Saturday, February 21, 2009

The Roots To Record 200 New Songs For Jimmy Fallon's Show

As Jimmy Fallon’s house band for his new late night show, they have to record 200 new songs due to NBC’s cost-costing effort to avoid paying royalties on songs the band might have played on air. What’s funny to me is that they must expect this show to actually stick around long enough for them to need 200 songs. I wonder if they’ll pick up where Rising Down left off (142 w/ the bonus song) or will they do some other kooky numbering scheme.

If they were so worried about money, a common sense approach might have been to have them do like 50, enough to get through a month or so. If for some strange reason the show caught on, they could record some more. Then they wouldn’t have to try and hold onto all these new songs after the show is canceled. If the record labels can’t hold onto music, what makes a TV studio think they can do any better? Or maybe they’ll actually give them away for *gasp* free as promo for the show.

As a Roots fan, I’m not complaining, but how’s NBC gonna feel when the inevitable leaks start across the net? You know they’ve already got plans to sell a new mp3 or two everyday as soon as the show ends. Or maybe they’ll actually give them away for *gasp* free as promo for the show. Crazier things have happened and NBC does have Hulu? My only hope is The Roots got their money up front.

They reportedly have 55 in the can already and, for their hard work, they’ve been granted 10 weeks off a year to still tour on their own. I wonder if they’ll get paid for unused vacation days upon termination?

 

Posted By DJ KidRelly


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Snoop to Release Next Album Through MTV


In a move reminiscent of Jay-Z’s monumental deal with Live Nation, Snoop Dogg, who just split with longtime label Interscope Records, has announced that he will release his next album Malice In Wonderland, through MTV. He will also launch a new nighttime variety show called Dogg After Dark, and will leverage MTV’s popular Rock Band video game as a distribution platform. Deals like this speak volumes about the state of the majors. Or, at the very least, artists perceptions about the majors ability to effectively sell their music.

Full press release after the jump.

New York, NY – February 10, 2009 – MTV and rapper, icon, record producer, entrepreneur and actor, Snoop Dogg today announced a first-of-its kind global deal that will bring the entertainers’ personality to television in a new variety talk show, “Dogg After Dark,” and his music to fans with a new album release and into the best-selling music video game Rock Band®.

Premiering on Tuesday, February 17th at 9pm ET/PT on MTV, Snoop Dogg will host “Dogg After Dark,” a new jam packed weekly variety talk show from Los Angeles hotspot Kress on Hollywood Boulevard. “Dogg After Dark” will bring his Doggystyle swagger to the airwaves with raw interviews with A-list celebrities and musicians, hilarious sketch-comedy segments and musical performances from the hottest artists. The show will air every Tuesday night for seven weeks and feature Snoop’s own in-house band, the “Snoopadelics.”

“When Van Toffler and I sat down Boss to Boss, a global quintuple threat takeover was masterminded. As the world of entertainment keeps changing, we felt it was the right time to let Snoop Dogg back on MTV so we could continue to run thangs with music, movies, DVDs and bring Hip-Hop to Rock Band.” said Snoop Dogg. “So screw ya wigz on tight and tune in on Tuesday nights for the first step to the next level of Snoop D-O double G. Dogg after Dark is the only nightclub tv show hosted by you know who. So take a journey with me through the mind, body, soul and musical mind state of the most prolific, authentic game spitter. And tha sh*t is funny, so show me da money!”

“Snoop has been a mainstay across MTV screens for over a decade by pushing the boundaries of hip-hop with his signature antics, incredible catalogue of music, legendary videos, larger than life personality and even a little controversy,” said Van Toffler, President, MTV Networks Music / Films / Logo Groups. “I can’t even begin to imagine MTV, my tumultuous career and several raging ulcers without the Dogg being such a big part of our history. He is an undeniable international superstar whose talent and work transcend music, tv and film and we look forward to launching this new multidimensional partnership with the Doggfather.”

“From iconic VMA performances to DoggyFizzle Televizzle and everything imaginable in between, MTV has always been a home for Snoop’s music and comedic expressions and will continue to be that through this exciting new partnership,” said Amy Doyle, Executive Vice President of Music and Talent for MTV.

