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As if you didn’t have enough to look forward to from Beyoncé next year after the announcement of her sure-to-be insane Super Bowl halftime performance and the alert of a new album dropping very soon, Bey stans will be happy to learn that she will premiering the documentary on her life via HBO next February–February 16 to be exact. The doc is being directed, produced and executive produced by the singer, actress, designer, and a whole bunch of other things and will not only give us a close up at Bey the performer and musician, but Bey behind the scenes. According to the press release, which we were able to obtain via Shadow and Act, what viewers will see will include a lot more of the intimate images we sometime are lucky to see in her concert DVDs:

The film is a multi-faceted portrait of the 16-time Grammy Award-winning singer, businesswoman, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, wife and mother, showing off the extraordinary gifts that have made her a global phenomenon, and stripping away the veneer of stardom. It includes extensive first-person footage, some of it shot by Beyoncé on her laptop, in which she reflects on the realities of celebrity, the refuge she finds onstage and the transcendent joy of becoming a mother last year.

The film sheds light on her childhood in Houston, with home movies revealing the close bond she built with her family and charts the challenges Beyoncé felt when she decided to manage her career and build her own company, Parkwood Entertainment. It also captures the intense physical and emotional demands she goes through in the studio, preparing for live performances, running a business and her family life, including her return to the spotlight after the birth of her daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, in January 2012.

And both Beyoncé and Michael Lombardo, president of HBO’s programming, seem to be excited about the project, which we’re sure will pull in big numbers for the network. As Lombardo says:

“Everybody knows Beyoncé’s music, but few know Beyoncé the person… Along with electrifying footage of Beyoncé onstage, this unique special looks beyond the glamour to reveal a vibrant, vulnerable, unforgettable woman,“

And Bey added her two cents of excitement with the following statement in the press release:

“HBO has a history of pushing every boundary with class and authenticity… Some of my favorite shows are on HBO, so I am excited that my film will be part of its bold programming. This film was so personal to me, it had to have the right home.

I have to be honest in stating that I’m a tad bit worried that this documentary will be more of the same, especially since the press release said that we can expect some exclusives from Bey, which were shot on her computer, and Lord knows we’ve seen a great deal of those already (i.e,, “Why am I so blessed? Why did God give me this life…?”). But seeing as how Beyoncé is being oh so open these days with her awesome Tumblr and Instagram, she might expose a lot more of herself on-screen than we’re used to. And since we’ll see how she adjusted to getting back out there after having baby Blue, it would be dope to see how Bey moves around as a doting mom (they can keep Blue’s face covered, I get it).

But alas, I won’t hold my breath.

So what do you think? Are you going to be checking for Beyoncé’s documentary on HBO in February? What do you hope to see?

This week, blogging platform Tumblr announced its A-List Partnership Program, or group of preferred agency partners, that can work with the site’s fairly new advertising platform. The list includes agencies that focus on measurement, content creation, design and Tumblr themes, media, and creative.

This system is similar to how Facebook works with its preferred marketing developers and how Twitter works with its certified products. Additionally, Advertising Age reported that Tumblr is starting to make decent money with its advertising, with packages that start at $25,000.

An initial search did not uncover that any of the 17 agencies are minority-owned, but Union Metrics does have a female co-founder, Jenn Deering Davis, and designedmemory was the agency behind Beyonce’s website.

Tumblr sees 20 billion page views a month and blacks make up 11 percent of all Tumblr visitors, according to Quantcast. Overall, blacks account for nine percent of Internet users, showing a slight over-indexing on Tumblr. However, Hispanics make up 19 percent of all Tumblr visitors, and whites come in at 63 percent, showing that black consumers aren’t necessarily the main users of the site.

Additionally, this week the Nieman Journalism Lab spoke to Jessica Bennett, the executive editor of Tumblr, about the value of content on Tumblr and news organizations on the site.

This is a chicken-or-egg situation. Should Tumblr reach out to blacks in order to get more to the site, or should it wait until more blacks are coming to Tumblr before starting a specific campaign?

