YouTube Merch Store

YouTube has just announced the launch of 'The Merch Store', Symbolizing 'Merchandise'. The store gives artists and content creators the ability to sell merchandise right from their YouTube Channel Page. Fans visiting their favourite channels do not need to go to an external website to buy T-Shirts they can do so right from YouTube. Artists and content creators can offer digital downloads, concert tickets and even unique experiences like meetups. This comes as a boon for all those popular YouTube Channels, who till now had to rely on external websites to see merchandise to their fans. YouTube says all this is made possible through strategic tie-ups with  Topspin for merchandise, concert tickets and experiences; Songkick for concerts; and iTunes and Amazon for music downloads. YouTube has also indicated that only a small percentage of sales will be taken to cover costs of the new feature. YouTube will be rolling out the merch store over the next several weeks and announcing Global Partnerships. 

Source: YouTube Blog

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Sociolatte

Viral Video of the day: Paul Simon - The Sound of Silence 9/11 Ground Zero

Paul Simon, America's Folk Soul, offers a deeply moving and atmospheric rendering of his signature tune "Sound of Silence," on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 outrage on New York City and the Twin Towers where over 3000 souls were lost. The Live performance was delivered from Ground Zero.

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Sociolatte

RIP Tupac - Sept 13, 1996

Taken 20 minutes before the shooting

Today is the death anniversary of Tupac also known as Makaveli. Most rap and hip-hop fans will recall this day 15 years ago when 2Pac was fatally wounded by gun shots. Succumbing in a hospital on Sep 13, 1996. 2Pac may have gone but is not forgotten. Rolling Stones magazine named him the 86th greatest artist of all time. In addition to being a singer and rapper he was also an actor.  Rest in peace Tupac Amaru Shakur.

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Sociolatte

The Freddie Mercury Google Doodle

Google have released a Google Doodle for the legend Freddie Mercury with an amazing Google Doodle. Freddie Mercury the lead singer of Queen was born in India on  5 September 1946. The Google Doodle in honor of Freddie is quiet animated and when you click on the crown in the middle it starts playing 'Don't stop me now' by Queen. The doodle then goes into detailed animation with Freddie floating all over. If you click further you get to read a tribute to him written by none other that the lead guitarist Brian May. Who else could have written as fitting a tribute to the king of vocals. His vocal range was always legendary and you cannot find another singer to get quiet the range Freddie enjoyed. 


Brian may goes on to write "Freddie was fully focused, never allowing anything or anyone to get in the way of his vision for the future. He was truly a free spirit. There are not many of these in the world. To achieve this, you have to be, like Freddie, fearless—unafraid of upsetting anyone's apple cart.'


Freddie would have been 65 this year, we join Google in wishing him -Happy Birthday Freddie. 

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Sociolatte

Lady Gaga Cute Pics

CUTE GAGA is now trending on Twitter and it is because of a new video, where Gaga does not appear as a man or in some out of this world space type costume. Gone are the glasses and the alien look. All replaced now with a very feminine lady surrounded by fairies. The new video tries to bring out the side of Gaga that up until now has been missing. About the video Lady Gaga tweeted.


In collaboration with INEZ+VINOODH. The first in a series. Little Monsters, here's "You and I: NYMPH" http://bit.ly/o1dweV


These are fashion films she says in another tweet and there are five of them. The remaining four will be released in the next three hours. Here are some screen shots from the video. 

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Sociolatte

YouTube agrees to pay music publishers and songwriters royalties

YouTube has become the No.1 destination on the web for music. Users can visit the site and start listening to songs for free with the hassle of signing-up and other formalities that might have existed had there not been a YouTube. The site is known for its users generated content and as a result a lot of the stuff that gets uploaded does not belong to the person who uploads it. Users post original videos and songs, covers by bands and original songs with user created videos. As a result the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), a group that represents hundreds of songwriters and music publishers have been involved in a four year litigation against YouTube. Both parties have not reached a settlement with YouTube agree to pay royalties.


The points for which royalties will be paid are listed below.
1. From songs posted to YouYube, whether the post contains the original video or a users generated one.
2. YouTube has created a licence agreement option for songwriters and music publishers
3. They will receive royalties from Ads that YouTube runs with the videos.
4. YouTube will use content ID to verify all claims. 


This comes as good news for both songwriters and YouTube's creative community who create material that draws people to the site. In fact much of the popularity is because of user generated content, although everyone involved needs to stand to gain. 


This has now opened-up a whole new world for songwriters and publishers who now can continue to receive royalties for the original work, which is good because all artists need to be respected and rewarded.


