"UNDERGROUND 2 MAINSTREAM" Your NEW Source For Hip Hop Entertainment!!!

Looney-T.I.C. Performing Live @Industry Jewelz Inside Cheetahs In Hollywood Jnuary 15, 2012

2012-01-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

Meek Mill "Lean Wit It"

2012-01-03T10:56:00.000-08:00

Fabolous Interview With "This Is 50"

2012-01-03T10:50:00.000-08:00

Thisis50 & Young Jack Thriller recently spoke with Fabolous for an exclusive interview.
Fabolous is killing the competition right now! In our interview he talks about who he stunts for, his incident with Ray J, he says he does not watch "Love & Hip-Hop", new mixtape "Death Comes In 3's", 50's initiative to feed a billion people with SK, his coat drive & much more!

Click HERE to for details on how to download Fabolous' new mixtape "There Is No Competition: Death Comes In 3′s"

Trae Tha Truth, Mystikal, Tech N9ne, & Brian Angel "All That I Know" Video

2012-01-03T10:46:00.000-08:00

Jadakiss Ft Teyana Taylor "Rock With Me" Video

2012-01-02T14:31:00.000-08:00

50 Cent Ft Jeremih "Girls Go Wild"

2012-01-02T14:27:00.000-08:00

Girls Go Wild (Explicit Version)

STEP YA BUSINESS GAME UP!!! 50 Cent Links Deal With Pepsi For Street King Energy Drink

2012-01-02T14:22:00.000-08:00

Expect Street King energy drink to be in every store near you thanks to a new distribution deal 50 Cent has inked with Pepsi. The soft drink giant distributes products to nearly 200 countries around the globe, giving Street King the ability to grow it's market share exponentially in a very short amount of time. The deal will also help 50 reach his goal of feeding a billion people in need at a much faster rate. When one bottle of SK is purchased a meal is provided for a child through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). To date 3.5 million meals have been funded through WFP. For more information on Street King please visit the official website at www.StreetKing.com. Also don't forget to LIKE the Street King Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/StreetKing. One like equals one meal for someone in need.

Industry Jewelz, Spotlighting Independent Artist; Hosted By MEDUSA, Sunday January 8, 2012 @ Cheetahs In Hollywood!!!

2012-01-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

Description

INDUSTRY JEWELZ, the Newest & Hottest weekly Industry Networking event that TRULY SPOTLIGHTS the Abundant Treasure that is Los Angeles Independent Music & Artistry. Each Sunday, we're going to take the "HOLLYWOOD" out of Hollywood as we'll be bringing you the most Authentic Artist who create & control their own Brand to the fullest, so of course this event had to be Hosted by the Independent Legend Herself, *MEDUSA!
http://www.thegangstagoddess.com/
http://www.reverbnation.com/Medusa
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=628373667
http://twitter.com/#!/legendmedusa

You'll ALWAYS be able to expect the "Best of the Best" every Wednesday at INDUSTRY JEWELS, & this weeks Performers are nothing short of incredible as we'll be presenting a unique mixture of some seasoned Legendary Trailblazers along with some genre-crossing "Up & Coming" Artist you'll NEVER forget! $6 Drink Specials all night long!

FREE BEFORE 10 pm
* $5 Cover Before 10pm
* $10 after 10pm

*************************************
Now it's time to be properly introduced to your Performers...
MEDUSA
http://www.thegangstagoddess.com/
http://www.reverbnation.com/Medusa
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=628373667
http://twitter.com/#!/legendmedusa

ACEYALONE
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aceyalone/145458892152497?ref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2212544170

ALTERD EGO
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000540127063
https://www.facebook.com/pages/AlterD-Ego/189205994475915

Tabernacle MCs
https://www.facebook.com/pages/TABERNACLE-MCz/214006475539
www.reverbnation.com/tabernaclemcz

ASHLEY DOMINIQUE
https://www.facebook.com/admuze1

************************************

* $5 Cover Before 10pm
* $10 after 10pm

21+

*$6 Drink Specials ALL NIGHT as well!

Huge Outdoor Lounge & Smoking Patio

This event is being brought to you by:

*50/50 Ent.
*Feline Science Ent.
*Michelle XXX
*MakeLoveFamUS

Follow us at https://twitter.com/#!/industryjewelz & contact us for booking info at Industryjewelz@gmail.com

DJ Kay Slay Ft Outlawz & Lil Cease "Bury The Hatchet" Video

2011-12-29T23:30:00.000-08:00

The 45 King "Making A Beat" With DJ Premier

2011-12-29T16:54:00.001-08:00

Young Jeezy "When Twitter Beefs Go Wrong"

2011-12-29T16:53:00.001-08:00

Tyrese Ft T.I., Big Sean, & Busta Rhymes "Fireworks" Remix

2011-12-29T16:50:00.000-08:00

Tyrese Ft T.I., Big Sean & Busta Rhymes - Fireworkz (Remix)

Tyrese remixes "Fireworkz," a bonus track from his new album Open Invitation.
Tyrese Ft T.I., Big Sean & Busta Rhymes - fireworkz remix dirty by ChasinMoPaper

The Best Of Power 105.1 2011 "The Breakfast Club"

2011-12-29T16:45:00.001-08:00

Step Ya Ride Game Up!!! 24 Karat Gold Plated Rolls Royce Ghost

2011-12-27T13:32:00.000-08:00

VIEWS: 1,441 COMMENTS: 1

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An Italian design house has created a gold covered Rolls Royce Ghost worth over $1,600,000.
The Fenice Milano 'Diva' has been spray painted in 24-carat gold and the company is so proud of it they have described the model as a 'true.masterpiece.'
It is fitted with the same 6-liter twin-turbocharged engine of the Ghost, giving the vehicle more than 560bhp and a top speed of 155mph.
Fenice Milano believes their Rolls-Royce is a 'synonym for class, elegance and style', although some may disagree.

Step Ya Ride Game Up!!! Ferrari Limo

2011-12-27T13:27:00.000-08:00

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A one-of-a-kind cherry red Ferrari limousine pulled up in front of Harrods of London, shocking onlookers.
The luxurious limo is 20 feet long and fits eight people comfortably.
Would you ride in it?
Source: tmz.com

DMX Performing Live In New York

2011-12-27T13:23:00.001-08:00

Fabolous "Why Great Albums Take Time"

2011-12-27T13:20:00.001-08:00

B.o.B. ft. Andre 3000 – Play The Guitar

2011-12-27T13:16:00.000-08:00

B.o.B. ft. Andre 3000 – Play The Guitar

T.I. "F*^k The City Up" Trailer

2011-12-27T13:04:00.000-08:00

Dropping January 1, 2012

Maino, DJ Drama "Hand Of God" Video

2011-12-21T17:08:00.001-08:00

True Hollywood Story "Timbaland"

2011-12-21T17:07:00.001-08:00

Young Jeezy Concert. Brings Out Nas, Jadakiss, Fabolous, & Others

2011-12-21T17:04:00.001-08:00

LeBron James Grand Opening For Unknwn Boutique In Miami

2011-12-18T15:25:00.000-08:00

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Yesterday LeBron James held a grand opening event for his new UNKNWN Miami store. The new store carries everything from Bron's signature kicks to Japanese toys. Those in the area should definitely check out the store those who aren't can settle for the full grand opening recap courtesy of Sole Collector.
Images: SC

Timbaland Beat Boxes & Remixes "N!&&@S In Paris"

2011-12-18T15:21:00.000-08:00

Wiz Khalifa "California" Video

2011-12-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

New cut from Wiz Khalifa’s upcoming mixtape Taylor Allderdice coming soon. Directed By Bill Paladino.

50 Cent "Off & On" Video

2011-12-18T15:11:00.001-08:00

2011-12-18T15:07:00.001-08:00

Drake, J.Cole and Big Sean headlined this year’s Power 106 Cali Christmas concert at the Gibson Ampitheatre in Universal City, CA. Power 106 was streaming the entire event but for everyone who missed it, here are the full performances. Drake, J. Cole and Big Sean below.
DCC by YardieGoals
JCCC by YardieGoals
BSCC by YardieGoals

Industry Jewelz At Cheetahs In Hollywood Sunday December 18, 2011

2011-12-18T14:30:00.000-08:00

INDUSTRY JEWELZ, the Newest & Hottest weekly Industry Networking event that TRULY SPOTLIGHTS the Abundant Treasure that is Los Angeles Independent Music & Artistry. Each Sunday, we're going to take the "HOLLYWOOD" out of Hollywood as we'll be bringing you the most Authentic Artist who create & control their own Brand/Swag to the fullest, so of course this event had to be Hosted by the Independent Legend Herself, *MEDUSA!
http://www.thegangstagoddess.com/
http://www.reverbnation.com/Medusa
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=628373667
http://twitter.com/#!/legendmedusa

You'll ALWAYS be able to expect the "Best of the Best" every Wednesday at INDUSTRY JEWELS, & this weeks Performers are nothing short of incredible as we'll be presenting a unique mixture of some seasoned Legendary Trailblazers along with some genre-crossing "Up & Coming" Artist you'll NEVER forget! Resident DJ & Sound will be provided by Key Key so you can expect a quality live music & dance experience ALL NIGHT LONG! *$3-$5-$7* Drink Specials ALL NIGHT as well!