There are definitely Tumblr blogs that cater to black women and other specific groups, but without a strong showing of users, Tumblr should focus on building out its overall advertising program before focusing specifically on any specific demographic group. Do you agree?

By Nicole Thompson

There are millions of people, adults and children alike, who spend more hours texting, tweeting, Facebooking, Googling, YouTubing, Pandora-ing, Huluing, Netflixing, Skyping, Tumblr-ing and any other computer-mediated communication than they spend carrying on actual conversations with people. Who needs to actually pick up a phone and call, or better yet, sit down and have a conversation with someone face to face when you can spend an extended period of time sending cryptic messages back and forth? (That was sarcasm of course.) To some, that’s fine because communication is communication, and that’s just part of being in a technologically advanced age, right? No, not so much, because failure to participate in verbal communication, especially for teens, leads to stunted interpersonal growth, which will hinder them when they need to socialize with their peers, and will hamper them when it’s time to head to college and the general workforce.

The perpetual use of technology enables anti-social behavior, which is reinforced by the introduction of technology into classrooms, and the requirement for social media interactions at certain jobs. The “memo” culture of passive aggressiveness and faceless communication has become a mainstay in our society, moving from the boardroom into our classrooms and personal lives. It’s getting worse because we’ve reduced our language to abbreviations, acronyms and initialisms –further muddying the way that we communicate with one another. It has begotten a system of communication that is absolutely void of emotion, with the exception of the directives provided by winks, smiles and other emoticons, intended to help us to know how we’re supposed to feel (and a majority of the time, the smiley face emoticon and “LOL” are used in a phony manner). Pre-teens, a demographic that is most affluent in the technological world, are the most affected by this because they have no preexisting knowledge of formal communication, they use the Internet as a crutch for social interaction, and they become crippled by their dependency. So, when they are online, they are able to emit a vibrant virtual personality, with the ability to converse fluidly and share ideas and thoughts, but when the screens shuts off, they are not able to duplicate this personality in real life –because they aren’t armed with the understanding of how to flourish vocally.

Even for older people trying to get to know new people or hit the dating scene, many men and women would rather text a person they’re interested in to death rather than muster up the courage to hold an actual conversation on the phone. Too many people have decided to hide behind computers and phones.

Another issue with social media, in reference to school-age children, and in some cases adults, is that it extends the reach of bullying. Because of social media outlets, taunts, torments and teases which were once only shared in the classroom or on the school yard have followed kids home. This rattles young people, because not only are they not safe from ridicule at school, but they must also read about their short-comings on a Facebook post in the comforts of their own home.
Yes, technology is a necessary utility in today’s society, that’s inarguable, but the fact that we’re always “connected” challenges our ability to effectively communicate with the people around us. This is seen most often when people don’t focus their attention on those around them when they’re out with friends or family, but instead peruse the endless pages of Facebook on their handheld devices. Or, when a person is so busy “checking in” or sharing exaggerated comments about an event/restaurant that they’ve attended, that they don’t take the time to truly absorb and enjoy the experience.

Actions that can be instituted in order to help children or adults to communicate more effectively include insisting that he/her share personal stories, particularly emotional stories, in order to encourage them to vocalize emotions. Also, systematic breaks from technology can help to improve a child’s attention span, communication skills and attitude; a bit more time away from the computer screen also means more time outside with other children (hopefully), and hopefully more opportunities to talk with them as parents. I know we all love our phones, our expensive computers, and our highly decorated Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter accounts, but the social media world is slowly but surely making us mutes in the real world.

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You would think posting a photo of her daughter, Nina, with Beyonce backstage after her Revel concert this past weekend would be harmless enough. But when Dream Hampton did that last night, she received an unexpectedly nasty backlash. It wasn’t the kind that’s been directed at Michelle Obama for taking her daughter’s to Bey’s concerts or being a fan of the singer, the Beyhive and Beyonce stans on Twitter and Tumblr were much more brutal, taunting Dream’s daughter for her looks.

