Going Indie: Hip Hop and the Independent Labels

For a struggling musician who dreams of making it big, securing a record deal with a major label is definitely one of the golden opportunities that shouldn't be passed up. The same thing could just as well be said for hip hop artists. What with flashy cars, heavy jewelry, and ostentatious displays of wealth constantly dominating the hip hop image, a multi-million dollar contract with a giant music company is just a logical and financially necessary part of the package. But recent trends have shown that being affiliated with a major record label isn't always as rewarding, both career and money-wise, and going independent doesn't always mean being obscure and penniless.Back in the days when hip hop was still an emerging genre in the mainstream music industry, most artists were initially signed to independent record labels in the East Coast. Def Jam Recordings was one of the most notable labels at the time. Other active indie labels in the hip hop scene were Jive, Tommy Boy, No Limit, Cash Money, Rawkus, and Profile. In the late 80s up to the mid-90s, the popularity of hip hop soared and it became evident that the genre could sell albums and was not just a negligible offshoot of block party music from the ghettos. Major record labels started noticing the trend and jumped in. BMG acquired a minority stake in Jive and eventually owned the label in 2002. Def Jam came under the ownership of Universal Music Group while other indie companies signed distribution deals with major record labels.The corporate takeover of hip hop led to increased spending, from inordinate expenses for music videos to the luxurious pampering of big-time rappers. Huge amounts were spent on production, promotion, and distribution of albums. Of course, these came with the expectation that album sales would yield a fat return. The landscape changed with the advent of technology that enabled consumers to just download music from the internet or copy it from CDs. Records stores were closing down as CD sales continued to dip. With the decrease in album sales, there was barely enough to cover overhead costs of production. For the artist, this means smaller proceeds even if the album sold 200,000 copies or was a certified gold.This is where the advantage of an independent label comes in. With an indie, the cost of making an album is lower so even if the copies sold are fewer than those of a major label, the profits are still much more decent. Consequently, the artists also earn more and they have more artistic control of their material.This has led a number of rappers to leave their corporate nests and venture into the indie labels. East Coast rapper Fat Joe, for instance, personally handled the production, marketing, and distribution of his music under his own Terror Squad Entertainment. He signed a distribution deal with Virgin Records which grants him higher percentage of the profits and allows him to retain ownership of his master tapes. Cormega is another rapper who went from major label to indie. He put up his own label, Legal Hustle Records, after being released from a contract with Def Jam. Just like Fat Joe, Cormega said that he earns more now as an independent rapper than when he was signed to a major label.The renewed growth of independent labels is seen as a welcome avenue of diversification amidst the corporate hegemony of the music industry. It also provides an opportunity for artists who may otherwise go unnoticed by major labels. With the constant talk of the death of hip hop, this indie trend could very well be the music genre's hope for resurrection.

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Music Sharing is a New Hot Space

Online music is finally getting in tune and it sure is an exciting time to be a music fan.Downloaded songs, once the scourge of the music industry, have gone completely legitimate and now the next great wave crossing the Internet is all about sharing music over the World Wide Web. It is a great place to be! With the industry's support, some of the biggest computing and Internet companies have launched music-download stores and portable digital-music players.Downloading and sharing songs through file-sharing programs was once a dangerous pastime back when the recording industry began filing lawsuits against hundreds of users for copyright infringement. Several surveys by research firms suggested that file-sharing activity slowed after the Recording Industry Association of America launched its legal campaign. In a recent poll, taken by the Pew Internet & American Life Project in November and December, only 14 percent of respondents said they downloaded music (through file-sharing networks or for-pay services), compared to 29 percent in the spring.Even the most successful download service, Apple's iTunes Music Store, is dwarfed by the traffic on file-sharing networks. The trend, which is catching on from coast to coast and everywhere in between, is a reflection of just how portable music has become – and how sharing it with others is becoming easier than ever. It's fairly basic stuff.Experts who track technology trends say they're not surprised people are sharing more music. It's the same thing as sharing a hot new 45 or tape or CD. Some have accused a new wave of music listeners of shutting out the world with their headphones but technology is actually encouraging people to socialize because it is set up for people to meet other people – not isolate them.The Internet has also changed the dynamics of music sales, with musicians no longer having to rely on distributors or chain stores. They can sell their music on their own Web site, through sites that offer downloads, and through new retailers. The Internet is a great equalizer in a lot of ways. A lot more people can participate. In fact, some musicians grumble that the business has become a little too open, with so much music available that it supersaturates the market.But there are a lot of people for whom this music is important. And now, you can share with, and meet those people, people just like you, at a great new site that will change the way you think about music forever.

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Jazz Music: Discover the Incoherence within!

