Apple this week launched Ping, a new social network that runs within the iTunes software.Ping takes the “activity stream” format popularized by Twitter and Facebook and applies it to the music your friends are “talking about, listening to, and downloading”.In theory, this should take us beyond mainstream hits and further down the so-called “long tail” of lesser known artists. It’s here that Ping fails to deliver: The network is currently just another way to follow Lady Gaga.That’s the topic of my CNN column this week.Read the full column at CNN.com >> More About: apple, cnn, itunes, itunes ping, Ping, social media, social networkingFor more Social Media coverage:

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