Alicia Keys’ Album Release Meets MySpace Hack

Tue, Nov 13, 2007

Content, Digital Media, News, Social Networking, Strategy, Web 2.0

Today is the official release of Alicia Keys As I Am, and I must say that the camp behind her at J Records had a mean widget game leading up to this day.

Alicia Keys Widget

The widget includes news updates, video clips of Alicia in the studio, and videos uploaded by fans.

Alicia Keys Widget Upload Instructions

The widget comes with instructions for adding it to your favorite social networks — either your facebook or MySpace account.

But this post today isn’t really about Keys’ record release or J Records’ widget game. It’s a lot more about the vulnerability and security risks encountered with social networking, particularly as it relates to Alicia Keys.

This YouTube video reveals how the MySpace page of Alicia Keys (along with Greements of Fortune, a French funk band, and Dykeenies, a rock band from Glasgow) was hacked on November 8, just five days before her record release. [Shout outs to MML for the tip.]

What this hack reveals is that:

…MySpace is suffering from the major drawback to any practical, open platform for the masses. “Security and functionality exist in an inverse relationship,” he said. “The more functional you make anything, the less secure it tends to become.” [The New York Times Bits Blog]

Takeaway: All that Web 2.0 isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Well at least MySpace isn’t. Of course the hack won’t affect Keys’ record sales, but it makes for a great headline (innit)?

This post was written by:

Lynne d Johnson - who has written 24 posts on Black Web 2.0.

Lynne d Johnson is the Director, Social Media for FastCompany.com, a leading website and community for people passionate about business ideas that also offers the complete content of Fast Company magazine. She also writes Digital Media Diva, a technology blog following web, media, and consumer trends for FastCompany.com, and has also recently contributed to TheDailyVoice, techPresident, Black Web 2.0, and Rushmore Drive. As a consultant Lynne works with technology and Web clients in the areas of content, community, and brand strategy. Lynne also serves on the Board of Directors of the Literary Freedom Project, a nonprofit arts organization, which seeks to empower communities of color through literature, creative thinking, and new media. Prior to joining Fast Company, she was the General Manager, New Media for VIBE, SPIN, and VIBE Vixen where she she managed marketing, editorial, production, business development, and sales operations for the magazines’ websites and mobile properties. Her personal blog, Lynne d Johnson || music, media, my life, which launched in July 2001, is the recipient of the 2006 Black Weblog Awards Black Blogger Achievement Award.

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