Culturite

Current Media today announced changes to its structure and staffing. Approximately 60 positions have been eliminated in the company’s three U.S. offices and approximately 30 new positions created. Many of those whose positions were eliminated have been placed in the new positions. Current will have approximately 410 employees (after these staffing adjustments). These changes result from the development of a new, innovative programming strategy built around eight cross-platform channels, including news, comedy, music and technology, slated to premiere in the first quarter of 2009. Current’s new programming strategy expands upon its pioneering use of viewer created content to include additional opportunities for participation, creating a far more viewer-influenced network, and further unifies the Company’s online and TV platforms by having each web channel paired with a companion TV show. In addition, these changes enable Current Media to reduce its cost structure, thereby assuring that it will be comfortably profitable in 2009 regardless the depth and length of the recession.

A quarter of the 50-something employees in Wired.com’s San Francisco newsroom are gone, a source tells us — and with them, the bubbly delusion that Wired would not just report on the transformation of media by technology, but be a part of the revolution as well. The cuts hit Wired’s tech team heavily, though some writers and editors also got pink slips. (CNET reports that 3 out of 28 editorial staffers are gone, but a Wired insider says that the actual number of edit jobs cut is at least six.)

The company is laying off 8 percent of its 200-plus workforce, and shifting more resources into its services business. Cofounder Ben Trott is taking a bigger role running Six Apart’s blog-hosting business. Alden and other top managers are taking a 15 percent paycut. The only disappointment: That the company didn’t kill off Vox, its interminably boring free personal blogging service.

Vivian Schiller, who heads the online operations of The New York Times, will leave the paper to become the president and chief executive of National Public Radio, the network announced on Tuesday.

People, it’s OK – there’s not going to be a baby with Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer’s blood running through it any more.

A new music service that allows fans to listen to songs and albums in their entirety for free has been launched today.

Peter Gabriel co-founded the venture called We7 – a free advertising-funded music streaming service which will have music from four major labels and hundreds of indies available to listen to.

While fans get to listen to tracks in full for free before they buy, rights owners and artists will get paid by We7 from audio and digital advertising revenue.

Eminem is unlikely to release his forthcoming new album, ‘Relapse’, before the end of 2008, claims an anonymous record company “insider”.

According to the New York Post despite UK and US retail websites listing the album as set for a December release, ‘Relapse’ is likely to be released early next year.

“Eminem… is completely obsessive-compulsive about this album,” the source is quoted as saying. “There’s a 50:50 chance it will be done by the end of this year but most likely it’ll be the first quarter of next year.”

According to Variety, the father-son team is on hand to craft an updated version of the 1984 blockbuster ‘The Karate Kid.’ The duo shared the screen in ‘The Pursuit of Happyness.’ This time around 10-year-old Jaden will star, while his father will produce alongside original franchise developer James Lassiter.

Lupe Fiasco could be the next hip-hop megastar to apparently retire from music.

Though this is not the first time the Chicago rapper – born Wasalu Muhammad Jaco – has talked about quitting, speculation has been renewed that he will leave the game after the release of his third album LupEND.

There is still no release date for his forthcoming final album, but the title as good as confirms what Fiasco told Billboard last December about his plans for retirement.

“LupEND – that’s going to be my last album’s title. When you play a video game, you can only put in three letters for your name and when the game’s over, those three letters and ‘END’ pop up. My next record might be my last one.”

MTV.com notes that Drama expects Dedication 3 to arrive later this week, although a post on Drama’s website indicates the mixtape may surface as soon as today (November 11).

1. Welcome Back
2. Dedication 3 feat. Mack Mane, Willie The Kid, Gudda Gudda
3. What Else Is There To Do
4. Dick Pleaser feat. Jae Millz
5. Ain’t I feat. Jae Millz
6. You Love Me You Hate Me
7. Bang Bang feat. Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda
8. The Other Side feat. La The Darkman, Jae Millz, Gudda Gudda
9. My Weezy feat. Shanell, Lil Twist & Tyga
10. A Dedication
11. She’s A Ryder feat. Gudda Gudda
12. Still I Rise feat. Nicki Manaj
13. Magic feat. Gudda Gudda
14. Do’s & Don’ts Of Young Money
15. Whoever You Like feat. Jae Millz & Gudda Gudda
16. That Was Easy
17. Get Bizzy feat. Gudda Gudda
18. I Got That Gangsta feat. La The Darkman & Willie The Kid
19. A Message To The DJ’s
20. Stuntin feat. Drake
21. Dedicated
22. Put On For The Game feat. Tyga & Gudda Gudda
23. Dedication 4

A Christmas classic will get a Hip-Hop makeover, thanks to a new Gap campaign featuring rapper Flo Rida and R&B vocalists Trey Songz and Janelle Monae.

The international specialty retailer cited the appeal of Hip-Hop artists among brand marketers as motivation fro recruiting Songz and Flo Rida to write what it calls a “street-smart rendition” of “Jingle Bells” for its Merry Mix It campaign.