We are also participating in a Christmas Holiday Can Food Drive for the MINORITY AIDS PROJECT & this will effect your entry cover charge in the form of a discount if you are able to bring a can food item(info below).
http://www.map-usa.org/html/greeting.html

FREE BEFORE 10 pm
* $5 Cover w/Can Food Item
* $10 after 11pm

***VISIT THE OFFICIAL INDUSTRY JEWELZ WEBSITE:http://industryjewelz.tumblr.com/***

*************************************
Now it's time to be properly introduced to your Performers...
NEW BIRTH ENT

LEXICON AKA THE BLOCK BULLY

MENACE 5150

RED SAUCE

THE DREAM CATCHERS

CALI SONTE
https://www.facebook.com/sontevillezon

YUNG TRYB
https://www.facebook.com/ytryb
http://www.reverbnation.com/rukylotoyte

K-SHAWN
http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/k-shawn-money-and-the-power-song.600800.html
https://www.facebook.com/kshawnmusic
http://twitter.com/#!/iamkshawn

Looters Party Shooters
www.facebook.com/delanowilson

Looney-T.I.C.
http://www.facebook.com/looneytic
http://www.reverbnation.com/mrtic
http://www.twitter.com/looneytic

Deladiea
https://www.facebook.com/deladiea

*REMINDER:
We are also participating in a Christmas Holiday Can Food Drive for the MINORITY AIDS PROJECT & this will effect your entry cover charge in the form of a discount if you are able to bring a can food or Toy gift item(info below).
http://www.map-usa.org/html/greeting.html

FREE BEFORE 10 pm
* $5 Cover w/Can Food Item
* $10 after 11pm

21+

*$6 Drink Specials ALL NIGHT as well!

Huge Outdoor Lounge & Smoking Patio

This event is being brought to you by:
*Feline Science Ent.
*Michelle XXX
*50/50 Ent.
*MakeLoveFamUS

Follow us at https://twitter.com/#!/industryjewelz & contact us for booking info at Industryjewelz@gmail.com

***VISIT THE OFFICIAL INDUSTRY JEWELZ WEBSITE:http://industryjewelz.tumblr.com/***

Watch The Throne Behind The Scenes Episodes 3, 4, & 5

2011-12-16T16:05:00.000-08:00

Crooked I Ft. Horseshoe Gang "Drum Murder" Video

2011-12-14T16:16:00.000-08:00

Meek Mill "Faded Too Long" Freestyle

2011-12-14T16:13:00.000-08:00

Over Drakes "The Ride" Beat

Lil Waynes "I Am Still Music" Tour Brings In $47,000,000

2011-12-14T16:08:00.001-08:00

The numbers are in and by all accounts Lil Wayne's 'I Am Still Music' tour was a huge success. According to MTV the U.S. leg which kicked off March 18 in Buffalo, New York and hit 60 cities before winding down September 11 in The Woodlands, Texas grossed $47 million dollars. The tour also included dates in Canada, Australia, South Africa and Fiji. “For so many years, critics have claimed that hip hop tours would never be successful. Lil Wayne has put the nail in the coffin of that idea,” said Wayne's manager Cortez Bryant. “2011 has seen Lil Wayne further cement his status as a headline arena artist in the US & Canada. The I Am Still Music run exceeded our own expectations. The amount of tickets he sold in both primary and secondary markets across the country was phenomenal and we are now focusing on the expansion of his global success.”YMCMB plans to build on the tour's success by keeping it going into 2012.“One of our goals for Wayne’s touring business at the start of this cycle was to expand his reach outside of North America. We feel there is a huge opportunity to build Wayne into a true global touring force,” adds Shawn Gee, Wayne’s tour manager. “We recently completed a string of dates in Australia and South Africa where Wayne played in stadiums, with Eminem, in Melbourne in front of 65,000 fans and arenas in Johannesburg and Capetown. In 2012 we plan to build on this international success and tour Europe and South America to further expand his global reach.”

Eminem Declines On 6 Million Dollar Performance!!!

2011-12-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

According to Ken West, an organiser of New Zealand’s "The Big Day Out" festival, Eminem declined to headline the event, and turned down a whopping $6 million!
According to West, Eminem was getting paid by Australia’s Dainty Group to perform three nights for $15 million in Sydney and Melbourne. He told the New Zealand Herald "For Eminem walking out with $15 million off three shows, means that it was la-la-land to ever think he could do the Big Day Out, even though we offered $6 million!"

In similar news, the Sydney Football Stadium shows fans are demanding a refund after complaining of unacceptable sound quality throughout the show. Hundreds of frustrated fans complained to Dainty Group’s Facebook page, seeking an apology and some looking for a full refund.

If you were Eminem, would you decline $6 million?

Wale Ft Black Cobain "Rack City" Freestyle

2011-12-14T10:12:00.000-08:00

N.O.R.E. Ft 2 Chainz & Slim The Mobster "Scared Money"

2011-12-14T10:08:00.000-08:00

David Banner Ft Lil Wayne & 2 Chainz "Yao Ming"

2011-12-14T10:02:00.000-08:00

Mystikal Signs Deal With Cash Money Records

2011-12-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

Mystikal is now officially a member of Cash Money Records after inking a deal with Birdman and Slim.

The New Orleans rapper joins a crowded list of artists at YMCMB that includes Busta Rhymes, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Cory Gunz, Lil Twist, Lil Wayne, Shanell, Bow Wow, Kevin Rudolf and Jay Sean.

“It is an honor to get the opportunity to work with Mystikal, as we have a long history together,” said Birdman. “He is a great artist and his talent, combined with our hard work and strong team, is going to result in some of the best music of his career. We are expecting great work from Mystikal. Slim and I already have him in the studio working on his first album for Cash Money.”

Mystikal's debut album with his new label isn't due until next spring, but he will be dropping a new single tonight titled "Original" on Hot 97's Funkmaster Flex show.

“It has been a truly long time since I have felt like a rapper and with this signing, and partnership, Birdman and Slim have given me my life as a rapper back,” stated Mystikal. “I am ready to go. I am going to put my red Superman drawers, cape and boots on and go! This is a huge moment for me and I am truly excited to be with Cash Money Records.”

Peep The New Track:
Mystikal ft Lil Wayne & Birdman - Original by ChasinMoPaper

Drake & Lil Wayne Performing "Im On One" In Australia

2011-12-13T15:56:00.000-08:00

T.I.'s Vibe Cover Shoot

2011-12-13T15:53:00.000-08:00

Watch The Throne Behind The Scenes Episode 2

2011-12-13T15:50:00.000-08:00

Kanye Visits His Old Neighborhood Before Performing In Chicago

The Chi by toobu13

Common Performs "RAW" Live Accapella At His Listening / Album Release Party

2011-12-13T15:44:00.000-08:00

Ludacris Ft Gucci Mane "Shake N Fries" Video

2011-12-13T15:40:00.000-08:00

T.I. Ft Pharrell "Here Ye, Here Ye" Video

2011-12-13T15:37:00.000-08:00

http://www.vh1.com/video/ti/718683/here-ye-hear-ye.jhtml#id=1675413

Get More: T.I., Here Ye, Hear Ye, Here Ye, Hear Ye, Free Music Videos

Off The Subject (But Not Really) Former Death Row V.P. John Atterberry Dies From Gunshot Wounds In Last Weeks Sunset / Vine Shooting!

2011-12-13T15:31:00.001-08:00

Record executive John Atterberry died Monday (December 12) three days after suffering gunshot wounds when a deranged man went on a shooting rampage in Hollywood, California.

Atterberry, 40, was walking out of a Bank of America at Sunset Blvd and Vine when 26-year old Tyler Brehm walked up to him and shot him in the face and chest. Brehm then walked into the middle of the street and started shooting indiscriminately at cars passing by.

Brehm was shot dead by two plainclothes police officers shortly after shooting Atterberry, who was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where he clung to life for 72 hours before passing away Monday.

John Atterberry (2nd left) with Gavin Rossdale (3rd left), Gwen Stefani (center) and Diddy (second right)

Atterberry was Vice President of Death Row Records during the time the label was home to Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and Tha Dogg Pound. He later went on to work with artists like Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera, the Spice Girls and Brandy.

Atterberry and Shaquille O'Neal

Atterberry's sister Cynthia left a message on her younger brother's Facebook page mourning his loss.

Today I lost my JOHN, my baby, my guardian angel, my protector, my little brother at 3:00 p.m.
"I do not understand now nor will I ever is why such a senseless act of violence was inflicted upon such a GOD-fearing, kind, compassionate, loving individual," she wrote.

Police still aren't sure what sparked the shooting's, but did say Brehm had recently broken up with his girlfriend.

News coverage of John Atterberry's death

News coverage of deadly shooting rampage

Gunman Tyler Brehm killed by police

Industry Jewelz This Sunday December 11, 2011 At CHEETAHS In Hollywood

2011-12-09T14:08:00.001-08:00

https://www.facebook.com/events/291681214197595/

SPOTLIGHTING INDEPENDENT ARTIST & SOME OF L.A.S MOST TALENTED & BEAUTIFUL POLE DANCERS!!!

Description

INDUSTRY JEWELZ, the Newest & Hottest weekly Industry Networking event that TRULY SPOTLIGHTS the Abundant Treasure that is Los Angeles Independent Music & Artistry. Each Wednesday, we're going to take the "HOLLYWOOD" out of Hollywood as we'll be bringing you the most Authentic Artist who create & control their own Brand/Swag to the fullest, so of course this event had to be Hosted by the Independent Legend Herself, *MEDUSA!
http://www.thegangstagoddess.com/
http://www.reverbnation.com/Medusa
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=628373667
http://twitter.com/#!/legendmedusa

You'll ALWAYS be able to expect the "Best of the Best" every Sunday at INDUSTRY JEWELS, & this weeks Performers are nothing short of incredible as we'll be presenting a unique mixture of some seasoned Legendary Trailblazers along with some genre-crossing "Up & Coming" Artist you'll NEVER forget! Resident DJ & Sound will be provided by Key Key so you can expect a quality live music & dance experience ALL NIGHT LONG! $6 Drink Specials ALL NIGHT as well!