The Grammy-Award nominated rapper’s unprecedented deal with MTV will let loose Snoop Dogg’s upcoming, new album, Malice In Wonderland, with global distribution, marketing and promotion. Featuring some seemingly unlikely musical guests, the album will feature tracks by Dr Dre, Pharrell and Lalo Shifrin, is scheduled to be released later this year. In addition, songs from Snoop Dogg’s impressive catalogue of hits will be released on MTV’s hot-selling Rock Band® music video game platform.

“Dogg After Dark” is Executive Produced by Snoop Dogg. Tony DiBari, Tim Healy and Karen Frank are Executive Producers for MTV. Matt Parillo is Executive in Charge of Production. Leslie Greif and Adam Freeman of the Greif Company are Executive Producers. Ted Chung and Constance Schwartz of Snoopadelic Pictures are Executive Producers.



Posted By: DJ KidRelly

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Music industry singing the blues at Grammys

 

 

Rockers, rappers and record executives gather in Los Angeles on Sunday for the annual Grammy Awards, but there is little to celebrate at the music industry's biggest night.


Album sales have tumbled for the past decade, last year's viewership was among the lowest ever, and now a recession is generating more layoffs at the major labels.

The top contenders are rapper Lil Wayne with eight nominations and British rock band Coldplay with seven. But the Grammys are starting to look a little dated in their 51st year. The top award is album of the year, but the industry these days is ruled by digital singles, ringtones and ringbacks.

"The Grammy celebration is a little bit ironic because the traditional business model it has always celebrated is on its way out. It would behoove them to adjust to modern times," said Steve Knopper, author of "Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age."

Knopper and others believe the awards telecast needs to find new ways to reach fans who have long eschewed the mainstream music industry and events like the Grammys.

Last year's Grammys telecast drew 17.5 million viewers, off 12 percent from the prior year, and down 42 percent from the all-time high of 30 million in 1993.

"If the Grammys continue to hitch their wagon to the 'we're going to sell shiny little round pieces of plastic,' model they're going to find their way out of a business model like the rest of the industry," Knopper said.

The recession is just the latest woe for the industry, which has laid off thousands of workers and slashed artists during a years-long slump brought on by a faster than predicted shift to digital distribution. Like the industry it celebrates, the Grammys are also struggling with a declining audience.

"The Grammys need to be innovative, particularly with the decline of the album. There will be have to be a revamping of categories to remain part of the everchanging landscape," market," said entertainment attorney Kenneth Freundlich.

And while purchased digital singles have exploded on services like Apple Inc's iTunes, they haven't come close to offsetting the 33 percent slide in U.S. album sales since 2000.

Even EMI Group, which delivered one of this year's album of the year nominees: Coldplay's, "Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends," which has sold over 7 million units worldwide, believes albums are becoming less relevant in some cases.

"We're moving away from the album cycle for some artists. The album isn't necessarily the most relevant mechanism for some artists to connect with fans on an ongoing basis," said Nick Gatfield, the British label's president of A&R (artists and repertoire) for UK and North America.

"It's conceivable we could get to a point of signing a 50-track deal with an artist and determine later how to bundle them (songs)," he said.

Also competing for best album is another British rock band, Radiohead, which bypassed major labels to distribute "In Rainbows" on its own Web site at a price to be determined by consumers. It later released the album through a small label owned by rocker Dave Matthews.

Another indie release is considered the favorite: "Raising Sand," an acclaimed collaboration between former Led Zeppelin rocker Robert Plant and American bluegrass singer Alison Krauss. It was released by Rounder Records, a label that specializes in roots music.

Two rappers are also vying for the prize: Lil Wayne with "Tha Carter III" and Ne-Yo with "Year of the Gentleman."

The album of the year is just one of 110 categories, with prizes to be given out in such genres as country, pop, reggae, bluegrass, polka, blues and spoken word. All but a dozen awards are hurriedly handed out before the main event kicks off at 8 p.m. EST.

As usual, the broadcast will be performance-heavy. Among the expected artists are all the album nominees; best new artist nominees Adele and the Jonas Brothers; and veterans such as Paul McCartney and U2.

