26 year old R&B artist Chrisette Michele’s debut album “Ephiphany” hit the number one spot on the Billboard 200 chart this week.
Despite her success, according to Billboard.com, “Michele’s opening of 83,000 is the lowest sum for a No. 1-debuting album in Nielsen SoundScan’s 18-year history”
As many in the music industry know, over the past few years the police have come down hard on venues and promoters that put on events featuring grime, hip hop and other urban music. There’s no doubt that this has had a serious impact on the genre in the UK.
Recently Project Urban - a major event which was due to be held at O2’s Indigo club and feature some of the biggest names in Grime such as Tinchy Stryder, Ironik and Wiley - was scrapped after being considered a high risk event by police despite no specific intelligence about violence. (more…)
Reggae DJ David Rodigan last night took home a gold Sony Radio Academy Specialist Music Programme Award for his Kiss FM show. He was also awarded as a silver award for Music Broadcaster of the Year.
The Sony Radio Academy described him as “the undisputed keeper of the reggae flame in the UK” and went on to say that “with an engaging interviewing style, an assured knowledge of classic cuts many of which he plays on treasured vintage vinyl - and a genuine enthusiasm for the new Jamaican sounds, David Rodigan is a master craftsman of the genre”.
David Rodigan has been one of the UK’s pre-eminent reggae DJs since the 1970s.
The BBC has announced that its Performance Arts Urban Music Fund which provides grants to support the careers of urban music talent - defined as “artists, musicians, producers, promoters, label bosses, agents, journalists, managers and any combination of these aged 18 – 30″ - is now open to the public.
The BBC expects to make 15 grants available, each worth up to £10,000 per year. Previously, grants were only available to those who had been selected by a committee.
In past years grants have been awarded to 1xtra DJ Twin B, singer/songwriter Anita Blay aka ‘the cocknbullkid’ and a variety of other talent across a range of roles in the industry.
The nominations for this year’s Urban Music Awards (UMA’s) - to be held on July 17th in New York - are out. Bobby Valentino and Rihanna are leading the pack, with three and four nominations respectively.
Rihanna is up for Best Female Act 2009, Artist of the Year 2009, Best R&B Act and Best Music Video for “Rehab” (feat. Justin Timberlake). Valentino, who will also perform at the award show, has been nominated for Best Music Video, Best R&B Act and Best Male Act. Dizzee Rascal is also in the Best Male Act category.
UK acts in the running for awards also include M.I.A. Estelle - both nominated for Best Female Act - and Tinchy Stryder.
The full nomination list is as follows:
Artist of the Year 2009 (USA & UK)
Rihanna
The Dream
Rick Ross
Akon
Neyo
J. Holiday
Lil Wayne
Best Album 2009 (USA & UK)
John Legend - ‘Evolver’ (G.O.O.D/Columbia)
The Dream - ‘Love VIS Money’ (RadioKilla /DefJam)
Kanye West - ‘808’s & Heartbreak’ (Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
Akon - ‘Freedom’ (Konvict/Upfront/SRC/Universal Motown)
Seal - ‘Soul’ (Warner Bros.)