We are also participating in a Christmas Holiday Can Food Drive for the MINORITY AIDS PROJECT & this will effect your entry cover charge in the form of a discount if you are able to bring a can food item(info below).
http://www.map-usa.org/html/greeting.html
FREE BEFORE 10 pm
* $5 Cover w/Can Food Item
* $10 after 11pm

***VISIT THE OFFICIAL INDUSTRY JEWELZ WEBSITE:http://industryjewelz.tumblr.com/***

*************************************
Now it's time to be properly introduced to your Performers...
Kandi Cole
http://twitter.com/KANDICOLE
http://kandicole.com/
https://www.facebook.com/QueenKandiCole

Bree (Ms. Rap Supreme)
http://loveisdope.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/miss-rap-supreme-step-off-bree/https://www.facebook.com/time4bree?sk=infohttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.myspace.com%2Ftime4bree

Cali Sonte
https://www.facebook.com/sontevillezon

Looney-T.I.C.
http://www.facebook.com/looneytic
http://www.reverbnation.com/mrtic
http://www.twitter.com/looneytic

Deladiea
https://www.facebook.com/deladiea

GG
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000481271746

Jayne Avaunt
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jayne-Avaunt/275539819142389

Special Guest DJ JADE JENIUS
http://www.jadejenius.jigsy.com/the-mind-of-jade-jenius
https://www.facebook.com/heisjadejeniushttp://www.reverbnation.com/jadejenius

************************************

*REMINDER:
We are also participating in a Christmas Holiday Can Food Drive for the MINORITY AIDS PROJECT & this will effect your entry cover charge in the form of a discount if you are able to bring a can food or Toy gift item(info below).
http://www.map-usa.org/html/greeting.html
FREE before 10 pm
* $5 Cover w/Toy Can Food Item
* $10 without

21+

$6 Drink Specials ALL NIGHT as well!

Huge Outdoor Lounge & Smoking Patio

This event is being brought to you by:
*Feline Science Ent.
*Michelle XXX
*50/50 Ent.
*MakeLoveFamUS

Follow us at https://twitter.com/#!/industryjewelz & contact us for booking info at Industryjewelz@gmail.com

***VISIT THE OFFICIAL INDUSTRY JEWELZ WEBSITE:http://industryjewelz.tumblr.com/***

Step Ya Shoe Game Up!!! Nike ACG Woodside Boots

2011-12-09T14:00:00.001-08:00

Nike ACG Woodside Boot

$110.00

This is Nike's comfortable version of the classic duck boot, the Nike Woodside. They are part of the ACG (All Conditions Gear) collection and feature a sticky rubber outsole with lug tread, contrast stitching on the midsole, and round laces. Perfect for the winter months, the Nike Woodside will take on harsh conditions and keep your feet comfortable. What else could you want in a winter boot?

Available colors:

KRS 1 "Aztechnical" Video Produced By Mad Lion

2011-12-09T13:28:00.001-08:00

50 Cent "The Big 10" Mixtape

2011-12-09T13:10:00.001-08:00

Download Link Here:
https://www.facebook.com/50cent?sk=app_298537663510900

Jay-z, Kanye West Says Expect Solo Albums, The Throne Album In 2012

2011-12-09T13:03:00.001-08:00

http://www.mtv.com/videos/news/717997/new-jay-z-album-and-a-second-wtt-might-drop-in-2012.jhtml

Jay-Z and Kanye West (The Throne) provided their fans with some great music with their first collaborative effort Watch The Throne. According to Jay-Z that project is not the last we will hear from the dynamic duo.
MTV News is reporting that the rap mogul has hinted that we should expect solo projects from both him and Yeezy, as well as, another Throne project next year.
"We — I say 'we' because I'm in Throne mode — we're in a great place creatively. You might see a Jay, then Kanye and a Throne album next year. You know, we're really in a great place creatively. We really found our zone," says Hov.
Within the last two years Jay-Z and Kanye have delivered albums like The Blueprint 3, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, and Watch The Throne. It's a wonder if they can repeat the creative pieces again within a year's time.

Get More: Music News

Ice Cube Confirms New Friday Movie

2011-12-09T13:00:00.001-08:00

Last month there was some speculation in the media on whether Ice Cube would be producing another installment of the 'Friday' movie series with the original cast from 1995.
Cube wanted to do the movie but it was unclear if other cast members where willing to accept the original roles of their character. More specifically, it is reported Chris Tucker wanted to edit the role of Smokey because of his personal connection with religion.
All the ifs are over as Ice Cube confirms that there will be another Friday movie with the entire original cast, Chris Tucker included. One of the reps for Cube Vision Production tells TMZ, "Absolutely yes the studio is in the process of getting the entire original cast to do another 'Friday'."
The film is in the works as the cast members work out their contracts.

Tyga Brings Drake Out In Toronto "Motto" Live Performance

2011-12-05T16:24:00.001-08:00

Ace Hood Ft Busta Rhymes & Yelawolf "Shit Done Got Real"

2011-12-05T16:01:00.001-08:00

Ace Hood ft. Busta Rhymes & Yelawolf – Shit Done Got Real by ChasinMoPaper

Drake"Headlines" Spoof By Affion Crockett

2011-12-04T13:52:00.001-08:00

Game Ft Big Sean "Money, Money, Money"

2011-12-04T13:39:00.001-08:00

Roscoe Das Ft Big Sean "Sidity"

2011-12-04T13:09:00.001-08:00

Eminem Tour In Australia, Brings Out Lil Wayne

2011-12-04T13:01:00.001-08:00

Terrance Martin Ft Kendrick Lamar & Wiz Khalifah "Do It Again" Video

2011-12-04T12:51:00.001-08:00

Nas Draws Picture While Performing, Auctions It Off For $14,000!!!

2011-12-04T12:37:00.001-08:00

Nas Selling His First Painting For $14,000 and performing at Ricochet Lounge for Art Basel Miami 2011 from The305.com on Vimeo.

Young Jeezy "Just Like That"

2011-12-04T12:34:00.001-08:00

Off The Subject (But Not Really) While You're Laughing At Him Selling Candy On The Subway, He's Making $55,000 A Year!!!

2011-12-02T15:04:00.001-08:00

Sugar rush hour from Bianca Consunji on Vimeo.

"Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please. Pardon the interruption..."
The announcement is familiar to many New Yorkers, who as they ride the subway, get visits from various people asking for their spare change, sometimes in exchange for an accordion tune, a belted 1960s ballad, or a pack of M&M peanuts. Probably few of those travelers know that at least one of those peddlers earns $150 a day.
Alex "Tracks" McFarland started selling candy on the subway at age 11, and is the subject of a two-minute documentary by Bianca Consunji (via New York magazine). With his 13 years of experience, Tracks knows the business well. Peanut M&Ms is his biggest seller, but he's got Welch's Fruit Snacks if you prefer your candy grape-flavored and gummy.
There are trail mix bars "for people who like to eat healthy," he says. "But this has got the most sugar in it," he chuckles.
Tracks carries cookies too -- Famous Amos chocolate chip and shortbread, "for people who claim they don't eat candy."

Sugar rush hour from Bianca Consunji on Vimeo.
He covers every person's predilection. "If you don't spend a dollar with me, either you don't have it or you're a hater," he's concluded.
And many New Yorkers spend that dollar. Tracks walks the D train in $300 kicks, and takes home around $55,000 a year, in cash. "These M&Ms, I take care of my family with this," he tells the camera.
While it might frustrate some to learn that the man who hectors subway riders to buy a granola bar is making more money than many of those commuters, there is something impressive about Tracks' entrepreneurship.
He started selling candy in order to get out of the "hood," he says. And he not only offers a valued service -- helping boost the blood sugar of wilting travelers -- but he does it with a human face. And a side of entertainment.
Tracks summarizes his simple business strategy at the end of the film:
"I do what I gotta do, just to stay on my feet.
I'm flipping them sweets, I sell cavities,
and s*** believer, hole in your teeth."

Nicki Minaj "Roman In Moscow"

2011-12-02T14:00:00.001-08:00

T-Pain Ft R Kelly & Bei Major "Center Of The Stage"

2011-12-02T12:54:00.001-08:00

Jay-Z & Kanye West Behind The Scenes At The Watch The Throne Tour

2011-12-02T09:27:00.001-08:00

Rapper Astro Eliminated From X Factor

2011-12-02T09:18:00.001-08:00

Step Ya Ride Game Up!!! Swizz Beats Unveils New Chrome Lotus

2011-12-01T21:34:00.001-08:00

The Ciroc-sponsored, invite-only affair didn’t end there. Swizz Beatz made sure to take advantage of the star-studded room, bringing T.I., among others, on stage for impromptu performances.

