The 10 Billionth tweet

So it's not just a flash in the pan. Twitter's meteoric growth continues, having broken the billion tweets mark in Nov '08, and reaching five billion tweets last November.

This sustained popularity has lead brands to take advantage of the site's first opportunity for online advertising - Lloyds Bank and Virgin Media are reportedly the first to sign up.

Twitter, it seems, is here to stay... and now it might even start making some money.

Follow @LoungGroup on twitter (we've hit 500 followers - watch out @aplusk!)

TLG goes all Musical

A couple of exciting bits of audiotastic Lounger news:

The lovely Soozy can sing. Not only that but she is performing this summer, and at the Hay Festival no less. You can catch her crooning under the pseudonym of Soozy Q in Hay on Wye, Wales on 4^th June. She also has 2 tracks coming out on Fektive Records in Holland this summer...

But wait, there's more....

The equally lovely Helen has a brother. And he has a band - The Blonde - and they were on BBC Radio Leeds last night doing an acoustic session and interview (it's all on iPlayer if you want to have a listen).

All this news makes you wonder what melodical talent lies undiscovered at Lounge Towers... can James play the maracas?... is Jamie a whiz on the cello?... Can Lou sing like Lady Gaga?

Watch out, I smell a talent show...

Be Boris for a day

Obviously we don't advise dying your hair blonde and insulting people from Liverpool. But instead trying your hand at creating a skyline for London.

London-based architectural illustrators Hayes Davidson have created a canvas to transform the city skyline in any way you see fit. The view from Parliament Hill is your staring point...

UPPERSTREET.COM

UPPER STREET Young women like to feel they have an individual sense of style, that through customisation and accessories they’re experts at creating their own individual look. Customised trainers have been around for years but with the launch of upperstreet.com in March, the trend for personalised footwear moves into designer shoes. It’s a made-to-order label, that lets you create your ultimate footwear. With a specially created and simple shoe design tool, Upper Street allows ladies to to unleash their creative streak or simply create the shoes they’ve always searched for. It’s a great idea, harnessing the desire for customisation and individuality and enabling girls to get creative. With a price point of £180-250 per pair, they’re definitely targeted at women in their 20’s and early 30’s with a high disposable income. But then, young women on The Lounge’s network have told us about sharing the cost and the use of designer clothes, shoes and handbags, so perhaps even students will be group-designing and buying their own customised shoes. We think it’s a great idea, building on the trend and kudos of personal creativity and individuality. Watch this space.

Footwear from the Upperstreet.com collection

Youth Round-Up

The lounge brings you a round-up of some of the most interesting and informative articles and blogs about youth culture and marketing.

Habbo Hotel offers a useful new teenage marketing analysis tool.

emarketer on the contrast between teen vs. adult levels of paid for home media content

Some great, albeit obvious tips by Mediapost on how to engage Generation y but worth a look

Disney Releases Biggest Ever Study of Tweens in Europe