 

Posted by: DJ KidRelly

(Reporting by Sue Zeidler)

 



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Tuesday, February 17, 2009

The Most Wanted Rap Albums of 2009

Now that 2008 is well behind us and we've shaken off the hangover of New Year celebrations, it's time to look ahead at what 2009 has in stock for hip-hop. This year promises a very exciting lineup of rap releases, including albums from Eminem, Jay-Z, and (*fingers crossed*) Dr. Dre. Here are the 20 Most Anticipated Hip-Hop Albums of 2009.

20. Chamillionaire - 'Venom'

Grammy-winning rapper Chamillionaire is gearing up his third major label effort, Venom, scheduled for an early 2009 release via his new home at Universal Republic Records. The much-buzzed about follow-up to 2007's Ultimate Victory is led by the single "Creepin' (Solo)," which features a powerful guest verse from Ludacris.

19. Slim Thug - 'Boss of All Bosses'

Slim Thug - Boss of All Bosses© Koch Records
A distinctly voiced rapper with an imposing figure to match, Slim Thug established a huge following in such a short time. That's also because he's business savvy -— mixtapes released on his own Boss Hogg Outlawz label circulated throughout the Houston region. Slim's not-so-prophetic debut album, Already Platinum, dropped in 2005, while his group the Boss Hogg Outlawz released Serve & Collect and Serve & Collect 2 consecutively on KOCH Records. Now Slim is back on Koch to release his long overdue sophomore effort, Boss Of All Bosses, tentatively slated for March 2009.

18. Joe Budden - 'Padded Room'

Joe Budden - Padded Room© Amalgam Digital
After securing a release from his Def Jam contract in 2007, Joe Budden immediately became a much sought-after free agent. Though he was approached by several major labels, Budden didn't want to jump from frying pan to fire. Rather, he decided to go against the grain by signing with upstart web-based distributor, Amalgam Digital. Amalgam will release Padded Room with exclusive hidden bonus tracks later this year. Budden's erstwhile adversary, The Game, appears on Padded Room's lead cut, "The Future."

17. Jadakiss - 'The Last Kiss'

The Last Kiss is the final entry in Jada's Kiss trilogy, which began way back in 2001 with Kiss tha Game Goodbye and continued with 2004's Kiss of Death. Of course, a lot has transpired since then. Kiss left Ruff Ryders and joined Def Jam, at Jay-Z's beckoning. The Last Kiss is led by the Ne-Yo-assisted single, "By My Side." It also boasts guest appearances by Jay-Z, Faith Evans, Lil Wayne, Styles P, and Ghostface Killah.  

16. Busta Rhymes - 'Back on My B.S.'

Busta Rhymes - Back on My BS© Universal
If you've been anywhere near a radio lately you've probably heard the trunk-rattling Busta single "Arab Money." Busta is taking no prisoners on this go-round. Busta kicked off his B.O.M.B. campaign by dropping the poignant street anthem, "Don't Touch Me." He then followed it up with the dancehall favorite, "Arab Money." Not bad for a senior citizen rapper.

15. Saigon - 'The Greatest Story Never Told'

© Henry Adaso/About.com

Saigon's major debut has been delayed so much that I'll have to see it to believe it still exists at this point. Despite the cloud of uncertainty hovering around Sai-Giddy's album, one thing's for sure: with Just Blaze manning the boards and Sai on the mic, anticipation for The Greatest Story Never Told remains at an all time high.


14. Wale - TBA

© Getty Images
Few new MCs have resonated with hip-hop heads as strongly as Wale. His 2008 mixtape, The Mixtape About Nothing, was superior to many of the hip-hop albums that dropped last year. Imagine the damage he could do if he can parlay those same skills to his full-length debut, due out this year via Mark Ronson's Allido Records.

13. 50 Cent - 'Before I Self Destruct'

© Bryan Bedder/Getty Images
Even if 50 Cent never sells another CD in his lifetime, he'll still have no trouble making his mortgage payments. After all, he's the richest rapper alive. That said, 50 has watched his popularity plummet over the last couple of years. Before I Self Destruct, the Queens, NY MC's fourth solo outing, gives him ample opportunity to win back some admiration from hip-hop heads. The album's lead single, "I Get It In," hearkens to bouncy bangers like "In Da Club" and "Candy Shop." 