William Shakespeare has well said “ He who hath no music in him is fit for treasons and spoils.” This statement looks so true and it very right in its own sense. In the early modernist era, a genre of music known as the Jazz music went on to become pretty popular and it is popular still. The Jazz music is marked by the incoherence of words and music. There is no sense of music and it looks more like a cacophony. However, Jazz music gained momentum and it became one of the most popular style of music in those days. And the rest is history. Jazz music, till date is one of the most popular style of singing and you would find a lot of patrons of Jazz music. Let us acquaint ourselves with the history of the Jazz music .The early 20th century was marked by sorrow, dilemma and depression. With the death of queen Victoria in 1901, the Edwardian Era began which was a gloomy phase in the history. Then the second half of 20th century witnessed an immense sense of isolation and alienation with modernism and the World War I. Thomas Stern Eliot refers to the coherence of the Jazz music in so much incoherent world. The time, when everything seem to go wrong and nothing was in place, Jazz music became the soul of music and reflected the cacophony of the times. Again, World War II sabotaged the values and ethics of humanity and the human suffering was beyond endurance. Then the great economic depression lead to sadness and material loss. Then the advent of post modernism, the Jazz music had become so much in sync with the times that it became the voice of the deserted humanity and hapless individuals. You can find some of the best Jazz music CDs on World Wide Web and find some of the famous music of your choice. From Robert Wyatt to Amy Winehouse, Jonie Mitchell to James Morrison, find out more about the music and its relevance! When you need your choicest jazz music CD, consider Internet as your best option!

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Character Profile for the Uncanny X-men

The Uncanny X-men is a story about humans and mutants living together as one nation...but that didn't last long. Humans hate them as they are just pets, some called them freaks, they hate them because of what mutants can do, and because of how they look like. As for the discrimination cause by human, one mutant create a school for his kind to help them control they're powers and make them stable of what ever they do. The name of this mutant was Professor Charles Xavier, also known as Professor X a high-level telepath with an ability which he can read, control and even influence anyones mind. The known owner of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters (later named the Xavier Institute). And he is known as the leader of X-men. X-men a group of mutants fighting for peace to achieve the rights of any mutants in the world, and they are...Cyclops, also known as Scott Summers this mutant has the ability to shoot a flashing red light(“Optic Blast”) from his eyes. Unable to control his power, he is forced to wear a special glasses to stopped the blast from releasing into his eyes. Scott Summers is one of the first student of Xavier's school. Jean Grey, a lover of Scott Summers. She is specially trained by non other than Proffesor X, for having the same ability what so ever. As a telepath she always try to help her team mates in every way necessary.Beast, also known as Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy this mutant possesses a inhumane super strength abilities and super agility. Beast is the X-men personal doctor despite on his savage appearance he is rather gifted in the arts of medicine.Storm, also known as Ururo Munroe one of the most powerful member of X-men she has the ability to control the weather, and she is one of the attractive ones. Storm is one of the captain of x-men beside from cyclops.Gambit, also known as Remy LeBeau has the ability to change any object into explosive, he prefer using a deck of cards. The only womanizer in X-men he is also has an intimate relationship with Rogue.Rogue, also known as Anna Marie Raven has the ability to steal anyone power by touching or physical contact. She can attain they're power for a few seconds or for her whole life. One of the power that became permanent was from Ms. Marvel, the ability to fly and super strength.Wolverine, also known as Logan he is a human experiment that enable him to release sharp blades from his fist to make it a weapon. The bones of Logan has been extracted by adamantium alloy that made his bone stronger than any metal. He also has a healing ability to make him a super soldier.Morph, also known as Kevin Sydney he has the ability to change his appearance and ability of anyone he wants to be. The only friend of Logan (wolverine) he is also one of the original member if the uncanny X-men.And for last Jubilee, also known as Jubination Lee has the ability to send spark out from her finger tips. She is one of the youngest member of the X-men.For all of those who watch it in national TV I know that deep inside you, you want to watch it again. So what are you waiting for? Purchase your Own copy of the X-men or other TV shows in DVD at DVDAvenue. For those who are longing to watch the X-men one more time, this is your time to have them as you're own copy.

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Online Music Sharing

The tunes are out there.
Floating around in the Internet, all just a mouse click away, are hundreds and hundreds of songs, the songs that you love, the soundtrack of your life, that favorite ditty, the melody you first heard as a kid and have loved ever since, the album that you grew up on. It is all so very available smack dab in the middle of cyber space. No need for a trip to the neighborhood music shop.
See, there is no question that the advent of the World Wide Web has changed the way we all live; it has brought us into a brand new age. But no change wrought by the Internet has had wider impact than the complete transformation of the music world. We have really come quite long wat since the days of LP albums and, ugh, eight-track tapes. The way we all listen to music has changed, and it is continuing to change along with the explosion in social networking on the Internet. Do you want to ride the wave of that change? You can, simply by plugging in to the latest trend in online music.

What’s the name of that trend? It’s called music sharing. Remember sharing? That one thing they kept stressing back in kindergarten? The only difference nowadays is that sharing is not about letting some other kid have a turn with the Speak-n-Spell; now it refers to the very coolest thing to do with your tunes. And the nice part is – everybody else is sharing their music too!
See, just imagine all the songs you love – and not just those old stand-bys, not merely the songs you know by heart and could pretty much sing in your sleep, but also all the songs you love but don’t own, or that catchy modern tune you caught on the radio, that haunting melody you recognize but can’t quite place. You can find it all on the Internet, where the people who want to share those tunes with you want you to share your music with them.
It’s a music revolution – and it’s oh-so-simple!

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