Drake The Homecoming Part 1

2011-12-01T21:24:00.001-08:00

Young Jeezy Ft. Freddie Gibbs & Scrilla "Sittin Low" Video

2011-12-01T21:16:00.001-08:00

Step Ya Shoe Game Up!!! Under Armour Presidential Sneakers

2011-12-01T21:06:00.001-08:00

Brandon Jennings tweeted out a photo of a never-before-seen pair of Under Armour sneakers over the summer. They weren’t just any random assemblage of rubber, foam, plastic and synthetics. The special makeup shoes were sampled up specifically for President Barack Obama, complete with the Seal of the President of the United States prominently placed on the tongue. But would commander O ever wear them?

We got our answer this past Thanksgiving weekend when the Under Armour “POTUS” kicks came full circle. Frequent baller-in-chief Obama was spotted giving a thumbs up signaling his thoughts on the end of the NBA lockout following a basketball run at Washingon’s Fort McNair Army Base athletic facility. Cradled under his arm was a freshly worn pair of the black, red, and white Under Armour basketball shoes custom made and gifted to the President by the Baltimore-based sportswear brand.

Ludacris Ft Waka Flocka "Rich & Flexin"

2011-12-01T20:56:00.001-08:00

Off The Subject (But Not Really) Today Is World AIDS Day. Knowledge Is Power!!!

2011-12-01T20:20:00.001-08:00

10 HIV/AIDS Facts Everyone Should Know

HIV/AIDS may be the world's most feared disease — but awareness, which can help prevent transmission and save lives, begins with you.

By Charlotte Libov

Medically reviewed by Farrokh Sohrabi, MD

In 1981, a person with a strange blood disease was admitted to a government research hospital. It would be six months before a second case appeared, but doctors were alarmed — and as it turns out, their concerns were justified.
They didn’t realize it at the time, but the AIDSepidemic had begun. However, even those on the front line probably couldn’t imagine that 30 years later, 34 million people around the globe would be living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
Today, AIDS is no longer seen as an automatic death sentence, at least in developed countries with the resources to treat it. Still, millions of people around the world are becoming infected with HIV and dying of AIDS. “There are a lot of reasons why people need to know about HIV/AIDS, from determining whether they are at risk themselves to even how to speak sensitively to someone who has the disease,” says Steven Santiago, MD, medical director of Care Resource, a nonprofit HIV/AIDS organization in South Florida.
Is it time to brush up on your HIV/AIDS knowledge?

1. Anyone can get HIV. Today, this immune system-destroying disease is known as AIDS, which stands for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. The virus that causes it is HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus. But when the disease first appeared, AIDS was given other names, including “gay cancer” and GRID, which stood for gay-related immune deficiency. Those names fell by the wayside when it was realized that everyone — not just people who are gay — are at risk.

2. AIDS’ death toll is astronomic.

3. You can have HIV and not know it.

4. Prevention is key.

exchange of bodily fluids

tested for HIV

5. HIV has a powerful opponent.

antiretroviral therapy

6. You can’t get HIV from these things:

7. It’s not just a man’s disease.

woman with AIDS or HIV

8. African-Americans carry a bigger HIV/AIDS burden.

9. You can test yourself for HIV in the privacy of your own home.

10. HIV/AIDS is still a huge problem.

Everything Artist Should Know About ReverbNations "Promote It"

2011-11-30T22:55:00.001-08:00

Running a Facebook ad campaign is confusing. You bid for ad placement, but the price you pay bears little relation to your bid. What’s the difference between reach and social reach, connections and clicks, CPC and CPM? More importantly, is there any way to tell how many people played, downloaded, and shared your song, or signed up for your mailing list? (answer: no, there’s not)
ReverbNation’s new Promote It tool addresses those shortcomings, and then some. You pick a song, photo, and budget, and it automatically generates dozens of optimized Facebook ads based on past Promote It campaigns, and continually optimizes your campaign based on the performance of those ads. New fans click through to customized landing pages that track not just clicks and likes, but plays, downloads, shares, wall posts, and mailing list signups. As I’m quoted as saying in the press release, “It’s the ultimate ‘set it and forget it’ fan-making machine!”
I was invited to try it out and provide feedback during the beta period, and I’m flattered that some of my suggestions made it into the final product. So far I’ve run six campaigns. Let’s walk through the creation and performance of my latest and most successful one.

As of this writing, there are two types of campaigns available: promote a song, and promote your Facebook page. Soon you’ll also be able to promote a show or release. Most of my experience is with promote a song, so let’s continue with that:
Setting up your Promote a Song campaign requires nine simple inputs:
1. Which Song Would You Like to Promote? You should pick one that grabs the listener in the first 5-10 seconds. The song I chose starts right in on the first verse, with no instrumental introduction whatsoever.
2. Pick 5 Similar Artists. Since I was promoting a Depeche Mode cover song, I picked the band and its members’ solo projects: Dave Gahan (lead singer), Martin L Gore (songwriter), and Alan Wilder (long-departed yet still beloved keyboardist/producer) – plus Erasure, since half of that duo was in the original line-up of DM.
The product manager for Promote It told me that artists who have between 50,000 and 500,000 likes work best, and my results bear that out:

The Dave Gahan ads performed so well that they completely crowded out the rest. Perhaps it’s because Depeche Mode has millions of casual fans, but only the most serious ones keep up with the lead singer’s solo work, and are therefore more motivated to check out my cover.
3. Write Ad Text. You can choose to author one of the ads yourself, or let Promote It generate them all. Since my custom ad was outperformed by the auto-generated ads, I won’t bother sharing it with you.
4. Choose Picture. Your choice here can make or break the campaign! My previous campaign was identical to this one, except I used a close-up of yours truly. The results were pathetic. It should come as no surprise that a photo featuring 1) a world-famous band and 2) an attractive female does a better job of catching the eye.
5. Geo-Targeting. Choose between local (your state), national, all English-speaking countries, or global. Theoretically you should get the best results from global, but national did just as well for me in my limited experience.
6-8. Name Your Campaign, Sync with Facebook, Start Date. Pretty much self-explanatory.
9. Budget. Choose between $25, $50, $100, $250, or $500 on a one-time, weekly, or monthly basis. I recommend you experiment with successive $25 campaigns until you find a winning formula, and expand from there.
My $50 campaign lasted six days. Here are the results (click to enlarge):

I was most pleased with the 44 mailing list signups, but 57 likes is nice too. There’s sure to be some overlap between those two figures, but in any case, that’s a lot of new fans who will be hearing from me on a regular basis.

How does Promote It compare to running Facebook ads directly?

It really depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. If you just want to boost the number of likes on your page, direct ads have a serious advantage: you can structure them so that a click is a like.
But if you’re looking for the kind of things we musicians tend to care most about: song plays, downloads, shares, and mailing list signups, there’s no way to know which is best. Facebook doesn’t provide that information.
And no, you can’t just take the best performing Promote It ad and copy it over to Facebook. ReverbNation doesn’t share the text of its auto-generated ads with you, perhaps for that very reason.
But who says you have to choose? I use both.

Written by Brian Hazard

Brian Hazard is a recording artist with sixteen years of experiencepromoting his eight Color Theory albums. His Passive Promotion blogemphasizes “set it and forget it” methods of music promotion. Brian isalso the head mastering engineer and owner of Resonance Mastering inHuntington Beach, California.

Visit Brian Hazard's Website

Follow Brian Hazard on Twitter

Young Jeezy Ft Freddie Gibbs & Eminem "Talk To Me"

2011-11-30T22:29:00.001-08:00

The 54th Grammy Nominations

2011-11-30T21:49:00.001-08:00

The 54th Grammy Awards will be held on Feburary 12, 2012. Kanye West manages to get 7 nominations, followed by 6 nominations for Bruno Mars & Adele. Lil Wayne receives 5 nominations while Drake, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna each get 4.
Check out the full list below.
Record Of The Year
Rolling In The Deep – Adele
Holocene – Bon Iver
Grenade – Bruno Mars
The Cave – Mumford & Sons
Firework – Katy Perry
Album Of The Year
21 – Adele
Wasting Light – Foo Fighters
Born This Way – Lady Gaga
Doo-Wops & Hooligans – Bruno Mars
Loud – Rihanna
Song Of The Year
All Of The Lights – Kanye West
The Cave – Mumford & Sons
Grenade – Bruno Mars
Holocene – Bon Iver
Rolling In The Deep – Adele
Best New Artist
Band Perry
Bon Iver
J. Cole
Nicki Minaj
Skrillex
Best Rap Performance
Look At Me Now – Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
Otis – Jay-Z & Kanye West
The Show Goes On – Lupe Fiasco
Moment 4 Life – Nicki Minaj & Drake
Black And Yellow – Wiz Khalifa
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Party – Beyoncé & André 3000
I’m On One – DJ Khaled, Drake, Rick Ross & Lil Wayne
I Need A Doctor – Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
What’s My Name? – Rihanna & Drake
Motivation – Kelly Rowland & Lil Wayne
All Of The Lights – Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Best Rap Song
All Of The Lights – Kanye West, Rihanna, Kid Cudi & Fergie
Black And Yellow – Wiz Khalifa
I Need A Doctor – Dr. Dre, Eminem & Skylar Grey
Look At Me Now – Chris Brown, Lil Wayne & Busta Rhymes
Otis – Jay-Z & Kanye West
The Show Goes On – Lupe Fiasco
Best Rap Album
Watch The Throne – Jay-Z & Kanye West
Tha Carter IV – Lil Wayne
Lasers – Lupe Fiasco
Pink Friday – Nicki Minaj
My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy – Kanye West
Full list @ grammy.com/nomimees

Dr. Dre "Beats By Dre" Limited Edition Beats Studio Colors

2011-11-30T13:00:00.001-08:00

Dr. Dre stars in a new commercial for his new line of Limited Edition Beats Studio Colors, just in time for the holidays. Asking price, $299.

