigaOm)
– Looks like the tablet takeover has begun (with sales of the Nook — including the Color and Tablet — up 70% and reports of the Kindle Fire selling millions) (eBookNewser) (CNet)
– It looks like the “echo boom” won’t reverberate anytime soon. The under-18 population in the U.S. (fell for the first time in two decades because fewer children are being born and fewer immigrant children are entering the U.S., according to recent Census Data. The largest declines were in the rust belt and New England states) (WSJ)
– Google is making a strong entry into the device market in 2012 (unveiling three more models of Google TVs which allow users to search for video content using the Chrome browser, as well as access apps like Netflix and Pandora. Meanwhile, we’re hearing more and more speculation on the specs of a Google-branded tablet that is designed to compete directly with the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet) (USAT) (CSMonitor) (International Business Times)
– Unemployment for recent college grads is hovering around 9% (but not all grads have such negative prospects. For the most part, students in majors that are more directly tied to occupations are more likely to find jobs than those with general interest majors. All those students who decide to continue with school when they can’t find a job might have the right idea — those with graduate degrees tend to have better employment prospects than those with undergraduate degrees) (Center On Education And The Workforce)
– 2012 will be an important year for businesses as the economy improves and Millennials (get back into stores. They haven’t lost their interest in corporate social responsibility, and they have a newfound passion for the process of making things, both of which they want to see reflected in the stores they shop) (HuffPo)
– And finally for a little Friday fun… (Here’s a taste of “dubtrot.” What is that, you wonder? That would be mashups that My Little Pony fans are making using dialog from the animated cartoon and dubstep hits. Yes, you read that right) (Kottke)
