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In a "unique deal with Young Money/Universal", rapper Nicki Minaj "retains and owns all of her 360 rights, including merchandising, sponsorships, endorsements, touring and publishing."
Look for a debut album early 2010.
Cam'ron and Omar "Iceman" Sharif
Is Cam'ron mad at Omar already?
The Blue Scholars are staying independent with a vengeance, in part, "through a unique partnership formed with Duck Down Records, and Seattle's Caffe Vita Coffee Co." for their upcoming releases OOF! and Bayani Redux:
"The sales and distribution model developed by the group for their upcoming releases will allow them to maintain complete ownership of their music and total control over how it is marketed, sold, and even given away."
"Instead of signing a standard artist/record label deal, Blue Scholars hired the label Duck Down to run point on marketing for all of their upcoming releases. As a major player in the current and ever-changing record label industry, Duck Down Records saw this deal as an opportunity to get creative and experiment with strategies for record labels to continue evolving as viable businesses..."
"Duck Down's current distribution partner, E1 Entertainment, the largest independent distributor in the United States, will handle distribution of Blue Scholars' physical product. Digital sales and distribution will go through Tunecore. Direct-to-fan marketing and sales will be developed by the members of Blue Scholars themselves, using Topspin web marketing tools...."
"To finance all the upcoming projects, Blue Scholars have formed a strategic brand relationship with Seattle independent coffee company, Caffe Vita. The coffee company will also play a role in the sales and distribution plan by selling upcoming albums in all of their retail outlets and marketing the releases via their online presence."
This is cool on multiple levels of experimentation for pretty much everyone involved. Besides being happy to see Blue Scholars maintain control of their future, it's great to see Duck Down offering services and Caffe Vita offering funding and distribution.
As I pointed out a while back, developments in the music industry such as 360 deals can open up opportunities for small firms to provide services directly or as outsourcers. This has become more obviously the case as indie artists look at the landscape and cut 360 deals with themselves!
On a more recent note, I'm a big advocate of finding alternate distribution routes both to increase sales and to create unique marketing opportunities.
I'm looking forward to seeing what happens.
Official Site: Blue Scholars
WIDEawake Death Row is digging into the vaults of Dr. Dre to release The Chronic Re Lit and a bonus DVD, From The Vault, on September 1st:
"This package includes the sixteen original Chronic songs digitally re-mastered, profound liner notes from one of Dr. Dre's long time colleagues and friends, award winning producer and documentary film maker Quincy Jones III, plus a second DVD collection entitled From The Vault."
"This DVD is packed with Chronic videos, promotional pieces, and a special never before released 30 minute in studio interview with Dr. Dre discussing the future of hip hop. But that's not all - the From The Vault DVD includes Seven unreleased and rare release songs from Snoop Doggy Dogg, soulstress Jewell, CPO, and Kurupt."
There's also a contest with free downloads planned for the Death Row Records website but it's not yet in motion.
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
DJ B-Mello Joins WIDEawake Death Row Entertainment
Though the key point doesn't make the headline of this press release and doesn't appear until halfway through the release:
"[Seattle DJ] B-Mello...is now scheduled to consult for the new Death Row Records - aka Wideawake Death Row Entertainment working Death Row product in North America including working with radio programmers, clubs, DJ's, special remix contests and initiatives."
Back in the Suge days, that would be the last you'd hear of B-Mello till he got out of his contract!
Congratulations to all. Hopefully this will open some doors to more Seattle artists as well.
Speaking of Seattle, big ups to Blogs is Watching who made sure I heard the news. That's the spot for keeping up with Seattle.
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
New Death Row to Release The Chronic Re Lit
Drake signs with Lil Wayne's Young Money Records in a "joint venture between Young Money and Cash Money, with Universal Republic distributing. Drake's management was adamant that he should be viewed as an independent artist, although Universal will distribute the project."
The Orchard anounced today that they have:
"formed a comprehensive marketing, distribution, and services partnership with leading independent music and video distributor Traffic Entertainment....The Orchard will serve Traffic Entertainment as its exclusive digital partner... Other traditional marketing efforts will be shared between the two companies, with Traffic tapping The Orchard's fast-growing U.S. physical distribution offering to handle all but third-party projects for Traffic."
"Traffic Entertainment...best known for the hits The Show by EMC, Vaudeville Villain by Viktor Vaughn aka MF Doom, Mission Impossible by De La Soul, Silence & Secrecy by Lil Scrappy..."will lend its high-caliber street credibility and grassroots marketing expertise to select Orchard-sourced projects, along with its own label releases," stated Christian Hedlund of Traffic Entertainment."
"Starting in July, The Orchard will physically distribute the upcoming Biz Markie best-of compilation...and digitally and physically distribute new albums by Killah Priest, and Masta Ace & Edo G, and a new DVD by Beastie Boy's videographer Ricky Powell. The Orchard will also handle the physical distribution of the deluxe reissue of De La Soul's De La Soul is Dead, which will be released in August. Other collaborations between the entertainment services company and Traffic include September albums by Little Brother, Edan, Oh No, Happy Black (Prince Paul, Newkirk & Keyon)."
Over at Hip Hop Press:
The Orchard and Traffic Entertainment Join Forces to
Transform Marketing and Distribution of Independent Hip-Hop
South Carolina's Lil Ru has been signed to Def Jam. Debut album 21 & UP, is due July 7th.
According to Billboard:
"While there are as many as three major labels battling it out to sign Drake, the Toronto-born MC signed to Lil Wayne's Young Money label is close to signing a deal with Universal Motown, a source close to the negotiations confirms."
"Sources say three majors are in possibly "one of the biggest bidding wars ever" in hopes of signing Drake, including Universal Motown and Atlantic Records."
Supposedly a label other than Universal has offered $2 million dollars straight up!
It's nice to have buzz, talent and Lil Wayne backing you!
MySpace: Drake
Sources/rumors at both Hits Daily Double [via DJ Semtex] and Billboard have Jay-Z and/or Roc Nation negotiating some sort of deal with Sony.
But the real question remains, will the deal be officially announced via Twitter or a Vibe Top 50 blog? ProHipHop waits with bated breath!
Related ProHipHop Coverage:
Jay-Z Says Bye Bye to Def Jam
Gucci Mane has officially announced his signing to Warner Bros. Records with a new album to be released in August. He also clarifies that Big Cat's Murder Was The Case album is based on pre-2007 material including outtakes and other material he did not plan to release:
Gucci Mane states:
"I am no longer signed to, booked by, or working with Big Cat Records or any of its employees in any way. The CD that Big Cat is putting out consists of records that were never planned to make my album and is a non-official release. My fans will get the OFFICIAL Gucci Mane album in August on Warner Bros. Records."
Look for Gucci Mane to cover an upcoming issue of XXL.
Lloyd Banks is going with an independent label for his next album and expressing more of the growing hate for Interscope but says he's still with G-Unit.
On a related note, I was happy to hear that Mixtape Monday went daily. That's a nicely done feature at MTV News and breaks quite a bit of business news.
Are they on tv yet? They should be!
Jeff Dixon, co-CEO of Disturbing Tha Peace, says Lil Scrappy "never got the shot he needed to get".
Will signing with DTP give him that shot?
We should know by this fall when his next album is planned for release.
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