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FIRST THE INTERNET, NOW THE MALLS: Is nothing safe from MP3.com? The company has announced a deal with music retailer The Outernet, where customers can create customized CDs at store locations. Customers can choose from digital artists using interactive touch screen monitors at The Outernet locations. The selections will then be "outloaded" to a fully automated CD burning system within each facility. The first location will open this fall in Apple Valley, MN. Twenty more locations will open by July 2001, unless this whole Internet thing passes by like CB Radio did in the ‘70s.

RECIPROCATING THE OFFERS: Digital Rights Management provider Reciprocal is making deals left and right. It's integrating its Digital Clearing Service with Glassbook, Inc.'s Reader software, to help publishers enter the e-book market. The teaming offers publishers and online booksellers outsourcing options, customer support and financial and informational transaction clearing service. Glassbook services more than 600,000 users, and is best-known for presenting master of horror Stephen King's e-novella "Riding The Bullet." Reciprocal is also supporting the launch of new music portal, PlanetMG.com. A unit of Sony Marketing AsiaPacific Pte Ltd, Planet MG will use Reciprocal's DRM service for downloading of music content using Microsoft Windows Media format, with playback on Windows Media with Sony's ATRAC3 plug-in. Users can choose from indie and international acts, including Mayalsian artist Too Phat and This Chameleon from Japan, not to be confused with Too This and Phat Chameleon.

X MARKS THE SITE: MediaX Corporation has created a central information and destination Internet site for Evolution Talent Agency. Evolution represents 75 major and emerging acts, including the Allman Brothers, Backstreet Boys, NSYNC, the Go-Go's, Britney Spears and Alice Cooper. MediaX will represent the artists on the Web, including band sites, weekly chats and concerts. Evolution is the first major talent agency to utilize the Internet in this capacity, or so they claim.

A DOLLAR BUYS A LOT OF A-TEAM: Intertainer has teamed with Akamai Technologies to deliver video-on-command to high-speed computer users. Intertainer's library includes first-run films, music videos, and archived programming from Dreamworks SKG, Sony Music, Warner Brothers and Columbia Tri-Star Television. First-tun movies for $2.95, archived films for $1.95, TV shows for just $.25. The VHS-quality programming is currently available to DSL users, and will eventually be accessible through cable modems. Let's just hope that Outernet and Intertainer don't join forces, as their monikers are confusing as it is.

STILL SMASHING: Still broken up about the imminent demise of the Smashing Pumpkins? The post-grunge band's official Web site has unveiled its radio channel, featuring all Smashing Pumpkins all the time. Smashing Pumpkins features exclusive live recordings from early ‘90s through the band's current tour. In addition, fans can try to decipher hidden meanings on the band's "MACHINA/the machines of God" release and try to make sense of the band's recent break-up. Fans can also play a virtual game, where Billy Corgan is cast in "The Adams Family" and "The Island of Dr. Moreau."

DANCE FEVER: Los Angeles Top 40 station KIIS wants to teach you how to shake your groove thing. Its Internet program "Your Chance To Dance" brings entertainment's top choreographers to the Web. Fatina, Kenny Ortega, Tina Landon, Wade Robson and Robin Antin can show viewers how to move just like Will Smith, Michael Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin and NSYNC. The show is hosted by KIIS personality Chad Celi, who will not be allowed demonstrate his favorite dance, the Funky Chicken.

BUTT-PLUG OF APPROVAL: Napster and other file-sharing programs have earned the support of the porn industry. Porn was one of the first businesses to utilize Web cams, chat rooms and other facets of the Net. Downloading is perceived to be a major benefit to the industry. Said Vivid Video Vice President of Internet Marketing David Schlesinger: "If surfers find a snippet from a movie, it might entice them into buying the whole tape. We can actually turn these shared files into mini-infomercials. We've definitely been exploring the technologies out there, and when the market dictates that it is time to get aggressive on this, we will. We'll have a loaded gun in our pocket." Oh, so that's what's in his pocket…