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« March 23, 2008 - March 29, 2008 | Main | April 6, 2008 - April 12, 2008 »
Wooohah recently launched the Blog Performance Indicator that ranks Hip Hop and Urban blogs.
GreasyGuide.com was dissastisfied and countered with Top Urban Blogs.
What's fun about this, besides the decent ranking for ProHipHop, is that it's not only a battle of methodologies, which is cool in a research geek way, but also a battle of linkbait posts, which is cool in a web geek way.
Best of luck everybody!
According to the NPD group iTunes is now the top U.S. music retailer.
That's a trip. When ProHipHop started in 2004 it seemed reasonable to have a digital music category. Now it's so much the norm that a category is somewhat redundant and was discontinued because it wasn't being updated.
Diddy must be happy with Day26 at the top of the Billboard 200 album chart but Fat Joe has exited the top 10 and Rick Ross and Flo Rida are slowly following.
Top 10 Albums on the Billboard 200:
1. Day26 - Day26
2. Panic At The Disco - Pretty. Odd.
3. Counting Crows - Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
4. Danity Kane - Welcome to the Dollhouse
5. Now That's What I Call Music 27
6. Rick Ross - Trilla
7. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
8. Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static
9. Flo Rida - Mail on Sunday
10. Sara Bareilles - Little Voice
According to the NY Times, Jay-Z is in the process of finalizing a "roughly $150 million package" with Live Nation that will include the creation of "Roc Nation":
"As part of the arrangement, Live Nation would finance the start-up of a venture that would be an umbrella for his outside projects, which are expected to include his own label, music publishing, and talent consulting and managing. Live Nation is expected to contribute $5 million a year in overhead for five years, with another $25 million available to finance Jay-Z's acquisitions or investments, according to people in the music industry briefed on the agreement. The venture, to be called Roc Nation, will split profits with Live Nation."
"The overall package for Jay-Z also includes an upfront payment of $25 million, a general advance of $25 million that includes fees for his current tour, and advance payment of $10 million an album for a minimum of three albums during the deal's 10-year term, these people said. A series of other payments adding up to about $20 million is included in exchange for certain publishing, licensing and other rights."
That's truly big news for both Live Nation, who want as complete a deal as possible with established artists, and for Jay-Z, who joins Madonna and U2 as Live Nation partners, though Jay-Z's deal is much more extensive and reflects his own wide-ranging enterprises:
"Michael Cohl, Live Nation's chairman...cited Jay-Z's forays into a host of other businesses as a model for Live Nation. 'What he's done has kind of mirrored what we want to do and where we think we're going.'"
Cohl's statement is a reminder that hip hop business artists have long been exploring the new terrain of the music industry by going far beyond record sales as a primary basis for financial success. However rap's mixed success with live performance is the biggest missing piece at present.
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Will Jay-Z Pull a Madonna w/Live Nation?
Madonna/Live Nation Deal: Industry Restructuring, Not Revolution, Threat to Small Firms & New Artists
Baby Loves Hip Hop Presents the Dino 5
Prince Paul, aka DJ Stegosaurus, is the mastermind behind Baby Loves Hip Hop Presents the Dino 5, a hip hop cd for kids released on April 1st by Torque Records.
"Chali 2Na (MC T-Rex from Jurassic 5), Ladybug (Tracy Triceratops from Digable Planets), Scratch (Teo Pterodactyl from The Roots), and Wordsworth (Billy Brontosaurus of eMc). And it don't stop: The Dino 5 has been optioned for a cartoon series and Grammy-winning poet Ursula Rucker narrates its audio book."
Official Sites:
Dino 5
Theme Song & Trailer
Baby Loves Hip Hop
Kanye West's West Brands LLC has announced the launch of Kanye Travel Ventures, a celebrity branded travel service:
"Kanye fans will be able to customize their trips on the KTV site, www.KanyeTravel.com, including purchasing Kanye concert tickets and other performance-related merchandise and events, at the same time as they are booking their travel reservations."
And if that works:
"Kanye Travel Ventures, once successfully launched, will serve as a prototype for other such celebrity-brand driven travel programs, targeting the unique demographic profile and tastes of each artist's respective fan base."
A look at the Kanye Travel Ventures site currently reveals a generic, off-the-shelf service with little specific relationship to Kanye West other than the title and graphic so anything interesting beyond the announcement is still to come.
"Miki Woodard, president of the rapper's company, West Brands, told Advertising Age the process has already taken nearly a year. "We did a lot of due diligence with online travel partners" before linking up with Travelocity, Ms. Woodard said. Mr. West wanted an outfit that would be in it for the long haul, which could involve writing new software, she said."
"The next phase, expected within weeks, will be cross-promotional deals with marketing partners...negotiations are being conducted by Scotty Abrams, president of the celebrity brand-development firm Maniac Creative, Nashville and Los Angeles..."
"Mr. Abrams' father, Neil Abrams, president of a travel-industry consulting outfit bearing his name and also hired by Mr. West, said the marketing partners would include an automaker and wireless company."
Based on the logo at the bottom of the Kanye Travel Ventures homepage, the current travel service is provided by World Choice Travel, Travelocity's partner network.
Obviously this is going to work or not based on things we haven't seen yet. It could work if it's closely tied to the Kanye West experience which might well involve "writing new software". In fact, a well-done celebrity travel site linked to artist tours could be a real winner, especially if it leads to more such sites. But if it's simply a branded Travelocity service featuring cities on Kanye's tour plus merch then my Magic 8-Ball says get on outta here!