Glasses Malone Ft Ace Hood & Yung Fif "Trap Star"

2011-11-30T12:47:00.001-08:00

Common Pays Respect To Nas On "Verses"

2011-11-30T12:16:00.001-08:00

Common spits a verse from Nas "Life's A Bitch" on 2 Dope Boyz/Restless Films VERSES

Jay-Z, Kanye West, & Nicki Minaj Perform On Victoria's Secret Fashion Show

2011-11-30T12:01:00.001-08:00

Jay-Z & Kanye West "Niggas In Paris"

Kanye West "Stronger"

Nicki Minaj "SuperBass"

T-Pain Ft. Chris Brown "Look At Her"

2011-11-29T15:44:00.001-08:00

From T-Pains Upcoming Album "REVOLVER"

Comedian Patrice O'Neal Passes Away At 41. RIP

2011-11-29T15:00:00.001-08:00

We Gotta Take Care Of Our Bodies People... Rest In Peace Patrice O'Neal!!!
Patrice O'Neal has died at age 41.
The news of his death was was confirmed by his co-star on "The Opie & Anthony Show." The comedian and radio personality suffered a stroke back in October.
O'Neal was best known for his work as a stand-up comedian but also appeared in several films like "25th Hour," "Scary Movie 4" and "Furry Vengeance." In addition to being a regular guest on Opie and Anthony's show, he also made multiple appearances on "Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn," "Chappelle's Show" and "The Office."
Click for photos from the life and career of Patrice O'Neal.
Just this past September, he was one of the many comedians who poked fun at Charlie Sheen during his "Comedy Central Roast." He also hosted VH1's "Web Junk 2.0" back in 2006. Earlier this year, his Comedy Central special "Elephant in the Room" premiered on the network.
For those who knew him best, it was his bigger-than-life personality that will be missed most. "Yes it's true that our pal Patrice O'Neal has passed away," Opie, a.k.a. Gregg Hughes, tweeted. "The funniest and best thinker i've ever known PERIOD. #devastated." He then tweeted out a link to a video of the late comedian laughing on the radio show, simply adding, "Patrice O'Neal Greatest Laugh EVER."
Born in Boston on December 7, 1969, O'Neal got his start on the stage and in the early '90s and moved to Los Angeles to shoot for the big leagues. Eventually, his stand-up career resulted in smaller roles in films, as well as the HBO comedy special "One Night Stand." He had been living in the New York area at the time of his death.
The New York Daily News reports that O'Neal died Monday night. Shortly after his October stroke, his friend and fellow comedian Jim Norton opened up about his condition on the radio. "We don't know how he is. We don't know how he's going to be," Norton said. "I didn't want to do this by myself. I wish we had more news for you."

Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Perform "Next Episode" In Singapore

2011-11-29T14:18:00.001-08:00

Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre Perform "Next Episode" For The 2011 Mnet Asian Music Awards

Crooked I "Beach City B!#@H" Remix

2011-11-29T13:50:00.001-08:00

Remix To Tygas "Rack City"

YG FT. Nipsey Hussle & Snoop Dogg "The Motto" Remix

2011-11-29T13:39:00.001-08:00

Remix To Drakes "The Motto"

Step Ya Time Game Up!!! GSM watch phone M969

2011-11-29T05:08:00.001-08:00

Description : Watch Phone M969 - 1.55 Inch TFT touch screen Key Press Quad-bands Watch Phone work world-wide. Super slim design. ( unlocked )

Model : Watch-Phone-M969

Features :
Screen : 1.55 inch TFT touch-screen
First key-press QUAD-bands watch phone
Bluetooth 2.0
FM radio
Support voice dailing
Incoming vibration alert.
Playbck : MP3. MP4,
Music : support equalizer; four loudspeakers with stereo output, larger volume and good sound quality
Video : 3GP, MP4, support to play in full screen, speed and pause, hifi sound quality.
Data Transfer : data wire/ U disc/ Bluetooth (voice, stereo)
Camera :2MP camera.
Standby Photo: jpg, gif
Messages & Multimedia messaging : support SMS, MMS
Language : English, French, Vietnamese, Arabic, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Turkish, Russian
TF slot for memory add-on.
Video and sound recorder.
GPRS, WAPS, email.
Games.

Specifications
Network : GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 /1900mHz (quad-bands worldwide compatible) ( unlocked )
Size : 67 x 50 x 12mm
Battery : Lithium Batteries
Standby time : About 100-120Hours
Talking time : About 2-3 Hours
Color : Black Silver

Accessories
Charger
USB cable
Bluetooth
User manual

Step Ya Shoe Game Up!!! Nike Foamposite

2011-11-29T04:59:00.001-08:00

The Nike Foamposite One was released in 1997. It’s innovative design and materials revolutionized the sneaker game, and put it at the forefront of the sneaker industry during its original release. The upper is made of a single piece of molded polyurethane that does not stretch or lose shape like traditional leather or other materials used on shoes. While sacrificing weight the material offers a custom “molded” fit after the material conforms to the wearer’s foot. They were the signature shoe of Penny Hardaway, sporting his logo on both the tongue and heel.


Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Black / Anthracite	Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Black / Cactus	Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Black / Varsity Red

Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Black / Electric Green	Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Copper	Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Coughdrop

Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Dark Army	Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Dark Neon Royal (1997)	Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Dark Neon Royal (2007)

Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Dark Neon Royal (2008)	Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Dark Neon Royal (2011)	Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Eggplant (2009)

Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Eggplant (2010)	Nike Air Foamposite 1 – Pewter

The Nike Air Foamposite Pro is often mistaken for the Foamposite One, but any true sneaker fanatic knows the difference. What differentiates the two is the use of a Nike Swoosh on the lateral side of the shoe on the Nike Air Foamposite Pro. Other differences include the lack of the Penny logo on the tongue and heel. The Foamposite Pro replaces Penny’s logo with the classic Nike swoosh on the heel, and the ‘Air’ logo on the tongue.


Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Mocha (Sample)	Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Black / White – Metallic Silver	Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Black / Medium Grey

Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Dr. Doom	Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Electric Green	Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Pearl (1997)

Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Pearl (2002)	Nike Air Foamposite Pro – HOH Exclusive – Pearl (2009)	Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Pearl (2010)

Nike Air Foamposite Pro – University Blue	Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Varsity Red / Black	Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Varsity Royal / Black

Nike Air Foamposite Pro LE – Metallic Silver / Black (2005)	Nike Air Foamposite Pro Retro – Metallic Silver / Black (2008)	Nike Air Foamposite Pro – Electronic Blue

Meek Mill Ft Rick Ross "Work"

2011-11-29T00:26:00.000-08:00

Music Biz 101: How To Promote A Show, Dont Rely On Anyone Else

2011-11-29T00:16:00.000-08:00

This guest post is by Chris “Seth” Jackson, a bass guitarist and composer in pursuit of fulfilling his life’s dream of being a self-sufficient musician. He blogs his progress over at Howtorunaband.com to share the ups and downs of his adventure and to share techniques that all artists can use to achieve success. This is a great post about taking personal responsibility for the promotion of your live shows. Enjoy!

How to Promote a Show: Don’t Rely on Anyone Else

After having a poorly attended show, it’s easy to point the fingers at everyone else. The bottom line: the turn-out is entirely your responsibility.
When trying to promote your show, you would expect there to be a team of people to help out: the club, the booker, the other bands, and the promoter. And, yes, they sometimes do help out. However, more times than not, that level of support just isn’t there.
“How about the other bands on the bill? Can’t we get them to help flier and promote?”
Sadly, no. You can’t rely on other bands to promote the show. However, you can rely on them to make outrageous demands at the show, despite having done no promotional work whatsoever.
The bands that actually do help out, you want to work with them forever. Treat them like gold, pitch their shows, and always keep in contact with them. Those are the contacts you need in this industry.
Also, what if the other bands are from out-of-town? They can’t physically promote at all in your city. They rely on YOU. If the band is new, they may not know how to promote. Again, they need to see how you do it!
“How about the booker and the club? Aren’t they supposed to promote this?”
No. The booker has done her job by booking the show. She, now, has to book the other four months worth of shows, all the while dealing with cancellations and flakey bands.
The club itself is usually in the business of selling alcohol and trying desperately to keep its doors open. Most clubs I’ve seen at least run ads in the local papers. That’s about all you’re getting with the club dealing with shows just about every night of the year.
“Well, the promoter for this show is going to promote this, right?”
No. The promoter does drugs and steals your money from the door. So far, all the people I’ve seen that have the title “promoter” are the least capable of promoting. Not to say good promoters don’t exist; just don’t bet on it and protect your ass.
Rely on Yourself
In this biz, you are the only one you can rely on. Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t build a team. As your band grows, you will need to bring in others to help you out. However, this doesn’t mean trusting them implicitly. In the software testing field, we have a saying: “Trust, but Verify.”
Just because you have an entertainment lawyer doesn’t absolve you of double checking what the lawyer has written up for you. Just because you have an accountant doesn’t mean that accountant is handling your money correctly. Having a manager doesn’t mean your career is being handled appropriately.
And with promoting a show, you need to verify that those also “helping” promote are doing their job. For this very reason, starting your show promotion as early as possible will help you identify the slackers or the scammers.
If you do rely on someone else to help out your band, make sure to have a backup plan. Just like bringing an extra guitar and drum sticks to your gig, you should have a backup plan in case someone falls through. And in the music biz, people fall through a lot. Though this post sounds a bit negative, I’m only trying to make you aware of the reality of the situation. Sometimes you have great shows where everyone promotes, and you don’t have to worry about all the other people. Then, you have shows where you can’t even rely on your own bandmates to help with anything.
That’s just how the biz goes. If you plan for the worst, you will be prepared against most surprises. Your show will still get promoted, even if it’s only you.
The alternative when relying on everyone else? No promotion occurs, and you have zero people at your show.

