Were you wondering just how Perez Hilton developed his ready-for-his-own-imprint ear? Wonder no more! The fine folks at BlackBook have put forth what they hope is evidence that he pretty much gets all his ideas from the essential UK chart site Popjustice, an accusation that many people watching the Technicolor-haired Internet scourge’s musicial habits have levied in the past. MORE »
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Perez Hilton Needs To Be Brought To Justice By Popjustice
rebrandings
Aly & AJ’s Breakup With Their Name Inspires A List Of Other Artists Who Have Changed Their Monikers Mid-Stream
Earlier this week, the blonde pop duo Aly & AJ announced that they had changed their name to 78violet. (”Fyi…..u pronounce #78violet as seventy eight violet:),” they helpfully added.) The sisters are calling their renaming “an exciting new beginning,” although given that they’ve already achieved some chart success under their old name, one wonders if this change might hurt their fledgling pop career more than it helps. As a way to assist these young ladies through this crucial stage in their career, Idolator presents a few stories of artists who changed their names–and how their careers fared once all the paperwork with the local DMV had been signed. MORE »
the biz
Perez Hilton’s Record Label Is Actually Happening
Even though the reality that Perez Hilton would have his own imprint with Warner Brothers was sort of inevitable, it’s still one of those pieces of news that makes you really glad you can run away from the computer for at least a while once the workday has ended. The Technicolor-haired Internet scourge is going to announce his first signing later this month, according to Entertainment Weekly, and I bet you whatever contract he extends will include a “stick up for the boss to the press” clause. Why, just look at this bit on how people tend to have strong opinions about him: MORE »
the biz
Jay-Z Doing The Splits
So after lots of speculation over just who would be releasing Jay-Z’s forthcoming The Blueprint 3 and distributing his Live Nation-aided label Roc Nation–and his own declaration that he, personally, would “never have a ‘record deal’ again”–it turns out that Jay-Z is actually getting in bed with both Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment: The former will put out Blueprint 3 on Sept. 11 (the eighth anniversary of the original’s run), while Sony subsidiary Epic Records will be the chief distributing partner for Roc Nation. MORE »
The Law
Santigold’s Label Not Too Pleased With The Creator Of A Mixtape About Her
The Brooklyn DJ Terry Urban had put together Southerngold, a ziptape blending Santigold and “Santigold-influenced samples” with MCs like Andre 3000, T-Pain, and Young Jeezy. But the mix’s path to YouSendIt was blocked by a cease-and-desist sent Terry’s way by Downtown Records, the label currently distributing Santigold’s debut LP. Irony alert: Downtown is also home to Gnarls Barkley, which has as one member a man who vaulted to fame on the backs of others’ copyrights! MORE »
Rumors
So What Is Jay-Z Up To, Anyway?
Last week, it came to light that Jay-Z had bought the rights to his long-in-the-works album The Blueprint 3 back from Def Jam, the label where he served as president from 2004-2007. The album was his final commitment to his Def Jam contract, and he’s now free to put it out on his Live Nation-backed imprint Roc Nation. In the past 24 hours, two stories regarding the fate of both Blueprint 3 and Jay’s newly minted label have emerged, with one saying that Jay is going to partner with Epic Records and another claiming that he’s going to enter the warm embrace of Warner Music Group. Which tale sounds more believable? An armchair analysis after the jump. MORE »
web 2.no
Why Tech Pundits Should Just Shut Up About The Music Business, Continued: Mourn Not The Precious, Money-Losing Startups
I am no fan of the major labels or their business practices by any stretch, but more and more these days, when I come across a tech-blog post that has as its thesis something like “Is [Evil Record Company X] Killing [Innocent And Pure Digital-Music Startup Y]?” I want to go out and buy a truckload of Pussycat Dolls CDs–at full price!–just for the purposes of throwing them at the clueless “evangelists” who pen them, over and over again, while blithely ignoring the fact that music may actually have a cost, and as such, may be worth something. MORE »
videodrone
Green Day Are Watching Themselves Burn
So, there is a new Green Day video! It got the star treatment on MTV’s music-focused Web site and everything, although what that actually means in the post-people-caring-about-music-much era is still up for debate. Anyway, “Know Your Enemy” was kind of underwhelming to these ears on first listen, and the video is just your standard security-cam-enhanced performance piece, although there is a neat bit at the end where each member of the group gets to stand in front of a Burning Man version of himself. Clip after the jump. MORE »
Revolving Door
Here is a lesson in burying the lede from the folks at Billboard, in a story about Warner Music Group merging Ryko Distribution into the Alternative Distribution Alliance: “As part of the move, all labels signed to Ryko will be handled by ADA, with the transition expected to occur over the next 45-90 days. Ryko Distribution has annual sales of about $50 million; Billboard estimates the merged company’s annual volume at $200 million. In order to accommodate the extra volume, ADA will add 12 people to its staff. Meanwhile, the 25-person Ryko staff will be laid off, and those staffers can apply for the new ADA jobs, WMG sources say.” So, the net loss is 13 employees? I understand in these tough times it’s nicer to put the good news first, but c’mon. [Billboard] MORE »
the biz
Vevo La Vida: Universal Music Group Hoping That It Can Create A Hulu Of Its Own
Universal Music Group has decided to team up with Google’s money-hemorrhaging video site YouTube for a joint venture called Vevo, which will apparently “highlight” clips from the major-label behemoth and make money for everyone (maybe even artists? Haha, just kidding!) via ad revenue. What does this mean for you, the end user? Well, clips that use UMG-owned music—which right now are only available for YouTube viewing if you venture over to the site—will be embeddable on third-party sites, thanks to “a special VEVO branded embedded player,” which reads to me like code for “you’ll be clicking through lots of ads before you see that new Lil Wayne clip.” MORE »