The hateful comments were enough to make Dream Hampton pull the plug on Twitter account, but not before fully explaining why:

“Because someone tumbld a pic of my daughter w/Bey, which I posted on FB, which I try to keep private, I’m now dealing w/tweets like these…These are early 20 something Beyonce stans coming for my teenager. I’m done here. It’s been real. Let me shut down this Twitter account. I’ve been wanting to for a while. It’s been real.

“I posted a pic of my daughter & our friend Beyonce on my very private Facebook page. Everyday, I turn down “friend” requests on FB. I turn them down because I post pics of my daughter on FB for family and friends I actually know. Twitter is a more public space for me. On Twitter, I refer to my daughter as “awesome daughter” because she is, and because I’m private. I don’t know if I don’t know how to set whatever new privacy settings you have to set on Facebook, but that pic ended up on a tumblr. I don’t search tumblr, or even know if you can search tumblr, but I Twitter search my own name pretty frequently at least twice a week…

“Last night, after tweeting abt summer reading lists & the challenging day I had to face today, I searched my name on Twitter. What I found was a Bey “stan” page who’d tweeted the pic of my daughter and Bey from some other Bey “stan” tumblr w/the comment “ewww”…This Twitter Bey stan later reposted the same pic on Twitter w/my daughter cropped out, then RT’d s’one’s comment abt being grateful+..”ugly girl” was cropped out. I tweeted this Beyonce “stan” asking how the fuk they got the pic (I hadnt made the connection to the tumblr) + …and asked them to remove the pic. This stan, of course, RT’d my irate tweet, tweeted she was dying of laughter & a bunch of her 7K + …fellow stans tweeted me. One began following me and when I immediately blocked her, called my daughter an Ugly a** in all caps. For those of you who know me, you know I’m not really here for you to be tweeting me, in all kaps, what an ugly a** my child is. Like, I’m really not here for that.

“I talked to Beyonce after her last show last night, we were worried Nina would see Beyonce’s so called fans calling a teenager ugly and Bey+ decided to remind my daughter what she thinks of her. So Bey posted the pic of my daughter & her on her tumblr & wrote “beautiful princess”…I’ve made amazing connections on Twitter, have been intellectually stimulated and have discovered amazing thinkers. But yes, I’m done. My leaving Twitter is not blog worthy. I wasn’t “run off” by a few people calling themselves Beyonce stans. Or whatever. But I am good on social media, and the access it affords nuts, and the false intimacy that created boundary crossing. I’ve had false Twitter exits before, this isn’t one of them. Wishing you all love. I’m so grateful for all these replies. Twitter has always been more loving than hateful, but more distracting than anything. For the last time…I’m not leaving Twitter because I was ran off. The Isht is turning into Myspace and I’m good. Ok, Peace. Free Mumia.”

In other words, these people should be ashamed. Nothing about this situation is really specific to Beyonce. In the last few months we’ve seen way too many examples of twitter fandom gone too far, particularly the Chris Brown, Rihanna, Karrueche Tran brigade, but in this instance stans weren’t even defending Bey, they were just being hateful and succumbing to mean girl culture.

Leaving Twitter was probably the smartest thing Dream could do; e-balls is a real phenomenon and sometimes the only thing you really can do is block out the e-nonsense, permanently.

What do you think about this situation as a whole?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Source: http://broderickghunter.tumblr.com/

More, more, more! That’s what I think when I look at this brotha doing his thing in front of the camera. Los Angeles raised model Broderick Hunter is tall (6″2), dark (think smooth Godiva chocolate) and definitely handsome, and we’re excited at the prospect of seeing more of this body and face around. If Hunter is new to you, it’s about time you get acquainted with him and his good looks. Baby’s got it going on! Check him out…

Landing page for Beyonce's blog (iam.beyonce.com)

Beyoncé launched her new website to an avalanche of media buzz. Most of the attention went to the collection of intimate photos featured on the notoriously private star’s Tumblr blog launched on the same day. However, the real news is the superstar’s savvy in recognizing the importance of having an online presence that reflects her brand.