21 Questions With Pete Rock

2011-11-29T00:09:00.000-08:00

50 Cent "Stop Crying"

2011-11-29T00:02:00.000-08:00

Off The Subject (But Not Really) Mayweather Pacquiao Fight MIGHT Go Down May 5, 2012. (Dont Hold Your Breath...)

2011-11-28T23:51:00.000-08:00

While their advisers continue to play a public relations game with the media and fans, both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao seem to be on the same page. The boxing world wants to see them once and for all settle who is the best boxer in the world today and they agree.

In an interview with Fighthype.com Mayweather said May 5, 2012 is the date the fight should happen.

"I been told the boy May 5th is open. Sign the contract," Mayweather said. "Losing is in Pacquiao's mind because he lost just last week. He lost to Marquez three times. May 5 is the date, sign the contract, I'm waiting. I can't be sitting waiting all day, you want to fight let's make it happen. I'm here, I'm waiting, what's going on? I can sign today. If I sign today you better sign tomorrow. You said you're a clean athlete and you said you'd take the test so let's do it."

Signing the contract is exactly what Pacquiao wants to do according to ABC-CNBNews.

"Negotiations are ongoing for my fight with Mayweather, but nothing is final," Pacquiao said. "Mayweather may be thinking, I can fight Pacquiao now because he had trouble against Marquez, and I was able to beat up Marquez."

RingTV is reporting that Pacquiao's advisor Michael Koncz, went to visit Mayweather at his gym last week and took pictures with the champ.

Top Rank boss Bob Arum told the Manilla Bulletin that he is in talks with two investment groups who want to stage the event. According to Arum the same groups are reportedly also in talks with Mayweather.

“Mayweather is going solo,” said Arum, indicating that Money May will not be negotiating through Golden Boy Promotions.

"This is what boxing fans are waiting for," says Pacquiao.

The stumbling block that had prevented this mega-fight from happening in the past has been Mayweather's insistence that Pacquiao agree to Olympic-style drug testing. That no longer appears to be a hurdle.

"For two years, Manny Pacquiao has said that he would agree to random, Olympic-style drug testing. Manny Pacquiao has said that he would do it," Arum claims.

There is also the issue of a lawsuit Pacquiao filed in 2009 against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., Roger Mayweather, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer for defamation of character. Arum indicated that could be worked out.

"[The lawsuit] is not a problem. That's something that could probably get worked out as part of a negotiation."

Tha Bizness Radio Show!!! Check It Out!!!

2010-12-20T13:13:00.000-08:00

Tune in to Tha Bizness Radio Show w/ Tony Tigerstyle Mon/Wed/Fri 12-2p PST Lunch Time Jam, 6-8p PST Road Rage & Saturday Afternoon Jam 12-3p PST. Don't miss out!!!

http://www.live365.com/stations/indiesstandup?site=pro

The 2010 Hip Hop Awards Season

2010-12-20T13:11:00.000-08:00

Redman Interview With Best Of Both Offices

2010-12-20T13:04:00.000-08:00

FANTASY FRIDAYS BIRTHDAY BASH FOR KESHIA WASHINGTON OCTOBER 22, 2010!

2010-10-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

THE GROOVE AT BLUE MOON NIGHTS EVERY SATURDAY! FREE BEFORE 11P ON GUESTLIST

2010-09-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Seductive Saturdays @ Blue Moon Nights September 11, 2010. Ladies FREE ALL NIGHT!!!

2010-09-10T15:50:00.001-07:00

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Seductive Saturdays @ Blue Moon Nights August 21, 2010. Ladies FREE ALL NIGHT!!!

2010-08-26T14:07:00.001-07:00

Seductive Saturdays @ Blue Moon Nights August 21, 2010. Ladies FREE ALL NIGHT!!!

2010-08-25T03:15:00.001-07:00

Seductive Saturdays Grand Opening August 14, 2010!!!

2010-08-10T13:33:00.001-07:00

How To Create A Budget For Your New Album

2010-07-27T19:01:00.000-07:00

Creating a budget for a new album means figuring out not only how much money you’ll need, but also how much time it will take from your first rehearsal to release day. After releasing a number of my own albums and answering questions from many of my friends doing the same, I’ve been caught off guard enough times to know where the hidden expenses are, how to save money, and where my money is best spent.
Naturally, the DIY environment is changing increasingly fast as technology makes much of this easier than ever before. But just because it’s possible to record an album on Monday and have it available on iTunes on Tuesday doesn’t mean it’s the best thing for your music. Taking some time to establish your goals and determine what you can realistically afford will help you create the best album possible.
In this article, I’ve tried to give you an idea of a realistic cost scenario for every stage of creating a new album, along with some tips from my own experiences, to help you create your budget. It turns out this is a lot of information. Use these quick links to skip around:

Do It Yourself or Hire Some Help?

Before you start, you need to know what you’re trying to accomplish. Do you want to make a stripped down acoustic album? Or maybe were you hearing a gospel choir singing back up when you wrote that one song. One you might be able to do on your own, the other is going to involve at least a gospel choir for help.
It is so easy to make your own album these days that you might feel like you can do it on your own. Let’s face it, your budget will be much smaller if you do it all yourself. This a valid approach if you can truly assess your capabilities. Learning to work within your limitations forces you to flex your creative muscles and face your own strengths and weaknesses. But just as you specialize in writing and playing music, there are people out there that specialize in the rest, and getting the right people on board can help your vision become a reality.
Furthermore, while making music is the most important part of releasing an album, it is really only the first step. Depending on how far and wide you want your music to travel, you’ll need to create some aesthetically pleasing artwork, manufacture CDs and other products, and market and distribute all these materials in an effective manner. Few people know how to do all of this stuff equally well, and almost none can do it alone or for free.

Favors from Friends vs. Paid Professionals

Part of creating a realistic budget is looking for places to cut costs. One way is to ask your friends for help. This is especially attractive when your friends are professionals. Why pay when you can get the same quality for free? But anybody that’s ever gotten married and used a friend or family member to handle the photography, catering, or other service knows where I’m going with this–sometimes it just pays to pay.
In my experience, favors are a very slippery slope. You can easily put a strain on your friendship if you don’t like the results or the job is taking too long. If the issues can’t be resolved, you may end up needing to hire somebody else anyway. You know the saying, There’s no such thing as a free lunch? That absolutely applies to this situation. Nothing is free. What you save in money will cost you in time and control.
Consider this: Whenever I use a friend on a job, and especially when they’re working for free, I allow them as much time as they need (within reason), and give them creative control over their piece of the job. Most creative types work to please their clients, and it’s not often they get a job that allows complete creative freedom. If your friends are really excited about working on your project, they are more likely to invest themselves in it. In other words, you want them to feel like the opportunity itself was worth their efforts.
As much as I (and probably most of you) want to believe people love to work on good art for art’s sake, the truth is, money motiviates. If you want to get something done on a schedule, paying for it usually does the trick. If your friends are trying to help you out while juggling paying clients your project becomes a lower priority. One of the advantages to hiring a pro is being treated in return as a pro. As their client, you are their priority.
Here’s a piece of advice when you do hire somebody. Always send it back at least once. Even if you’re blown away by their work, send it back with at least one piece of constructive feedback (but don’t be one of these guys). No matter what you discussed up front, it’s impossible for them to know what you’ll think of something. Don’t be shy about asking for changes, but don’t be a jerk about it. There’s always something that could be a little better, and a true professional wants you to be happy and get your money’s worth.

The Music

From the first rehearsal until you have the production master in your hand, most of your albums expenses will fall under this category, and it should. The music in and of itself is the product your selling.

1) The Other Musicians
If you are a solo artist, or even a solid four piece band, making a record often involves bringing in extra musicians to fill out your arrangements. The cost of hiring other musicians can vary greatly depending on their skill, how much they contribute, or simply how much their time is worth. Name recognition is also a big factor–hiring a more established artist might help you sell more albums, and is therefore worth more. Here are a few examples of how sidemen might be paid:

Example Rates for Session Musicians:
By the session. ($50 per rehearsal, $200 per day of recording) This could change based on the number of sessions, the length of each session, and how many songs you expect them to learn.
By the song. ($50 – $100) Highly skilled session musicians can knock out a song in just a few takes. Because they are more productive than your average player, they might want to be paid per song.
By the album. ($200 – $500) If you’re a solo artist, using the same musicians for your entire will not only make your album sound more consistent, but can also save you money.
Supply and demand. Many first-call musicians are in such high demand that to book their time, you have to pay them accordingly. Remember, musicians don’t get paid vacation. If they have to sub out of other gigs or cancel lessons to make your recording sessions, they’ll probably ask to be paid at least as much money as they would have otherwise made that day.

