Michael Jackson Estate Secures Official Merchandiser
Bravado, a global music merchandiser, has been chosen as the official manufacturer and distributor of Michael Jackson-branded products worldwide. “Bravado is the perfect partner for the estate of Michael Jackson merchandise,” says John Branca and John McClain, co-special administrators for the estate of Michael Jackson, in a joint statement. “The reputation of Tom Bennett and his team for creating compelling merchandise and providing strong product support is stellar. We are delighted to be working with them.”
A collection of licensed product is already available at retailers such as Hot Topic, Target, Old Navy and JCPenney, as well as online at www.michaeljacksonmerch.com. The line of more than 200 items includes T-shirts, “Thriller”-inspired jackets, “Who’s bad?” onesies, sunglasses, handbags and novelty items.

“We are thrilled to expand our services to become the exclusive merchandiser for Michael Jackson-related products,” says Tom Bennett, chief executive officer of Bravado. “Creating this new line alongside Michael was a privilege of a lifetime; it truly celebrates Michael’s unmistakable style and irreplaceable talent, and helps commemorate and preserve the legacy that is Michael Jackson.” The deal expands upon another with AEG Live, which had Bravado as the exclusive merchandiser for Jackson’s London tour.

“Michael Jackson merchandise will follow the leads of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Tupac expanding and growing for many years to come” says Jacob R. Miles III,  CEO of GrapevineStar Entertainment, a new media, licensing and products focused company.

Just about everyone who ever met Michael Jackson will be on television tomorrow, as the anniversary of his death brings a blizzard of reports on either how it happened or what it has meant.

Those who prefer to remember Jackson primarily for his music can turn on the radio, where several stations will go all-Michael.

Jackson died a year ago tomorrow, at age 50, on the eve of a comeback tour. Those who will talk about him include his mother, Katherine, in a paid interview for “Dateline NBC.”

His brothers Jermaine and Tito will talk with Don Lemon on CNN, while ABC’s “2-0/20″ will look at unanswered questions about his death.

The CBS “Early Show” will have artists like Marc Anthony and LL Cool J talk about Jackson, and TV Guide will show a new documentary, “Gone Too Soon.”

Here are some TV programs, all tomorrow unless noted:

ABC: “2-0/20″ special, “Michael Jackson: After Life,” 9-11 p.m.

CBS: 8 a.m. hour of “The Early Show” is devoted to Jackson.

CNN: “Michael Jackson: The Final Days,” 8 p.m., with Don Lemon, followed by a Larry King special tribute, 9 p.m.

E!: “True Hollywood Story” (repeat), 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.; “The Last Days of Michael Jackson,” 10 a.m., 3 and 8 p.m.; “Michael Jackson,” 11 a.m., 4 and 9 p.m.

Fuse: Starting today, in heavy rotation through Sunday: “A Tribute,” “The Inside Story,” “Remember His Time,” “Devotion.”

MTV: “Michael Jackson Top 10 Video Countdown,” 5-6:30 p.m.; “Michael Jackson’s Influence,” 6:30 p.m.

NBC: “Dateline,” 9 p.m., Katherine Jackson interview.

TV Guide: “Gone Too Soon,” 9-11 p.m.; “Michael Jackson’s Entourage: Where Are They Now,” and “Michael Jackson: His Family Dynasty,” 11 p.m.

VH1: “The Jacksons: An American Family,” noon-5 p.m.; “Famous Crime Scenes,” 11:30 p.m.

And on the radio:

WBLS (107.5 FM): Musical features all weekend and comments from celebrities and friends. Supporting the Rev. Al Sharpton’s tribute tomorrow afternoon at the Apollo.

WCBS-FM (101.1): Listener-voted countdown of top 40 Michael songs, tomorrow at 9 a.m., plus Jackson songs all weekend in “Hall of Fame.”

WHTZ (100.3 FM): A Jackson song every hour tomorrow.

WKTU (103.5 FM): “MJ All Day,” 24 hours tomorrow, followed by Jackson music and specials all weekend.

WKXW (101.5 FM): Tribute with Joe Henry, tomorrow at 7 p.m., leading to a Jackson weekend.

WRKS (98.7 FM): Kicks off all-Jackson weekend tomorrow at 6 a.m. with the D.L. Hughley morning show. Also supporting “Throwback Comes to Harlem” concert at the Apollo, tomorrow night at 9, celebrating Jackson.

WXRK (92.3 FM): Jackson in a 5 p.m. minimix tomorrow.

Sirius/XM: Hourly Jackson songs tomorrow over “80s on 8,” “70s on 7″ and other channels.

Today is a new day, a time for new rules in the media and entertainment industry. Yesterday media companies around the world are facing their own economic crisis. Newspapers are closing or cutting jobs at an unprecedented rate. Broadcast television and radio are loosing audiences at never experienced before rates. Magazines are in a constant state of flux and change as they try to preserve their audiences and decrease their production costs.

Fragmented audiences are at the core of yesterday’s media & entertainment company problems.

The growth of the internet and its next generation media companies are playing havoc with the ability of old line companies to project their sales and growth.

News, stories, photos, videos and graphics are the lifeline of the media and entertainment industry.

The integration of the internet is the future of the industry, however the current/historical infrastructure and management structure are not suited for where the internet is going…..and it is going there (next generation media and entertainment model) fast.

The playing field is changing, opportunities to influence and shape the future of the media and entertainment industry. This raises the question… Is it time for new rules in the media and entertainment industry?

We believe that next generation companies like GrapevineStar and many others have the right structure, resources and management structure for the internet especially those that are without the excessive debt carried by larger older companies.

The Media & Entertainment Pros Group would like to hear your professional opinions…. Is it time for new rules?

(Discuss here, on GStarSite, on LinkedIn MEP Group & on Facebook at the page link down below)

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Recommended reading

The New Rules Of Marketing And Pr: How To Use News Releases, Blogs, Podcasting, Viral Marketing And Online Media To Reach Buyers Directly

By David Meerman Scott

Buy Now: http://tinyurl.com/cewkje

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Popular culture is the patterns of human activity highlighted by the mass media and entertainment outlets that give such activities significance and importance thus driving awareness and popularity. That activity, person, behavior or thing that is most strongly represented by a large or highly exposed segment of society is usually perceived to be more popular.

Popular culture often contrasts with a more exclusive, even elitist high society group, that reflects the culture of the ruling class. The earliest use of “popular” in English during the fifteenth century in law and politics, meaning “low class”, “poor”, “vulgar”, and  reflective of the commoners. Several hundreds of years later it began to mean “widespread” and became looked upon more positively.

Pop culture finds its most common expressions in the mass media touted areas of fashion, music, sports and film. The world of pop culture has had a particular influence on art from the early 1960s on, through Pop Art. Today, most adults, their kids and grandchildren “participate” in pop culture directly or indirectly everyday.

As you can see, pop culture is an integral part of the media and entertainment industry. We participate in it; we are part of creating it. Pop culture spans all of our market niches, urban, anime/comic, fine art, toys and games, etc. Our niche pop culture networks are where our members intentionally participate in the creating and impacting of tomorrow’s pop culture. Post your content, comments and thoughts about your favorite celebrities, fashions, books/comics, music, films or artists.

GSEConnect has positioned itself in the mainstream of global media and entertainment with its pop culture social networks.

So pop on in and join us by having your say on what is tomorrows pop culture, why not create some pop culture and post it in one or more of the niche pop culture networks, you never know what will catch on and become famous and be part of pop culture.

Join one or more communities where you can contribute your works and your thoughts while keeping track of what’s going on in this trendsetting, very hot and ever changing pop culture niche.