Before the revamp, Beyoncé’s web presence consisted of a Twitter page she never used, and a website managed by her label that offered news and photos a day late and a dollar short. Beyoncé decided to do something about the problem last year when she issued an urgent brief to agencies – she wanted “a site that looks like who she is an artist, someone who likes fashion and art and photography and travel,” said an executive close to the Knowles team. “She has all sorts of interest and wants to communicate that.”

Some may wonder why Beyoncé even bothered. Awareness isn’t a problem for her. But, revamping her website isn’t about awareness; it’s about giving access to her fans while maintaining control over her image. Beyoncé has long showed signs that she wants to be the only one running the show when it comes to her image – from ending her father’s management of her career to releasing the first photos of her daughter through a personal blog. Her new website is a hub for her to disseminate information.

Beyoncé’s seeming perfection on stage and in interviews has brought her criticism for being robotic. Her website addresses these concerns as well, creating a sense of intimacy, complete with hand-written notes. The photos she includes on her Tumblr show her at her most human – no makeup, surrounded by family. The site also features a peak at what inspires her via her blog, and a fan section allows her “beyhive” to see themselves on her site, and show that their Queen Bey sees them.

The pop diva is off to great start. She’s already updated her blog – and garnered headlines – with penned notes to Sade, Basquiat, and the First Lady. Hopefully she’s in it for the long haul, because building a website is only the first step to creating an effective online presence. Here are 9 easy steps you can take to build an authentic web presence of your own:

1. Start with a solid strategy: Define the goals of your website and what components will be created to address these needs.

   Read the rest of this entry »

When the media first learned that Jay-Z and Beyonce had named their daughter Blue Ivy, the origin of the name was thought to be based on Jay-Z’s classic Blueprint album and the Roman Numeral IV but Beyonce’s recently released Tumblr page hints at a new meaning behind the baby’s name.

In one of the few video clips on the site,a pregnant Bey is seen standing next to a tree while on vacation in Croatia with Jay and she says this:

“We woke up this morning and took a nice little walk and passed by this beautiful blue tree. I think it’s Blue Ivy, which will be quite appropriate.”

Perhaps they’d already settled on the name and came across this tree by coincidence or maybe that’s where the inspiration came from. We’ll have to wait til she does her first post-baby interview to see.

What do you think?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Necolebitchie.com

Yesterday, Beyonce and Jay -Z celebrated four years of wedded bliss, and any day now Beyonce’s new Tumblr page is expected to debut with candid pics of their 10-year relationship.

So far the page is password protected to avoid any leaks until the big debut (you know how Bey does), but a few private pics have been released to build anticipation. Bey’s web designer Matthew Siskin says the Tumblr page will be a part of a new website that’s also being launched for the singer so it sounds like Beyonce’s going all out for her post-baby comeback—not that she ever really left.

I can’t lie, I’m pretty excited to see pics of Bey and Jay over the years, but I am surprised the notoriously private couple is sharing these personal moments with the public. Beyonce’s been a lot more open since Blue Ivy came into the picture so maybe this is all a part of her new public image. What do you think?

Update: The Tumblr is now open! Check, check it out: http://beyonce.tumblr.com/

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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It’s nice to see a young black women my age doing something productive with their time, especially creating a community that supports positivity amongst black women. In the media it seems like black women in particularity are always tearing each other down, so it’s nice to see there are people who fighting against the stereotype. Blogging platforms like Tumblr have created great spaces for black women to come together and celebrate everything that has to do with being black and woman. For Brown Girls is a great example of this cross section. Showing off the beauty that is brown skin girls who don’t always feel validate, especially in a European beauty standard dominated society. Colorism is a problem that is still rampant in our community, as well as other people of color’s communities.

The Carter Family released pictures of their daughter Blue Ivy Carter recently on a Tumblr page called HelloBlueIvyCarter.com.

The family thanked their fans for allowing them their privacy and wanted to release the pictures without gaining profit for it.

Solange also tweeted about the release of pictures here.

On the Tumblr page, the Carters left a message for their fans:

We welcome you to share in our joy.

Thank you for respecting our privacy during Beautiful time in our lives

- The Carter Family

Isn’t she adorable?

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