12. Lil Wayne - 'Tha Carter IV'/'I Can't Feel My Face'

© Getty Images
Lil Wayne has a very busy 2009 ahead of him. In addition to a rumored Carter III re-issue, the New Orleans rapper is also hoping to keep our iPods fully employed with the following:

  • I Can't Fell My Face (a joint album with Juelz Santana)
  • An untitled collaboration with T-Pain under the moniker T-Wayne
  • Tha Carter IV, and
  • A "rock" album


11. Big Boi - 'Sir Luscious Left Foot'

Photo © Scott Gries/Getty Images
Sir Luscious Left Foot is Big Boi's first solo album. In a 2008 Billboard.com interview, Big revealed that the album is "Big Boi to the extreme." "It’s like a recession special," Big Boi says of the album. "I'm talking about what’s going on in the world, with everything from rising gas prices to the election. It’s just my insights on life up to this point." Look for more guest appearances and production from Andre 3000, who helped make "Royal Flush" the best hip-hop song of 2008.

10. Clipse - 'Till the Casket Drops'

Clipse© Re-Up/Zomba Label Group
With the Clipse's disappointing Re-Up Gang mixtape behind them, brothers Pusha T and Malice have now turned their attention to the upcoming Columbia debut, Till the Casket Drops.
The production cast includes The Neptunes, Justice League, Sean C and LV, Dame Grease, and DJ Khalil. Till the Casket Drops is Clipse's third full-length and a follow-up to the brilliant Hell Hath No Fury.
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9. Raekwon - 'Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II'

Whether Only Built 4 Cuban Linx II, the sequel to Raekwon's '95 street classic, will see its release this year is still anyone's guess. However, fans of the rap elder statesman may be pleased to hear that RZA will return to man the boards for Cuban Linx 2. Expect some viscous beats and witty, intelligent narratives.

8. Rakim - 'The 7th Seal'

© Peter Kramer/Getty Images
When I interviewed Rakim in 2006, he was almost certain that Seventh Seal would be out in 2007. To the disappointment of many, that album is still in limbo. All hope is not lost, though; word on the street is that the eagerly anticipated Seventh Seal may finally drop this year.

7. Mos Def - 'The Ecstatic'

© Getty Images
Propelled by the brilliant "Life In Marvelous Times," The Ecstatic marks Mos Def's long-anticipated return to pure rhyming. The album finds Mos as poetic and confident as ever. It's his first full-length since 2007's half-baked True Magic.

6. Kanye West - 'Good A** Job'

© Getty Images
Kanye West was hoping to complete the college-themed series with Good A** Job, but he placed that project on the burner to focus on 808s & Heartbreak. With 808s & Heartbreak and all its eccentricities now behind him, 'Ye can re-direct his focus to the final installment of the college series, tentatively titled Good A** Job.

5. OutKast - TBA

OutKast's critically acclaimed double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below was originally intended as two separate LPs. Apparently, packaging them jointly wasn't a bad idea, as that set went on to sell over 10 million units. There's no arguing that Big Boi and 3000 have been contemplating their respective solo albums for a long time. Thankfully, the two have confirmed that they're working on their respective solo projects, after which they'll reunite for another OutKast album.


4. Lupe Fiasco - 'LupEND'

© Getty Images/Donna Ward
How do you go out with a big bang on your final album? If you're Lupe Fiasco, you make it three discs long. Lupe's third album, LUPEND, is further divided into three sections: Everywhere, Nowhere, and Down Here, respectively. 

 


Lupe is a talented MC, and Food & Liquor and The Cool deserve to be mentioned among the best hip-hop music of this decade. However, the cynical bastard in me is skeptical about a 3-disc rap album. Hip-hop double albums have been disappointing in the past, with a couple of exceptions. So, imagine how much of an uphill task he has created for himself. I'll be more than happy to eat my words if he delivers 100% pure quality on every disc, every verse, every track, every beat on L-U-P-END.


