1. Sony and Michael Jackson‘s estate have set a music-industry record with a $250 million deal that covers 10 albums. The material will involve a mix of previously unreleased songs and new packages of old ones. [via WSJ]
2. Paula Abdul is finalizing a deal to host/judge an updated version of Star Search for ABC. This is interesting, because back in 2003 CBS tried to revive the same show with Arsenio Hall as its host. [via EW]
3. Did you realize that both women and big worriers are more likely to get songs stuck in their heads? [via NYT]
4. Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne made a brief appearance on Sunday night’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. (video) [via Pitchfork]
5. A new study by Austrian neurologists reveals the special painting technique behind the Mona Lisa’s ever-changing smile. [via Telegraph]
Bonus link: Hear the Lil Wayne and The Office Mash-Up Song
1. Matthew Vaughn’s comedy about superhero-obsessed teens, Kick-Ass, will open this year’s SXSW Film Festival on March 12. [via Variety]
2. Sam Mendes — who already worked with Daniel Craig on Road to Perdition — is rumored to be directing the next James Bond film. Wethinks this doesn’t bode well for the Bond girls. [via Variety]
3. Production on Spider-Man 4 has been delayed after script clashes between director Sam Raimi and Sony over what direction he’ll take the villains in. [via THR]
4. Because you’re busy: Everything you need to know about the past 98 hours (and five seasons) of Lost in just 8 minutes. [via GQ]
5. Are you ready to bring 3D entertainment into your own living room? Discovery, Sony, and Imax are banking on it. And so is ESPN. [via USA Today]
Bonus link: People Of Wal-Mart Rap
Though some schools are handing out Kindles for free (only to be met with controversy from the blind community), Amazon is still in trouble for the Orwell debacle and The Free Software Foundation is petitioning them to relinquish control of e-books customers buy.
Barnes and Noble is getting into the game with free WiFi in their stores creating what they are calling “the world’s largest e-bookstore.” The software will be available for free on the iPhone, iPod touch, smart phones, computers and the Plastic Logic E-Reader, which is expected to come out later this year. Read More »
As CRLS anticipated, cashing in on Michael Jackson’s death has become the “world’s greatest death meme.” As the trend of celebrity Twitter statements has subsided, the world is left with the true bottom-feeders. These are the folks who do not create MJ YouTube videos for promotion, but rather, attempt to bring home the bills by exploiting our unwavering Jackson fascination. Not counting New York’s street merchants (to be fair, some of the MJ pins are kind of awesome) here’s an eight-point list of Michael Jackson profiteers that impress and annoy us. Read More »
1. Remember this cartoon in Rolling Stone magazine mapping out the “Indie Rock Universe”? We don’t either but it’s causing a real shit storm. [via Pitchfork]
2. The War on Drugs is rebranding itself, placing “a greater emphasis on rehabilitation and treatment for drug offenders.” Meanwhile, marijuana is more potent than ever. [via DTB, Salon]
3. Are people sick of Anderson Cooper and Rachel Maddow? Or are we just watching less news? [via LF]
4. Fans of Cold Case, Without a Trace, Numbers, Law & Order, The Unit, My Name Is Earl, Scrubs, and The New Adventures of Old Christine, you’re going to have to wait to find out if your show gets renewed. Because the networks hate you. [via THR]
5. The cast of Neil LaBute’s reasons to be pretty dropped a few f-bombs in front of some kids during an in-store performance. [via NYP]
