Idolator

While he's not going to be the label's new CEO (boss L.A. Reid reclaimed the title after Jay-Z's departure), Shakir Stewart has been named Executive Vice President of Def Jam, which basically makes him Jay-Z's replacement. While he can take credit for signing Ciara to LaFace (where he and Reid began their professional relationship) and signing Beyonce to a publishing contract in 1999, it's believed that the real reason he's being given the promotion is that he's responsible for signing Young Jeezy and Rick Ross to the label. Admittedly, these acts are younger and arguably more successful than the fogies like Nas and the Roots that Jay-Z was responsible for, but I'm pretty damn scared what's going to come from a label run by a guy who takes pride in turning charmless, one-dimensional self-aggrandizement into music-business gold. More »

Are indie bands going to get screwed by MySpace Music, the social-networking site's joint venture with Sony BMG, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group? If by "screwed" you mean "not getting as much of a share of the ad revenues as the big boys, if they get any at all," then the answer is "of course." Listening Post had a little chat with MySpace co-founder Chris DeWolfe on the topic of spreading MySpace Music's wealth, and he said that there were just too many bands out there to give a share of ad revenue to every single group of guitar-toting bros with a page on his site. And if they don't like it, they should remember how they should be happy that their bands got access to the "free platform" that MySpace has to offer, what with its unparalleled ability to connect bands with fans from all over the world... and then make those fans think that they're spammers after their accounts get phished. More »