3. Jay-z - 'The Blueprint 3'

Jay-Z at Glastonbury© Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Ask any Jay-Z fan and they'll tell you that his 2001 CD, The Blueprint, remains one of his best albums ever. Jay has been trying to recreate the brilliance of that album ever since. The first Blueprint follow-up, 2002's Blueprint 2: The Gift and The Curse, marked a low point in Jay-Z's catalog, as the album suffered from excessive filler material and forced collaborations. Cross your fingers and hope for Jay to recapture the magic on Blueprint 3.

2. Dr. Dre - 'Detox'

Dr. DrePhoto © Michael Buckner/Getty Images
Dr. Dre swears that this is the year Detox will finally see the light of day. File this one under "I'll Believe It When I See It."

1. Eminem - 'The Relapse'

© Bill Pugliano/Getty Images
Any hip-hop fan who isn't looking forward to Eminem's new album either needs to check his pulse or find a new hobby. Or both. A few missteps here and there notwithstanding, Em is still one of the nastiest MCs of our time. His fifth major album, The Relapse, is undoubtedly the most eagerly awaited rap project of 2009, rivaled only by Dr. Dre's Detox. Speaking of Dre, word on the street is that he's manning the boards on The Relapse. This is a welcome development because Eminem is a better rapper than he is a producer. It's a good idea to let Dre work the knob so that Slim Shady can focus on his rhymes. "Crack A Bottle," a mid-tempo collaboration with Dre and 50 Cent, is expected to be the first single from Relapse.

Posted By : DJ KidRelly





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Interscope Fires Many

The suits at Interscope who ruined America’s music business are now seeking to ruin America’s economy by adding 24 people to the unemployment pool.

Says Billboard:

Roughly two dozen staffers were cut at Interscope Geffen A&M on Friday, according to sources. The layoffs hit the A&R, marketing and promotion departments and impacted mostly mid- and entry-level staffers, according to one source. The layoffs come as Interscope plans for highly anticipated albums from 50 Cent, U2 and Eminem in the coming months.


I’m sure the layoffs had something to do with Jimmy Iovine’s depleted retirement funds, because seriously who can survive on $250 million a year? At least, they’ll have more money and less personnel available to help make Eminem’s Relapse LP a success. 

 

Posted by DJ Kid Relly


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Kid Relly on Artist Management

Managing an artist or bands career is a tricky process which you will dedicate most of your time to. A manager is not like most normal jobs, you do not have set work hours and you do not have set vacations, etc. You basically will be an extension of the artist doing a lot of the work that isn’t as much fun at some times but at other times is greatly rewarding. To be a manager you should know the in’s and out’s of the industry or at least have basic knowledge of business and law. The manager will be responsible for day to day duties keeping the artists career running smoothly and soliciting any projects that may gain more money and exposure for the artist. Being a manager is a job like many where you get better with experience, going through many different situations and learning how to make the outcome of those events a positive one for you and your artist.

The pay of the manager depends on the salary of the artist as most manager’s payments go by percentage. The industry standard for a manager is 20% of the gross monthly income of the artist meaning for every hundred dollars the artist makes you take $20 of that. The manager is not a booking agent, as many people think - the manager is not responsible for getting an artist or band shows and tours. The manager is supposed to help in negotiating and the process of getting the tours and shows set up, but the manager is not responsible for booking. This job is for the talent agent or booking agent or agency. In some states such as California it is illegal to be either the talent agent or booking agent and the manager.

As for artists, many ask us when is the right time to get a manager.  Most of the time, the artist should get a manager when they can no longer do it by themselves because of too many shows and recording sessions to keep all of their business straight. Many other reasons are if you get a large independent or major record label deal then you should have a manager before you sign the contract with the label, and also if you are putting a lot of money behind your project then you should find a manager to make sure everything runs smoothly especially if you do not have a lot of knowledge of the music industry.  A good manager will be able to find marketing, public relations, and more for you at a good price.

For those who are interested in becoming a manager there are many ways to start. The best way to prepare for the career is by reading books pertaining to music management, general business, and business and music law. Some managers pursue degrees in business law, business administration, and music law. If you are interested there are schools with degrees just for music careers at places such as Full Sail based in the Orlando , FL area.