Generally, when it comes to making an independent musician’s album, sidemen or session musicians are paid based the rehearsal and recording time. Royalties for subsequent sales or use of the music (such as being licensed for a commercial) only become an issue if the sideman had a creative contribution to your song.
For example, if you hire me to record lead guitar for one of your songs, a lick, melody, or solo that I wrote or improvised could become a central component of that song. Or say you hire a horn section and need them to come up with their own background parts. In both cases it’s fair to say the sidemen made a creative contribution. This is not necessarily a co-write, but arranging music can sometimes be equally as valuable to the end result. If you believe this could be an issue, discuss royalty rates ahead of time and make an agreement in writing. That will avoid future disputes should you be lucky enough to make a significant amount of money from that song.

2) Rehearsals and Rehearsal Spaces
One of the best ways to save money on your album’s budget is to be prepared before hitting the studio. Rehearsals are cheap compared to recording time, and typically a more relaxed environment for working out the things that matter most on a recording, like dynamics and arrangements. Depending on where you live, rehearsal space could cost about $25 an hour (typical for New York City), or it could be in your basement for free. If you need to pay musicians to rehearse, see the section above.

3) Producer / Recording Engineer
While a producer and recording engineers are two separate roles, it’s not uncommon for producers to be engineers. A producer traditionally oversees the creative direction of a project, while an engineer’s role is to control the entire recording environment. Finding a producer that can also act as the engineer might help you save some money.
If you choose not to use a producer, produce the album yourself, or just look for another person to engineer your album, I’ve found that most freelance engineers work regularly at one or more recording studios. In these cases, their fee is usually bundled into the cost of renting the room. More on this in the next section.
Understanding what you need here is incredibly important, and I recommend reading two other articles that cover this topic:

“Preparing for the Recording Studio” has a more in depth discussion about the roles of producers and engineers, and can help you understand what to look for depending on your projects needs. As the title suggests, I also give a few more tips to help you get the most out of your studio time.
“DIY Musician & Working with a Producer” by Gary Melvin has a very well written section on producers fees. If you’re unfamiliar with terms like up-front money, back-end money, credits, and points, then this article will really help prepare you to discuss contracts with a producer.

Both producers and engineers may charge you one of three rates, as discussed in Gary’s article. The monetary amounts I have listed here are based on discussions I’ve had with producers, engineers, and other musicians that work with independent, self-funded artists.

Example Rates for Producers and Recording Engineers:

By the hour ($25 – $60)
By the song ($100 – $500)
By the album ($500 – $3,000)

In my experience these are rates are accurate, but they can vary greatly depending on your project, how prepared you are, and how you want to record. Jazz albums can be recorded in two days if the band is well rehearsed, everybody plays together, and you just hit take after take after take. Other types of albums can require at least two days per song if you need to record many parts individually. Ultimately, you just need to interview producers and engineers, allow them to quote your project, and decide if their rates will work for your budget.
In addition to the up-front fees, a producer may also be interested in royalties for his or her creative contributions (similar to the sideman contributions discussed above). This is called back-end money and is discussed in depth in Gary’s article. If there is potential for the producer to make some back-end money, it is reasonable to expect them to lower their up-front rates.

4) Recording Space and Studio Time
My approach to recording in a studio has always been to find the producer or engineer first, and then discuss the recording location. Many producers have their own studios that could work for much of your project. Other times it might be important to find a studio with good acoustics for group vocals or drums. Chances are your producer or engineer will know where to go to get your desired results.
The space in which you record could be one of the most important factors when making your album. Recording studios like Abbey Road in London or Gold Star in Los Angeles are renowned for the acoustic spaces that produce rich, signature sounds. Now, if we could all afford to record in studios like these, there would be no point to this article. My point is simply that the space can make a difference.
For example, I have recorded acoustic guitars in two different apartments on many occasions using the same equipment and virtually the same mic placement and levels on the pre-amp. My apartment has an average ceiling height and bookshelves all over the place, and the sound is very dry and unforgiving. You can hear every fret noise, string buzz, and sometimes even my breathing. In comparison, my friends’ apartment is a loft with high ceilings, concrete walls, and an area with a raised wood floor much like a stage. In their apartment, the sound is open, spacious, and extraneous noises are much less noticeable.
Most recording studios will also have much more, and perhaps better, equipment than your average home studio. I believe you should leave the equipment choices to the engineer, but you’re allowed to have a preference. For example, I wanted to record my last album to tape, so I first had to find an engineer that could operate the tape machine, and then find a studio with the right equipment.
I’ve priced out plenty of studios for my own projects, but did a little extra research to get some averages here. In most cases, a recording engineer is included in the price. Again, you’ll notice rates based on different blocks of time:

Example Rates for Recording Studios:
By the hour ($25 – $100) Hourly rates are best for vocals, overdubs, or whenever tracking does not involve much set up.
By the day ($400 – $1,000) Many studios only book by the day because it is unrealistic to schedule two clients in the same room on the same day.
By the album ($500 – $3,000) On some occasions, private studio owners will quote you for your entire project. It usually means they’re willing to block out a week or more to give you exclusive access to the studio.
Other studio expenses might include:

Piano Tuning ($100)
Tape Rental ($25 per reel)

One of the most time consuming aspects of recording in a studio is simply getting everything set up, putting microphones in the right places, and getting the levels right. Drums alone can take a couple hours! Therefore the best way to save money is to book consecutive days so you can leave your gear set up over night and get straight to recording on day two.

5) Mixing & Mastering
Despite the fact you’ve finished recording your album, it is still far from finished. This is where many musicians make the mistake of rushing through mixing and mastering because they already booked their CD Release show. Before we discuss the cost of these steps, I can’t stress enough:
Budget plenty of time to mix and master your album.
A properly mixed album can be the difference between a professional sounding project and a beginner’s first home recording. Mixing is a skill that takes practice, experience, and patience. You’ll learn a lot just by listening to somebody else mix your album.
In an ideal world, I prefer at least 4 weeks to mix an album. The actual time spent mixing might just be two or three days, but it’s a good idea to give yourself time to NOT listen to your album. When tracking is done, give yourself a week to not listen to the album so you go into mixing with a fresh set of ears. After the first round of mixing, listen, take notes, sleep on it for a couple nights, take more notes, and then go back for another mix session. In my experience, more time between mix sessions means you’ll need fewer sessions to get things right, which will save you money.
The cost of mixing usually involves hiring both an engineer and a mixing studio. But like sections above, these rates are often combined. Rates for a mixing engineer are similar to booking studio time.

Examples Rates for Mixing:

By the hour ($25 – $60)
By the day ($250 – $700)

A professionally mixed 10 track album could very easily cost $1,000 – $1,500!
Mastering is the last step in completing the music on your album. During the mastering process, adjustments to the EQ, compression, and levels of the final mixes will make your music sound bigger, more exciting, and equally balanced from track to track. If you’d like a better understanding of Mastering is something not easily understood by many musicians, especially when making their first album.
Greg Calbi, one of the senior mastering engineers at Sterling Sound in NYC, explains the mastering process in a series of videos on YouTube. If you’re unfamiliar with the process I recommend you start by watching this video. To summarize, he explains that the job of the mastering engineer is to “[take] something which is essentially already finished, and actually [finish] it even more.” In a nutshell, it’s an enhancement process.
The cost of mastering can vary greatly based on the equipment at the mastering house and the experience of the engineer.

Examples Rates for Mastering:

By the song ($50 – $100)
By the hour ($75 – $250)
By the album ($500 – $1,500)

A professionally mastered 10 track album could likely cost $1,000.
Be wary of mastering “deals” bundled with CD manufacturing or distribution services which might seem very inexpensive, but you’ll get what you pay for. I’m not saying you can’t get good results, but the only time I’ve ever heard anybody tell me they were unhappy with their mastering experience was when they used a bundled deal. It’s always better to know the work of the person who will master your album and discuss the job with them beforehand.
A better way to save money is to look at the people who mastered some of your favorite albums, find out where they work, and see if you can book a “junior” engineer at the same studio. Most mastering houses have staff engineers with less experience than the senior engineers whose names you might see on many albums, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the result is of lower quality. They use the same equipment and many of the same techniques as the expensive guys, but just don’t have the clout to charge as much.

Artwork & Packaging

Now that you’ve spent so much money recording your music, it’s time to blow through the rest of the process so you can release your album! Whoa, not so fast. Reward your efforts so far with an equally stunning visual presentation. This doesn’t have to be much, but an eye catching cover image and a few updated professional photographs of you will tempt more people to sample your music and hopefully like what they hear.
Far too many musicians try to save money here by doing everything themselves. If you can do it, then by all means go for it. But just because you have a pirated copy of Photoshop doesn’t mean you’re a designer. Plan your time and budget accordingly, do some research to find the right people to work with, and you can have a very professional looking album for less money than you might think.
For more thoughts on album design, see Before Designing Your Next Album…

1) Photographer
Not every album design needs photographs, but every professionally released album includes a photoshoot. By updating photos on your website, press materials, and social networking sites, you’re sending the message that something is going on, like a new release. Because a few photos can go a long way, investing in a professional photoshoot should be a no-brainer.

Rates for a professional photographer range from $200 to $1500.

Prices will vary based on how many shots are needed, how long the shoot takes, and how much post-production (ie. retouching) is done.
To get the most of your photoshoot, discuss your needs with your photographer and plan accordingly. Album covers are square, website headers are wide, headshots are usually 8″ x 10″, and the list goes on. Set up your shots to fit these various crops to save yourself a headache in post-production.