Source: YouTube

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Sociolatte

#goodluckharry is now a top trending topic on Twitter because Harry Styles is taking a driving test

So why is #goodluckharry trending at the no. 2 spot worldwide?. @Harry Styles  is taking a driving test today and fans of his are tweeting good luck harry. Many Twitter users are confusing this with Harry Potter but it is not so. This trend is about Harry Styles and people who like him are tweeting #goodluckharry and those who do not like him so much are saying things like "I hope he crashes'. This is what all the fuss is about right now on Twitter. He is a part of the One Direction also know as 1D. 1D is a group of 5 who applied as solo contestants, but failed to qualify for the Boys category. After a suggestion by guest judge Nicole Scherzinger, the five teens were put into a band called 1D. This from the UK show the X-Factor. The band have just announced the release of their new single 'What makes you beautiful'. Bundled together with the B-side, Na Na Na, the tracks are already ranked No 2 on the iTunes album chart based on pre-orders alone. You can pre-order the track now by visiting their site and the track will be available for download on 11th September and in stores on 12th September.


ID updates a fan site first tweeted about the driving test and to wish Harry. (Image Below)

Check the video out if you want a sneak peek

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Sociolatte

Pitbull on a roll 'Rain Over me' running into viral status

Pitbull seems to be the one on fire on YouTube. Every single released get instant big number views. The latest collaboration with Marc Anthony who is currently going through a separation has become the most viewed video of the week on YouTube. 'Rain on me' the new single from 'Planet Pit', was released on Vevo on July 22nd, already has over 15 million views and growing fast.

The video of course is shot in the desert even though the song is about rain. This is not the first time he has corroborated with the Anthony-Lopez household, earlier this year he found success with J.lo in a club hit "hit the Floor". Pitbull is rolling this year with a number of smash hits and videos that certainly pull in the viewers. He has always had at-least one videos in the top 10 most viewed videos on YouTube constantly. So what do you think will this video keep climbing????

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Sociolatte

Singer Winehouse joins Club 27

Singer Amy Winehouse is dead at 27. Her death has come as a shock to her fans and people are showing their sympathy on Twitter. 



Troubled singer had a long battle with drink and drugs
Devastated after split from director Traviss last month
Father Mitch flies home from New York 'to be with Amy'
Autopsy could take place 'within next 24 hours


Amy Winehouse join the other members of Club 27, what it is about good musicians dying at 27 will remain a mystery but legendary greats Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimmy Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and founding member of the Rolling Stones Brian Jones to name a few. The causes of their deaths were different but one thing is certain. They all became more famous after their deaths with fans romanticizing their memories. Their real fame coming to them only after their deaths. Amy will always be remembered for her song Rehab - They tried to make me go to Rehab but I said no no no. Her fans on Twitter are chanting this mantra over and over again. RIP Amy Winehouse you will always be remembered. For now it's Back to Black. 

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Sociolatte

Coldplay now trending on Twitter [Videos]

Coldplay is now a trending on Twitter as a promoted tweet. Promoted Tweets are those which a paid for by an advertiser and appear on the top of the trending topics list on Twitter. Coldplay is now being promoted by the iTunesfestival happening in London. You can follow the follow the festival on Twitter by using the hashtag #iTunesFestival. Their EP is now available on iTunes and being promoted by iTunes. An EP basically means extended play and is not as long as an album, an EP would have about 3 -5 songs on it. Their latest EP is called 'Every teardrop is a waterfall' sounds a bit too romantic though. You can watch the iTunes Festival 2011 in London live by visiting their official website http://www.itunesfestival.com/.

There are three songs on the EP.
1. Every teardrop is a waterfall
2. Major Minus
3. Moving to mars

You can get the EP on iTunes now.

You can also watch the videos right here as we have attached it along with this post.

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Sociolatte

What is Spotify and how does it work

Spotify is a Swedish based company well known in Europe after it launched in 2008. With users from Sweden, France, UK, Netherlands and Finland numbering over 10 million and over 1 million paid customers. The service is cloud-based and offers users free access to listen to over 15 million songs and counting. You can listen to songs online for free and choose from 15 million you can also then share songs and playlists with your friends. This comes to you for free but you will need to listen to radio styled Ads for the service. For the first six months you can listen to unlimited music but after that you are restricted to 10 hours per month.  if you do not want Ads then you can become a paying customer. To remove restrictions you can opt for a payment plan offered by Spotify. To know more about payment plans in your country visit www.spotify.com. Paying members can listen to songs and then download then to listen later offline. 


Spotify has now come to the United States. 


With Spotify you can play any song on your mobile phone or compuer. Just logon to www.Spotify.com and search for a song and play it instantly. Spotify likes to say all your music and all your friends in one place. All this only a click away. Check out Spotify on Facebook now. 

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Sociolatte