Marketing Magazine has reported that Universal Music has signed a global deal with Web 2.0 service Kyte to develop branded online and mobile sites for its major artists. Universal which has artists like Amy Winehouse, Just Jack and Girls aloud is going to be using the platform to develop interactive entertainment applications to engage better with music fans and to hopefully generate funds from its video content. The artists will be able to use Kyte's mobile production tools to broadcast live gigs and create on-demand videos, giving their fans special and personal clips. For a quick demo of how ...

Here is a high resolution version of Chris Lake’s (a former client) latest single ‘If you knew’. I am predicting this track to be the biggest of his most recent dance tunes, I reckon it is going to make the difficult crossover into the mainstream charts – so it could be one to watch. Chris is a strong believer in social media and his team use it correctly and now it seems to be paying dividends . The video is in HD using Vimeo and was filmed in my own region of Yorkshire. Keep up the good work guys – love this track! ...

Tech Crunch has recently reported that Myspace has launched a new developer competition to create “the best sustainably social application.”It describes this as when a user keeps the application in their profile and engages for several months. Now I think this is a great idea, I am all for improving applications and creating something which helps a social networker get on an do his thing. Some good quality applications can improve a social network, I continue to be impressed with the many widgets and applications that share ...

Last night I went to see my friend, fellow blogger and former colleague Sebastian Mysko who now works for Chris Lake and Rising Music. I have posted before about how Chris and his team are using social media to spread the word about the label and his new tracks and artists. The dance music industry doesn't appear to use public relations and social media to its full potential but these guys are really trying to bring some professionalism and fun to it. The blog has been running for a few ...

The team blog from Chris Lake's label, Rising Music, has been developing quickly and includes posts from the man himself. My good friend Sebastian is helping Chris build a number of useful social media channels and the blog is already providing an interesting insight into the world of being a DJ. It features back stage videos, new tracks from Chris and other DJs on the label, and links to other sites of interest - including this one. If you like everything that is dance music from funky piano tracks through to dirty techy electro stompers ...

Robin Goad at Hitwise has just revealed the list of the hottest bands in the UK last month (June 08). The list is apparently based on the top 50 band/artist searches sending traffic to Hitwise's social networking category. Hitwise recently expanded this to include all of the usual suspects such as Facebook, Bebo, YouTube, MySpace, the band’s homepage and Wikipedia. The list makes for interesting reading as the majority of the acts aren't exactly all mainstream, making me think that bands, DJs and artists can really benefit from using effective social media campaigns. The list reads as follows: 1. Coldplay (New!)2. Jonas Brothers (43)3. Pendulum (1)4. Mgmt (New!)5. ...

Those of you who know me, will know I am massive dance music fan, and way back when when I lived in London, I used to DJ house music in several bars and clubs across the city to help ends meet. Well, it seems I have managed to combine my weekend activities with my day-to-day work as we (Wolfstar) have won the contract to run a social media campaign for Chris Lake a world renowned DJ and dance music producer. In one of my many roles I will become an author on Chris's blog along with a few others, who all have their own slant on all things dance related. Chris makes the ...

Following the interest in my Jamiroquai post in December, I thought I better keep you informed of any other music acts which have decided to dip their toes into the social networking pool. According to my friends at Tech Digest, Radiohead have launched their own social networking site using Ning. Personally, I prefer Wetpaint but still it's certainly a step in the right direction. I remember hearing recently that Radiohead put their latest album on the net for free and just asked for donations which I thought that was a ...

About three months ago it was announced on Radio One that they were   changing their schedules, which meant the listeners no longer had to listen to JK & Joel - I will let you decide whether that is a good or bad thing? However, I think they did get something wrong and that was to move Pete Tong's Essential Selection slot from 6pm to 7pm. It now means the listeners are subjected to Scott Mills from 6pm on a Friday. I really like Scott's shows as I think he can be very funny and makes good imaginative radio normally ...

MySpace continues down its own road of total music dominance, by launching an online music video channel that is to combine live gig footage with interviews and profiles to help promote new and up and coming bands. The channel has bizarrely been called Earwig TV - make your own decisions here.  Anyway, it is apparently going to aggregate content from across the whole of the site to help bands and artists reach out to new fans and hopefully in-turn attract some much needed attention from record labels. ...