2) Designer
In my experience, a good designer is as vital to your new album as a good mastering engineer. People tend to notice when something looks wrong more than they notice when something looks right. If you want your album to look like it belongs next to your favorite artists’ albums, you need a great looking cover design.
In addition to the aesthetic considerations, there’s the technical aspect of design and print production most musicians don’t fully understand. If you don’t have the skills to create a print ready design in your manufacturer’s templates, then you’ll probably end up paying one of their in house designers to bring your files up to spec. At the very least, I’d recommend hiring a designer to help get your design into the proper templates and ready to print.

Examples Rates for Album Design:
By the hour ($25 – $75) Hourly rates are ideal for smaller packages, or placing a design into templates.
By the album package ($200 – $1,000) Prices will vary depending on how many panels you are in your package, including any inserts or booklets.
By the project ($500 – $1,500) Along with your album, you may need promo materials and merch designed as well.

Get the most out of your designer and consider all the items you need using their design. The continuity between your album, promo materials, and merch designs will help you sell more in the long run.

3) Should I make CDs?
Many musicians are saving money by simply not making any physical product at all. It’s understandable, given that digital distribution is affordable and digital sales can easily outpace CD sales for independent artists. Yet fans still buy CDs at shows, and CDs are still the preferred format for radio and promotions. Perhaps most importantly, a great looking CD still helps legitimize you and your album in the eyes of potential fans.
The cost breakdown of CDs can vary greatly depending on your package options. Jewel cases with a two side insert will always cost less than a 6-panel digipak with a 16 page booklet. Luckily, it’s very easy to get exact quotes for yourself online. The prices below assume you are choosing from the most standard packaging options.

Example Costs for CD Packaging
Large Runs, minimum 1000 Units ($800 – $2,000) For higher quantities, CDs are created using a process called replication, which essentially means the actual CDs are created specifically for your music. Because of the manufacturing parts required for replication, this method is only cost effective at high quantities.
Short Runs, 100-500 Units ($200 – $1,000) Options for smaller quantities are typically more limited. For starters, the discs themselves are duplicated onto CDRs, which is essentially the same process as burning a CD at home (with a really nice CD burner).
On Demand Manufacturing ($1 – $8 per CD) Some companies offer this option for very small quantities. Depending on how simple your packaging is and how much shipping costs, this is a nice option if you only need a few copies for promotions or to quickly replenish your inventory while on tour.

One other option is to get creative and make CDs yourself. I’ve seen this done very successfully first hand. Lauren Zettler designed a handmade package for her On Your Back Porch EP we recorded last year. Check out this video to see The Making of On Your Back Porch. Making her own CDs adds a personal touch to the album, and it makes it easier to maintain inventory in our small NYC apartments that really don’t have much room to store boxes of CDs. But the cost per CD actually isn’t that much lower, and the time investment is also a big factor. Luckily my wife really enjoys making EPs!

Marketing & Promotions

Finishing your album’s music and artwork is really just the preliminary stage of a new release. Now the real fun begins. If you want to make some of your money back, you’ll need to tell people about your new music! Save a little room in your budget for some marketing and promotional materials and services to give you that extra edge.

1) Promo CDs
Even if you opt for a digital only release, there are some instances where you still need a CD to hand somebody. Record labels make promo CDs, usually well before the artwork is even done, so radio, retail accounts, reviewers, and other press contacts can hear the music prior to the release date.
Promo CDs (sometimes called advances) typically just have black printing on the silver disc, and a single black and white insert or disc tray that includes the track list, credits, and release information. If the cover art is ready, another nice option is to print cardboard wallets, or minijackets. Full color artwork adds a little extra to the price, but they can double as CDs to sell at gigs. Keep in mind, however, that the current industry standard is to use a jewel case with a spine so the CD can be easily shelved.

Example Costs for Promo CDs
Jewel Cases / CDs Only ($1 – $3 per CD) To save money, order bulk CDs and jewel cases separately, then print your own inlays.
Minijackets / Wallets ($2 – $4 per CD) This option is usually only available for quantities of 100 units or more.

2) Merch
The brilliant thing about good merch, like t-shirts, is that fans happily give you money to proudly advertise your band on their chest. Even though merch can be a profit center for bands and musicians, I’m still going to categorize it as marketing materials because, well, we’re musicians, not clothing designers. If it’s not the music, it’s only purpose is to support the music!

Example Costs for Band Merchandise

T-Shirts ($5 – $12 each)
Hoodies ($15 – $25 each)
Hats / Caps / Skullies ($5 – $15 each)
Bags / Totes ($1 – $5 each)

The options for merch are virtually endless. Anything you can slap your logo on could work, you just have to know your audience. If your fans are older, professional types, maybe coffee mugs or flash drives are better than t-shirts. How about some custom reusable grocery bags? Do something different and turn some heads. I ordered custom label hot sauce for my latest album, and a lot of people ordered it along with the CD!
If you’re crafty, you can save money by making your own merch. I know somebody that knits hats while on the road and sews custom patches with her band’s logo on the front. The personal touch and one-of-a-kind nature of every hat goes over really well with their fans.

3) Posters, Postcards, Stickers, etc.
If you’re going on the road, posters are invaluable. Most clubs will expect you to send some ahead of time. Postcards, stickers, buttons, magnets and other simple items make great freebies on the merch table as well.

Example Costs for Print Items

Posters ($0.30 – $2 each)
Postcards ($0.15 – $1 each)
Stickers ($0.10 – $1 each)
Buttons ($0.25 – $5 each)
Magnets ($0.25 – $3.50 each)

Pricing for these kinds of items will vary based on how many colors you use, and of course, how many you order. Keep in mind that many of these items are printed on large sheets and cut down to size, like postcards or sheets of stickers. Expect to see minimum order quantities for these items. For smaller quantities, check out your local copy shop and see if you can save some money.

4) Advertising and PR
If your music is ready for it, advertising and PR / Marketing services can really help take you to the next level. However, I’ve run into a few companies that simply try to get as many clients as possible, run a standard campaign, and don’t produce many results. If you’re going to invest in these kinds of services, make sure you have something going on, like a tour, that could really benefit from a solid marketing campaign.

Example Rates for Advertising
Print Ads ($200 – $1000) Print ads depend greatly on the publication, size of ad, and placement.
Online Ads ($20 – $500) Online advertising is generally bundled in two ways: by impressions or by start/end dates. Paying per impression (the number of times your ad appears on the site) is most cost effective.
Example Rates for PR / Marketing Services per Campaign
College Radio Promoters ($1,000 – $3,500) Radio promoters will send your music to stations and follow up with calls trying to get targeted stations to play your music. They may also set up radio interviews for you.
Press and Publicity ($1,000 – $5,000) These campaigns will send your music and press materials to specific press contacts. Prices will vary depending on how many contacts you would like to reach.
Marketing Services ($500 – $2,500) Marketing teams can help coordinate all your promotions efforts and maximize exposure across different markets. They can be especially helpful if you are trying to run a broader campaign that covers tour and retail promotions, publicity, and advertising.

When you hire these kinds of services, you need to look for experience. This part of the business is built on relationships and reputations. Hiring people that are well known and have good reputations among the press and radio stations they’ll be contacting. Otherwise you might as well be doing it yourself.

Other Expenses

Finally, there are a few other items that might cost you a little more money. I’m sure I’m missing a few things, feel free to add them to the comments below.

1) Your Website
Releasing a new album is always a great time to update your website, or get your own website if you don’t have one yet. Designing a simple website on your own, using pre-existing templates is easy enough, or you can hire a web designer to make a slick, professional looking custom site.
For more thoughts on musician websites, see Website Design for Musicians and Bands and Designing a Website for a Freelance Musician.

Example Website Related Costs

Custom Domain Name ($10 per year) At the very least, you should own [your-band-name-here].com!
Hosting ($10 – $200 per year) Pricing really depends on all the fixings you get with your hosting package. There are some excellent musician-oriented hosting services out there that include everything you need to create a slick musician site.
Web Design Services ($200 – $1,000) Prices will vary based on the complexity and customization of your website.

2) Distribution
If you plan on selling your music anywhere other than your shows and website, you’ll need distribution. Distributors are responsible for getting your music to retailers, collecting the money from those retailers, and then paying you. In the current state of the industry, independent musicians are probably only concerned with digital distribution. The prospects of getting your album in brick and mortar stores is slimming by the day, although it is possible.
For the sake of this article, I’m simply going to focus on the two most popular digital distribution models by CD Baby and Tunecore. Both services are great, some people just prefer one pricing model over the other.

Example of CD Baby Digital Distribution Costs

$35 Set up fee (one time cost per album)
$20 Barcode (required if you don’t have one already)
9% Commission for CD Baby (on all digital sales, no annual fee)
Example of Tunecore Digital Distribution Costs
$46.99 Album set up (includes all available stores up to 100 tracks)
$19.98 Annual fee (due one year after initial distribution, no commission charges)

These rates are subject to change, but current at the publication of this article.

3) Cover Songs
If you have any cover songs on your album, you’ll need to license them for both physical and digital copies you will sell. I recommend using Limelight’s online licensing service to pay royalties for any cover songs. With Limelight, you’ll pay a $15 service fee per song, plus the statutory rate for your mechanical license. To learn more about cover songs, see our article “Recording, Releasing, and Performing Cover Songs.”

Example Rates for Mechanical Licensing with Limelight
1,000 copies x $0.091 (statutory rate) + $15 (fee) = $106 per cover song

The royalty rate increases for songs over 5 minutes long. You can pay for as few as 25 licenses with Limelight. Also, don’t forget that you will need to license songs for both digital and physical releases, each requiring a separate transaction.

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2010-07-08T20:01:00.001-07:00