DJ KidRelly aka Kid Come Up


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Digital Sales Surpass CD Sales at Atlantic Records, Overall Sales Down


Yep, it finally happened. One label has come forward and admitted that, for the first time, digital sales of its music has surpassed CDs. While many pundits asserted that loosing tunes via tiny downloadable files would instantaneously cause the deep-pocketed record labels to crumble as piracy ran rampant, the numbers tell a different story. In fact, music sales overall have declined from $14.6 billion in 1999 to $10.1 billion this year, and it's expected to shrink further. But for Atlantic, moving tracks on the information superhighway has proven quite successful; last quarter, digital sales accounted for 51% of its revenue, while CD sales still make up over two-thirds of all music sales industry-wide. There's no real indication as to why Atlantic seems to have that digital charm while everyone else is still clinging tight to old world business models, but it's sure nice to see this side of the equation thriving. Now, about those DRM-free downloads across the board...


Courtesy of Darren Murph from Engadget.com, a cool site for technology news

 

DJ KidRelly aka Kid Come Up


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CDJ News: SiriusXM Price Increases Coming in March

Well, satellite radio lovers, we have good news and bad news. The good news is that the positive stipulations to the Sirius XM merger deal will finally begin to bear fruit and a variety of new programming packages will be available. The bad news is that many current subscribers will see their fees increased. First and foremost, the basic subscription fee for the current programming package will not budge - as the providers stated during the merger battle, the core subscription will stay fixed at $12.95 per month with lump sum discounts intact. The primary change is one that will affect subscribers with multiple radios, as additional subscriptions will jump from $6.99 per month to $8.99 per month. The variety of new packages and a la carte plans revealed during the merger deal will be available as well however, ranging in price from $6.99 per month to $16.99 per month. Let’s have a look at all of the offerings:

  • Sirius Everything (basic subscription): $12.95
  • Best of Both (Sirius Everything plus Best of XM): $16.99
  • A La Carte (50 Sirius channels a la carte): $6.99
  • A La Carte Gold (100 Sirius and/or XM channels a la carte): $14.99
  • Mostly Music: $9.99
  • News, Sports and Talk: $9.99
  • Family-Friendly: $11.95
  • Family-Friendly plus Best of XM: $14.99

Plans that combine Sirius and XM programming will of course require a new radio. The other big change is the removal of the free internet streaming option. Currently, paying subscribers can enjoy free low-quality streaming over the internet or pay $2.99 for a high-quality 128k stream. The former will now be removed and all subscribers must pay $2.99 to enjoy programming via the internet. Of course that’s not a bad deal at all; a year of streaming will run $35.88 which is comparable to both Pandora and Last.fm ($36 each), and 25% cheaper than Slacker. These changes will take place on March 11 and users are invited to prepay for service prior to that date in order to be locked in at the current pricing for up to three more years. What say you satellite radio subscribers - happy, sad or indifferent?

 

Posted By: DJ KidRelly

 


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College DJ News: Jermaine Dupri Out As Head Of Island Records Urban Division

 JD
By Tai Saint-Louis

Atlanta-based producer Jermaine Dupri’s tenure as President of Island Records Urban Music has come to an end. A formal announcement of his departure from the position, which he has held for nearly two years, may come as early as Thursday (Jan 8).


Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source close to the situation confirmed to AllHipHop.com that Dupri has in fact been terminated effective immediately.


The Island Records Urban Division was created within the Island Def Jam Music Group a short time prior to Dupri’s hiring in February 2007. In the position, he oversaw the label’s entire urban music operations, reporting directly to label Chairman Antonio “L.A.” Reid and Steve Bartells, President of Island Music and COO of the Island Def Jam Music Group.

 

Having enjoyed tremendous success with Island Records songbird Mariah Carey on The Emancipation of Mimi, Dupri’s duties also included providing production for the Music Group’s entire roster.


In April 2008, Island/Def Jam announced the creation of TAG Records, a new venture with Procter & Gamble’s TAG brand to be helmed by Dupri. The partnership created a new marketing module that allowed for new talent, like So So Def/TAG artist Q, to be cross-promoted in conjunction with TAG body sprays through print, television, radio, and digital advertising.


