Mellencamp, Stephen King work on a musical (AP)

A new musical dreamed up by rocker John Mellencamp and horror writer Stephen King will make its world debut in Atlanta next year.

The Alliance Theater has announced that it will produce "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County," what it calls "a riveting Southern gothic musical."

King's story is based on the real 1957 deaths of two brothers and a young girl. Mellencamp is in charge of the "roots and blues-tinged score."

I'm totally into this. Hopefully it makes it way beyond the Georgia state lines.

Read the full article here.

"Big Content" [Movies & Music] Is Strangling American Innovation (Harvard Business Review)

One of the greatest threats to the US's ability to innovate lies within: specifically, with the music and movie business. These Big Content businesses are attempting to protect themselves from change so aggressively that they risk damaging America's position as a world leader in innovation. ...

Example after example abounds of this attitude; whether it was the VCR which was "to the American film producer and the American public as the Boston strangler is to the woman home alone" as famed movie industry lobbyist Jack Valenti put it at a congressional hearing, or MP3 technology, which they tried to sue out of existence.

Great piece on how our industry very well might be hurting the innovations we'll need to continue to prosper and succeed in this business.

Read the full article here.

Are the Muppets turning into hipsters, or were they just early adopters? (Salon)

In the '70s, Muppets were able to blur the boundaries between adult and kid entertainment. What's great now is that they don't have to: With a love for all things nostalgic, as well as the cultural parodies and "winks to the audience" that Jim Henson's creations were known for, the Muppets won't have to change at all to fit into our current definition of "hipsters."

The only thing wrong with this article is that it doesn't mention the completely genius version of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, which I'm sure you've all seen. But God forbid you haven't....


Read the full article here.

Bristol Palin Book Deal Confirmed by William Morrow (GalleyCat)

“Bristol gives readers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at her life for the first time, from growing up in Alaska to coming of age amid the media and political frenzy surrounding her mother’s political rise; from becoming a single mother while still a teenager to coping as her relationship with her baby’s father crumbled publicly — not once, but twice. Bristol talks about the highs and lows of her appearance on ABC-TV’s “Dancing with the Stars,” including the aching hours of practice, the biting criticisms, and the thrill of getting to the show’s finals. She speaks candidly of her aspirations for the future and the deep religious faith that gives her strength and inspiration. Plainspoken and disarmingly down to earth, Bristol offers new insight and understanding of who she is and what she values most.”

Just what we need! Maybe they'll sell this with the Justin Beiber movie when it's released on DVD - they can call it the "I'm only 12 but someone thinks my 4380 days of life so far need to be chronicled in print and on film" bonus set! I include the above "news" only so I can yet again decry the shlock that is being peddled today. Ughh.
(Don't bother to) Read the full article here.

Off Topic / Helping the Gulf Coast

Those of you who know me well are aware that New Orleans is one of my favorite places on this planet, and the damage that has been done to that city in the last five years still makes my blood boil. A great group of musicians (including Mos Def, Lenny Kravitz, Trombone Shorty and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band) gathered for a jam session and put this song together in less than twelve hours. Take a second to watch the video for this awesome tune then maybe head over to www.gulfaid.org to help.