Ghostride the Whip Poster
Ghostride the Whip, a documentary that "tells the story of the evolution of the hyphy movement", is due on DVD June 24th from Image Entertainment:
"Written and directed by DJ Vlad...produced by Academy/Emmy-nominated Peter Spirer and narrated by none other than Sway Calloway...Ghostride the Whip takes you on a journey through the underbelly of the hyphy movement and it's origins, with the help of Bay area rappers like E-40, Keak Da Sneak, MC Hammer, Messy Marv, Mistah FAB and many others."
Ghostride the Whip:
At Image Entertainment
At YouTube
At MySpace
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Documentaries: Ghostride the Whip & Notorious B.I.G. Bigger Than Life
Apologies for my distracted nature of late. I'll be back soon with some resolution [let's hope].
Light posting will continue in the interim.
More interesting news from Scion as they announce the upcoming release of some unique projects via Scion AV or A/V, their marketing lab/record label:
"Ghostface Killah vs. Rhythm Roots Allstars - "Charlie Brown," Scion A/V Remix: Ghostface Killah and Scion A/V Remix: 45 KING. In its continual effort to show support for the music industry, Scion covers all production, licensing and distribution costs for their A/V projects and then donates 100% of the proceeds back to the artists themselves..."
"Beginning May 6, promotional copies of the Ghostface Killah releases will be distributed at special Scion-sponsored events and will be available for free download on leading online retailers. On May 13, Scion A/V Remix: 45 KING will be available for purchase via all leading online retailers."
Among other artists the Scion A/V Remix: 45 KING includes appearances by Wale, whose recent signing to Interscope caught more than one hip hop blogger's attention, Pase Rock and 4th Pyramid.
The Charlie Brown tracks from Ghostface Killah and the Rhythm Roots Allstars are available at the Scion AV website.
Related ProHipHop Coverage [w/additional Scion links]:
Scion Speak: Create Your Own Crest Campaign
JCPenney and Kellwood announced the launch of:
"Fabulosity, a complete fashion sportswear line designed by Kimora Lee Simmons to be sold exclusively at JCPenney. The new collection, created for JCPenney's Juniors customer, will debut in JCPenney stores and online at jcp.com in July, just in time for the Back-to-School season..."
"Simmons has created a new line for JCPenney, which combines the two worlds she knows best -- high fashion and hip hop. Fabulosity will be merchandised at JCPenney as an urban lifestyle offering in Juniors with a complete sportswear line featuring tees, knit tops and sweaters, jeans, skirts and dresses, as well as hoodies, jackets and outerwear. The collection will be offered at JCPenney's best pricing tier and will range from $29 to $108."
The "Fabulosity sportswear collection is produced under a licensing agreement by BP Clothing, LLC", Baby Phat's licensing company.
Official Sites:
JCPenney
Kellwood Company
Limited Profile:
BP Clothing, LLC
Birdman & Lil Wayne - Happy Father's Day [Mixtape]
To receive this report separately each week, please visit Weekly Hip Hop Albums and sign up for our free weekly newsletter delivered every Monday with Tuesday's releases.
AZ - Undeniable
The following new releases are available from Amazon.
40 Cal - The Yellow Tape [CD/DVD]
8Ball - Doin It Big
Assassin Presents - "The High-Fee Movement":
Volume 1 "Stunnaz and Scrapers"
AZ - Undeniable
Birdman & Lil Wayne - Happy Father's Day
Devin The Dude - Smoke Sessions, Vol. 1
Ese Villen & Lysto - The Next Chapter
Jay-Z & Big Mike - International Gangster
Krayzie Bone - The Fixtape, Volume One: Smoke On This
Lil Wayne - We The Best
Mr. Knightowl - Code of Silence
Soldiers of the 213 - The Best of the 213
Tony Draper - Street Money
A Tribe Called Quest - The Best of A Tribe Called Quest [Import]
Trina - Still Da Baddest
Versatile - Verse The World
West Coast Ballin', Vol. 4
For a database of upcoming and past releases with updates,
please see Hip Hop Albums @ netweed.
Music industry news from Hypebot:
Universal's Interscope has invested in social music site Buzznet.
Who is the #2 download store after iTunes, Amazon or eMusic?
The adoption of DRM free music has stalled. Are iTunes or the labels to blame?
Warner Music Group is backing a ISP tax on music and hired ex-Geffen digital exec Jim Griffin to spearhead the effort.
Two contrasting ad campaigns - Santana for Macy's and a Dr. Pepper Guns & Roses spoof - illustrate how to use and abuse music in marketing.
Billions and Aero have merged to form a powerhouse indie music booking agency.
UK folk legend Billy Bragg says Bebo and other tech startups who use music to make millions should pay artists more.
imeem is offering the advance debut of the new Rolling Stones soundtrack album.
Orange experiments with ad supported mobile music downloads in Europe.
EMI Publishing UK promoted Felix Howard to VP of A&R.
A Four Questions For (4QFor) interview with Insomnia and RouteNote CEO Steven Finch.
Video: A look at Groove Armada's 360 deal with Bacardi and Bjork calls for a free Tibet during a concert in China
Hypebot starts accepting advertsing.
See ProHipHop's Hypebot Industry News category for past roundups.
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