No word on how Dupri’s departure will affect TAG Records, nor the roster of artists on So So Def, which has been distributed through Island Urban since 2007.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Mixtape Portable DJ Mixer


And there goes another blow to soon to be extinct art of DJing…. We feel your pain Vinyl enthusiast! Now a first glance this apparent throwback cassette looks like your run of the mill tape that’s been 24-karat gold plated of course, but looks can be deceiving. The tape is actually a pocket-sized audio mixer for combining your favorite joints and jams from a pair of audio devices… That’s right, you can get the party cracking anywhere now. The Mix Tape Portable DJ Mixer lets you mash up tracks from any two iPods or any arbitrary portable music devices, and it’s duo 3.5mm stereo inputs and a single stereo output let you fade between two sources like that of an professional DJ mixer. You can find this exclusively from Urban Outfitters for just bucks, and you can also catch a better look at the gadget in the gallery after the cut
…dp

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Killahbeez.com: Arts, Beats, Fashion and Lifestyle


I recently had a quick e-terview with our friends at www.killahbeez.com. David Thai filled me in on the origins of the site: Killahbeez.com

David Thai:

"The summer of 2007 gave birth to Killahbeez.com. We felt that there were a lot of street culture blogs out there that were fairly one-dimensional, specializing in just music, fitteds, clothes or art and gearing specifically to one gender. We wanted to bring all of those offerings under one house and cater to everyone and talk about everything that influences the streets and vice versa.

Our Killahbeez.com family consists of members located out on the East Coast and the West Coast of North America. This helps gives us a diversified look at the culture and all that encompasses it.

We've conducted interviews with Bloc Party, Dave1 from Chromeo, Black Kids, Lykke Li, Clinton Sparks, Boys Noize, DJ Mehdi and fashion designer Erin Magee to name a few.

We also do concert reviews: http://www.killahbeez.com/category/music/concert-reviews/

But overall we generally write about stuff we genuinely like. Unlike other blogs that blog about every piece that comes out or song that comes out, we try to blog about stuff we like and provide some actual content to the writing. Definitely look up to magazines like Format Mag."

Make sure you check in with them from time to time, the site has cool stuff every dj should keep up with.......-dp


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DJ Kid Relly's - Basics of Music Promotion

DJ Kid Relly's - Basics of Music

Music promotion is all about hard work and consistency, if you want your music out there you are going to have to work long hours and dedicate time and money to do it right. If you can master the few basics of music promotion below you can be making money in the music industry for years to come as a musician or sitting behind a desk.

Radio

For a full rundown of information about radio promotions check out our article on radio promotions. Radio is a very important part of established artists who have a large or little fan base. You need to make sure you have a great song, a budget of at least ,000, and a manager or consultant who knows the basics of radio promotion, or if you have experience with radio it is always still a smart thing to hire an assistant to call stations and help with contests and requests because this is a very time consuming thing for musicians on the road -playing a lot of gigs.

Street Teams/Tastemakers (www.collegedj.net)

This is a great way to get the word out about an album or new single hitting the radio. This is also very cheap if you have a few fans who want to help out in return for free t-shirts, CD’s, and other products. This is a cheap yet effective way to gain a larger fanbase and exposure.

A very important part of your success is your fan base in your home town. You need to work on creating a large fan base in your region, this will create a constant stream of money coming in through CD sales and shows. To do this you can use a street team, put on free shows at local venues, talk with local press such as your newspaper to get featured in their music section if they have one, .....and just about anything that happens in the community you should be volunteering you services of music to venues such as local festivals and homecomings. Many artists who sign to major labels spend thousands on grassroots marketing once they are signed to make sure their album sells. There is nothing that beats hometown fans, they are usually more loyal and take pride in your career.

Internet Networking

The internet is becoming the fastest growing way for musicians to get their material out there. I have known three artists personally who have been signed to major labels with large deals just off of an A&R hearing their Myspace and seeing that they had a following. One artist sent a message to check out his music and he ended up getting a deal with one of the largest labels, Sony BMG. The internet is a great tool for getting the word out about you as well as shows, albums, and more. And the best part of this is that it is very cost effective, most promotion such as Myspace and promoting on message boards is free. With the internet it has become easier and easier for garage bands to become overnight stars.

Checkout this tutorial about getting traffic to your page! It’s not fun but the content is very good……

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