Tech Tidbits: MySpace, Twitter, Godin

MySpace has announced layoffs of approximately 30% of its staff totaling about 420 workers. After the cuts, the social networking site, owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, will retain a staff of almost 1,000. “Simply put, our staffing levels were bloated and hindered our ability to be an efficient and nimble team-oriented company,” stated Chief Executive Owen Van Natta. “I understand these changes are painful for many. They are also necessary for the long-term health and culture of MySpace. Our intent is to return to an environment of innovation that is centered on our user and our product.”
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In yet another sign of the increasing role of social networks in the global culture and everyday life, the U.S. State department asked Twitter (6/15) to delay its scheduled maintenance. The shutdown would have stopped service to Iran and kept its citizens from issuing news to the outside world about unfolding events related to the recent election unrest. Twitter rescheduled the work to Tuesday afternoon (U.S.A.), 1:30 a.m. in Tehran. Iranian officials are blocking text messaging, but have been unable to quell tweets. “We’ve been struck by the amount of video and eyewitness testimony,” said Jon Williams, the BBC World News editor. “The days when regimes can control the flow of information are over.” According to the New York Times, “The episode demonstrates the extent to which the administration views social networking as a new arrow in its diplomatic quiver.”
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Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc.® has posted video clips online of marketing expert Seth Godin’s keynote address from this year’s CRS-40. Visit www.CRB.org and log in at the CRB Vision page to view the address. Online registration for CRS-41, to be held Feb. 24-26, 2010 is now also available in installment payments.
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A recent blog on TheAtlantic.com says that Nashville is the only city in the U.S. that has attracted musicians and music industry population growth since the 1970’s. The blogger says “my research team and I charted the geographic centers of the music industry from 1970 and 2004 using a metric called a location quotient, Nashville was the only city that registered positive growth.”