I am convinced that Latinos love Facebooking because it allows us to do what we do best....to gossip, in a good way!  OK, now I have to go update my status.

Social Media Marketing Is A Multicultural World

Social media is now ubiquitous. Usage of blogs, social networks, and video sharing sites is increasing rapidly, and millions of people now look to social media sites as their primary source of news, opinion, and entertainment. As we witness this dramatic shift from traditional to social media, we believe it's important to examine its cultural dimensions - that is, who is driving this shift, what are the cultural factors behind it, and what are the implications for marketers seeking to reach specific ethnic/cultural groups via social media? We recently conducted an analysis of newly collected data to examine the patterns of social media behaviors of different ethnic/cultural groups in the U.S. ...We found broad diversity in social media behaviors among different ethnic/cultural groups and that emerging minorities visit social networking sites more frequently than non-Hispanic whites. 

Percent of respondents who visit social networking sites more than 2 or 3 times a month:

English-preferring Hispanics,36%
Asians, 34%
Spanish-preferring Hispanics, 27%
African Americans, 26%
Non-Hispanic whites,18% 

Percent of respondents who visit MySpace or Facebook "regularly":

English-preferring Hispanics,44% (MySpace) 18% (Facebook)
Spanish-preferring Hispanics,35% and 13%
Asians, 31% and 18%
African Americans, 29% and 12%
Non-Hispanic whites,22% and 7% 

Percent of respondents 35 and younger who visit social networking sites more than 2 or 3 times a month:

English-preferring Hispanics, 58%
Asians, 58%
Non-Hispanic whites, 57%
Spanish-preferring Hispanics, 33%
African Americans, 33% 

Percent of respondents 36 and older who visit social networking sites more than 2 or 3 times a month:

English-preferring Hispanics, 24%
Asians, 24%
Spanish-preferring Hispanics, 23%
African Americans, 17%
Non-Hispanic whites, 13% 

Please visit this link for the full article: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=100595

There is only one Walter Mercado and he was destined for TV. Reading his forecasts is not the same as watching him deliver his words of wisdom live and in HD.  His meticulous enunciation and magnificent costumes, which by the way I have never seen him wear the same outfit twice, are fascinating. He coordinates colors from head to studio. 

To me, I can’t start the New Year without consulting with him first.  As my mom would say, “Suba el volume que ya viene Walter,” as we gather around the TV waiting to hear our sign, our significant other’s sign and maybe even our arch nemesis’ sign.  Then we all walk away a little wiser, or at least with the feeling that we have been enlightened and forewarned.

Found myself going over the winners of this year’s Latin Grammy’s.  Album of the Year – Juanes; Song of the Year – Juanes; Best New Artist – Kany García; Best Pop Album by a Duo or Group – Belanova; Best Urban Music Album – Wisin y Yandel.  It was a big night for Latin music (and Universal Latin Music Group specifically).  This year no genre dominated which says that Latin music continues its diversification and can’t be treated in a homogenous way – just like the Hispanic market can’t be lumped together.  It’s not one market but rather many individual communities made up of different cultures sharing one common language.  But there’s no question music cuts across these cultures in a way that is unique and compelling. The impact has influenced relations between Anglos and Hispanics.  The cultural expression in the music and popularity of Latin artists have paved the way, or broken the ice for Hispanics in the U.S.Check out the music  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FL0Kfh5bmSU

Javier Bardem became the first Spanish actor to win an Oscar on Sunday by taking the best supporting actor award for his chilling portrait of a psychopathic killer in "No Country For Old Men." Bardem, 38, who has won virtually every movie award this season for his performance, claimed the Oscar in his second bid for the film industry's highest honor. He previously was a best leading actor candidate for his role as a Cuban poet in the 2000 biopic "Before Night Falls. "In "No Country," a violent modern western thriller written and directed by brothers Joel and Ethan Coen, Bardem plays a peculiarly coiffed killer who cuts a violent swathe across small-town Texas, often deciding the fate of random victims with the toss of a coin.