The world’s big four record companies are to go head-to-head with Apple with the launch of a new form of album download that will include a digitized version of a record sleeve.

Sony, Warner, Universal and EMI are putting the finishing touches to an album format that will give music fans a computerized version of the sleeve notes that come as standard with a CD, including lyrics and artwork, and videos.

The format, due to be available in November, is aimed at boosting the sales of album downloads, which online buyers have failed to warm to despite a huge surge away from CD sales towards their digital counterparts. Although more than nine out of ten of all singles sales are made in digital form, for albums that figure is reversed.

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Joel Tenenbaum admitted to sharing 30 songs with Kazaa back in 2004 (Kazaa! So quaint!) and was originally fined $150,000 per song. He worked that down to "only" $22,500 per song, but that's still $675,000 in total.

This is the second big victory for the RIAA this month, after the even-more-ridiculous decision that filesharer Jammie Thomas should pay $80,000 per song. But unlike Thomas, Tenenbaum hasn't come out and said he will outright refuse to pay the fine, and it looks like this is a more concrete win for the RIAA dirtbags.

The RIAA specified to TorrentFreak that the money won will go to more lawsuits, not to the artists the RIAA supposedly represents. It looks like yet another episode in this long public relations attack in which the organization mercilessly kills any sympathy for their cause that might have existed. [TorrentFreak]

from XXL

[Editor’s Note: These are the outtakes to the edited interview that appears in the July 2009 issue of XXL.]

XXL: While other rappers make self-proclamations, you’ve avoided them. Why?

Fabolous: I think maybe that’s why I probably [get overlooked]. I kinda strayed away from that, maybe that’s needed too, because you have to make your claim sometimes. You have to make your claim where— you know how T.I. said he’s the King of the South, or Lil Wayne said he’s the Greatest Rapper Alive, Jay said something too. Everybody makes their claim.

XXL: So where does Fab fit in?

Fabolous: I dunno, I gotta analyze these statements, because some of them are just self-proclaimed [and] some of them is ones that are lived up to. So, I don’t know because you can call yourself anything. I can say whatever. I can say “I’m the flyest nigga to ever do it.” Certain people would agree with it, certain people would say, “Nah.” It’s really whatever you wanna say that’s why I never hung on those titles either because a nigga can say whatever he wanna say.

Read the rest of the interview here.

from KicksOnFire.com

LeBron James Rocks Out To Jay-Z's "D.O.A." On New NIKE Commercial Set! from the.LIFE Files on Vimeo.

from KicksOnFire.com

Apple, record labels working to spur album sales with interactive goodies, tablet due this September?

Let's face it, folks -- the CD insert is no longer "the new hotness." And besides, those wacky PDFs included with iTunes album purchases never did much more than take up valuable hard drive space anyway, right?. In an effort to get consumers to stop buying single tracks and start buying more filler entire albums, Apple has reportedly joined forces with EMI, Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group in a project that's being codenamed "Cocktail." Financial Times is reporting that said initiative is considering adding "interactive booklets, sleeve notes and other interactive features with music downloads," with one executive familiar with the situation saying that "it's not just a bunch of PDFs; there's real engagement with the ancillary stuff." Of course, all of this should still be taken with a pinch of salt for now, as even the music companies mentioned above refused to comment. And given the tremendous indifference consumers have shown with that other interactive tech that's being pushed so hard right now, we're not even sure it'll have the desired effect.

In related news, another sect of folks "briefed on the project" have stated that these new content deals could be launched alongside a new, full-featured "tablet-sized computer in time for the Christmas shopping season, in what the entertainment industry hopes will be a new revolution." Adding fuel to the already raging fire, the report asserts that the "touch-sensitive device... will have a screen that may be up to ten inches diagonally," and while it will "connect to the internet like the iPod touch, it'll probably [do so] without phone capabilities." You do know that Apple has been good for a music / iPod-related event right around September the past few years, right?

1. Pick The Name People Will Google - Let's start with the obvious. You want the Twitter name people are going to Google (even if they are Binging it). If you have a long name you will not be able to use it, Rather than using your intitials (unless your band is well known by your initials) use the first few words of your bands name till Twitter cuts you off with their imposing character limits (it is what they are known for).
   
2. Put Your Band's Name And Your Website Or Most Updated Site In Your Bio - Your bio is a place to not only mention who you are but you also needs to optimize your SEO with a mention (especially if your bands name isn't your Twitter name) of your name again. Some people still hate Twitter and if they see your website in the results for your Twitter they may click since they know they can get there in another click.
   
3. Link Your Twitter From Your Other Sites With The Full URL - If you have your Twitter listed in your band details on Myspace or any other site do it like so: www.twitter.com/YourBandNameHere. This will help your SEO much more then just a link.
4. Mention Your Song Names And Album Names In Your Tweets - Don't just link them with URL shorteners. Say the song, artist and album names.
   
5. The First 42 Characters Are The Key To Good SEO - Mashable is claiming that search results look particularly at the first 42 characters of your tweets, so choose your first words wisely!

Nike Air Foamposite One - Dirty Copper - Spring 2010

Air Jordan 60+ (Sixty Plus) - Summer 2009 Releases

1. Broad Street Bully
2. All In
3. Shot Em Up
4. Death Follows Me
5. Phili (w/ Freeway & Young Chris)
6. Ready For War (w/ Freeway & Young Chris)
7. Point The Finger (w/ Young Chris)
8. Get Back To Rap (w/ Young Neef)
9. I’m Sicker (w/ Freeway)
10. What Are We Doing Here
11. Going Through The Emotions
12. You Over Did It
13. Why Shouldn't I

Maxwell makes big news on the Billboard 200 albums chart, entering at No. 1 with "BLACKsummers'night" and a career-high sales week of 316,000. It's his second chart-topper.

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The late King of Pop pioneered dance moves that looked mechanical and weren't, like the moonwalk, and at least one that looked mechanical and was: The forward-leaning maneuver from his "Smooth Criminal" video. The secret is all in the shoes.

Trying to lean beyond one's center of gravity normally leads to a giant, awkward step forward to retain balance, so to achieve the 45-degree angle he wanted, Michael and his dancers used special shoes as well as a trick in the stage floor. When the time came for the move, a peg-like aperture would protrude from the dance floor. The heel of the dancers' shoes featured a triangular cut out that could be hitched onto the peg, anchoring the dancers to lean much farther forward, and thus blowing the world's collective mind. [Boing Boing Gadgets]

Clinton Sparks & Jadakiss Making "CIROC Star" from Clinton Sparks (call me 617-671- on Vimeo.

Bugz will be performing at one of the premiere Unsigned Artist showcases in NYC on June 24th. The Headline performer for the night will be 106 & Park Champ Oun-P! It will definitely be a night you don’t want to miss. For tickets and/or information, call Montigo @ (646) 267-2107, or email @ MontigoTMR@gmail.com.

from KicksOnFire.com