Check out this week's Billboard Hot 100 Charts, specifically the top 5. What do you notice ?
http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?JSESSIONID=XMw9JhvPGJpByp51n1HQ0dS13f6nnmfhDl5ppfQhGvf8Jy02pkjJ!654684368&g=Singles&f=The+Billboard+Hot+100
HIP HOP'S DOMINATION !!!
After just 3 weeks on the charts, Flo Rida's newest single"Right Round" has peeked at the number 1 spot, jumping from 58th last week. "Dead and Gone" by T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake has jumped from the 9th spot to 2nd overall during it's 11th week on the charts. The momentum of "Crack A Bottle" by Eminem featuring Dr.Dre and 50 cent has slowed considerably, dropping from the top spot to number 3 in it's 5th week on the Billboard. Still hanging on in the 4th spot is "Heartless", the follow up single to "Love Lock down" by Kanye West, which has been on the charts for 15 straight weeks now.
Aside from Lady GaGa's catchy dance hit "Just Dance" featuring Colby O'Donis which in it's 28th week and currently sits at number 5 on the Billboard charts, the top spots are all being held by hip hop/rap artists. That's pretty one-sided, don't you think ?
Now I am hip hop/rap music through and through, that's my preference. Although thinking about it, something is seriously wrong in the music business (which we have known for quite some time already). While the Billboard charts show us which songs are the most popular, most played and earn the most money, the variety of the Billboard's music pallet seems to be lacking even more then usual.
On a side note, this has been a great week for the label Atlantic Records. This is the third time in the label's history that they have been able to simultaneously secure the top 2 spots on the Billboard charts. (Flo Rida's "Right Round" and T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake "Dead and Gone").
Peep both of these tracks/videos...
"Right Round" - Flo Rida
http://www.musicloversgroup.com/flo-rida-right-round-lyrics-and-video/
"Dead and Gone" - T.I. feat. Justin Timberlake
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENpeiakUnu4
Rap music business - Marketing and Promoting the Future of Hip Hop
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Leaving labels, legal troubles and more leaks !
Album leaks actually a good thing? Huh...who knew!
Over the years the number of albums that have leaked has increased exponentially. As the Internet has never discriminated on leaking music from any genre, this has become a problem for many musicians and recording artists. Or has it ?
My last post discussed a little bit about Eminem's "Crack A Bottle" which skyrocketed to the number 1 downloaded song on iTunes shortly after a "rough version" prematurely leaked over the world wide web. Not only did Em's most recent single hit number 1, but it set a new digital record by selling about 418,000 copies in it's first week. Not too shabby for a song that you can find anywhere on the net for free.
After just 2 weeks on the Billboard charts, (http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/charts/chart_display.jsp?g=Singles&f=Hot+Digital+Songs) "Crack A Bottle" has landed Eminem on the top spot, but has now dipped down to 2nd.
Dogg lets himself off of the leash ?
Snoop Doggy Dogg has bounced out of the Dogg House! That's right, the Doggfather of rap music has left Interscope/Geffen Records (Universal Music Group) after over ten years of a working relationship. Snoop has reportedly signed a 360-model deal with MTV (Viacom), the specifics unclear at this time. "Dogg After Dark" premiered Tuesday February 17th which is a MTV program featuring Snoop and celeb friends chillin' out after hours, Doggystyle (well I'm sure if Paris had her way) <- Oh, that's not right lol.
Snoop has got some ground to cover though, because his last show on MTV his payment was refused by the network. Viacom, cheap ? No ! As a record label though I gather Snoop will hire some of the best to handle the very involving services of a record label such as; distribution, marketing and promotions. I have no doubt that anything Snoop releases will get picked up by somebody.
Chris Brown will probably get BEAT DOWN for this one.
By now we have all been exposed to the "rumour-turned-scandal" incident involving R&B/Pop recording artists Chris Brown and Rihanna. I'm not even going to comment on what I heard or read, because nobody really knows as the official investigation is on going. The victimized Rihanna is co-operating with the authorities, as well as gathering support from fellow celebs and millions of loyal fans.
Way to go Chris, you effed it all up ! I just saw some interview with Chris Brown on ET not too long ago and they compared him to Michael Jackson. For real, Michael Jackson? I don't know. What I do know is that any publicity is good publicity. UNLESS you're target demographic is young females and you're being allegedly charged with then like I said Chris, you effed up.
It's hard to defend yourself when the victim's picture is released and it looks like this...
http://board.rapmusic.com/audio-emcee-hook-ups/1142428-picture-rhianna-after-incident.html
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
If leaks persist, maybe the 'roof' needs to be fixed ?
Yet again, another new single leaks before it's release. Really though, is any one surprised anymore ? Eminem's most recent single "Crack a Bottle" from his upcoming album was leaked all over the web before it was even finished ! A rough low-quality mp3 version was made available on a mixtape put together by DJ Big Mike and DJ Neptune.
For more info, feel free to read this brief article from Digital Music News :
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/020409eminem
Obviously, Eminem was not too impressed to say the least, he was pissed. Who wouldn't be ? Artists are always working hard to perfect their tracks, while their fans are always trying to find new songs by their favorite artists online. "Leakers" (people who steal and release new songs before the songs are even done) will always try to supply this demand, as this becomes increasingly problematic for musicians/artists in every genre.
So how do we fix the metaphorical roof, and stop the leaks ? Unfortunately there are no simple solutions to this problem. Keeping new material under wraps until it is ready to be hyped and released has become more difficult with the ease of transferring mp3s. It's just something the music industry has to come to realize and adapt to quickly.
Major labels and other digital media companies are all scrambling to find the next innovative way of trying to turn music down-loaders into digital music consumers. It's just not happening ! For as long as I've been online free music has been one of the best perks of the Internet. Why are people going to start paying for something that they've been getting for free for years.
In my honest opinion, artist's and musicians need to turn this into an advantage. Stop bitching, it sucks that you aren't seeing royalties so turn this into something that can be converted into royalties. Rap artists have been giving away material on mixtapes and downloads for quite some time now.
This worked out great for some artists who used it to leverage more exposure and sales from having their songs leak. Take for instance LiL Wayne and his most recent album which was a huge success in it's first week, after being leaked all over the Internet days in advance.
Rappers, time to step up ya game !
For more info, feel free to read this brief article from Digital Music News :
http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/stories/020409eminem
Obviously, Eminem was not too impressed to say the least, he was pissed. Who wouldn't be ? Artists are always working hard to perfect their tracks, while their fans are always trying to find new songs by their favorite artists online. "Leakers" (people who steal and release new songs before the songs are even done) will always try to supply this demand, as this becomes increasingly problematic for musicians/artists in every genre.
So how do we fix the metaphorical roof, and stop the leaks ? Unfortunately there are no simple solutions to this problem. Keeping new material under wraps until it is ready to be hyped and released has become more difficult with the ease of transferring mp3s. It's just something the music industry has to come to realize and adapt to quickly.
Major labels and other digital media companies are all scrambling to find the next innovative way of trying to turn music down-loaders into digital music consumers. It's just not happening ! For as long as I've been online free music has been one of the best perks of the Internet. Why are people going to start paying for something that they've been getting for free for years.
In my honest opinion, artist's and musicians need to turn this into an advantage. Stop bitching, it sucks that you aren't seeing royalties so turn this into something that can be converted into royalties. Rap artists have been giving away material on mixtapes and downloads for quite some time now.
This worked out great for some artists who used it to leverage more exposure and sales from having their songs leak. Take for instance LiL Wayne and his most recent album which was a huge success in it's first week, after being leaked all over the Internet days in advance.
Rappers, time to step up ya game !
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