Musiq Soulchild - ‘On my Radio’ (Atlantic)
Keri Hilson - ‘In a perfect world’ (Mosley/Zone4/Interscope)
JadaKiss - ‘Last Kiss’ (Ruff Ryders/D-Block/Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam)
India Arie - ‘Testimony: Vol2, Love & Politics’ (Soulbird/Universal Republic)
Best Gospel Act 2009 (USA only)
Mary Mary
Mathew West
Francesca Battistell
Kirk Franklin
Brandon Heath
Donnie McClurkin
Best International Latino Act 2009
Kat de Luna
Fanny Lu
Shakira
Tito ‘El Bambino’
Enrique Iglesias
Vincente Fernandez
Best Music Video 2009 (USA & UK)
Rhianna - “Rehab”
Bobby V feat Lil Wayne - “Ms Officer”
Day 26 ft. Young Joc & Diddy - ‘Imma put it on her’
Akon - ‘Beautiful’
Lady Gaga - ‘Poker Face’
Neyo - ‘Ms Independent’
Best R&B Act 2009 (USA & UK)
Rhianna
Jazmine Sullivan
Robin Thicke
Bobby V
Keyshia Cole
J Holiday
Best DJ 2009 (USA & UK)
Green Lattern (USA)
Khaled (USA)
Tim Westwood (UK)
Fatman Scoop (USA)
Funkmaster Flex (USA)
Best Radio Station 2009 (USA only)
Power 106 (South Carlifonia)
Hot 97 (New York)
Q93 (www.q93.com)
99 Jamz (South Florida)
95.7 Jamz (Atlanta , GA)
Best TV Show (US only)
Making the Band – MTV
Bet 106 & Park – BET
American Idol – FOX
Rip the Runway – BET
Harlem Heights – BET
Best HipHop Act 2009 (USA & UK)
Lil Wayne
Giggs
Kanye West
Jay-Z
Lupe Fiasco
Kardinal Offishall
Best Magazine (Print & Online)
Yo Raps
Source
HipHop Weekly
Vibe
XXL
Best Male Act 2009 (UK & USA)
Flo’rida
Dizzee Rascal
Giggs
Kid Cudi
Ghetts
Bobby V
Day 26
Best Collaboration 2009 (USA & UK)
Kanye West ft Estelle - ‘American Boy’
Taoi Cruz ft Sugababes & Busta Rhymes - ‘Like a Star’
Jay Z ft Santagold - ‘Brooklyn Go Hard’
T-Pain feat. Ludacris - ‘Chopped & Screwed’
Sway feat. Akon - ‘Silver & Gold’
Jim Jones & Ron Browz ft. Juelz Santana - ‘Pop Champagne’
Musiq Soulchild ft. Mary J Blige - ‘If U Leave’
Best Female Act 2009 (UK & USA)
Amy Winehouse
Estelle
Jazmine Sullivan
M.I.A
Chrisette Michelle
Rhianna
Keri Hilson
Best International Reggae Act 2009
Movado
Sean Paul
Tony Matterhorn
T.O.K
Erup
Sizzla Kalonji
Best Producer 2009
Mark Ronson
Swiss Beatz
Timberland
Scott Storch
Ryan Leslie
Stargate
Best Single 2009 (USA & UK)
Tinchy Stryder feat Dappy - ‘Number 1’
Busta Rhymes ft Diddy, T-Pain & more - ‘Arab Money’
Ghetts - ‘Sing for me’
T-Pain - ‘Chopped & Screwed’
Eminem ft Dr. Dre & 50 Cent - ‘Crack a bottle’
Kid Cudi - ‘Day and Night’
Beyonce - ‘Halo’
EMI’s profits have tripled as a result of cost-cutting initiatives and favourable currency exchange rates.
Terra Firma, the private equity firm which bought EMI in 2007, led a massive overhaul culling 2,000 staff in its aim to save £200m per year. This, in addition to new releases from artists like Coldplay whose Viva La Vida album was the best selling album of 2008, has seen profits grow to £163million, from £51million, despite the fact that revenues were down by 10%.
EMI’s market share in the US is down slightly to 9.5% from 9.7%
Warner Music reported a pretax loss of $58 million (£39 million) in the first quarter of 2009. Earnings were down by 17% to $80m.
For the second week in a row, Tinchy Stryder with N Dubz holds the number one spot atop the charts with single Number One.
The highest new entry at 3 is Tiny Dancer by Ironik featuring Chipmunk and Elton John. The Asylum Records single features a sample from Elton John’s 1971 classic ‘Tiny Dancer’ and Ironik’s use of it has been personally endorsed by the singer.
Top 10 Singles
1. Tinchy Stryder Ft N-Dubz - Number 1
2. La Roux – In For The Kill
3. Ironik/Chipmunk/Elton John – Tiny Dancer (Hold Me Closer)
4. Calvin Harris – I’m Not Alone
5. Lady Gaga – Poker Face
6. Ciara Ft Justin Timberlake – Love Sex Magic
7. AR Rahman Ft Pussycat Dolls – Jai Ho (You Are My Destiny)
8. Eminem – We Made You
9. Lily Allen – Not Fair
10. Beyonce – Halo
Top 10 Albums
1. Bob Dylan – Together Through Life
2. The Enemy – Music For The People
3. Lady Gaga – The Fame
4. Beyonce – I Am Sasha Fierce
5. Lily Allen – It’s Not Me It’s You
6. Pink – Funhouse
7. Prodigy – Invaders Must Die
8. Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night
9. Pussycat Dolls – Doll Domination - The Mini Collection
10. Akon – Freedom
Imperial Blaze - Sean Paul’s fourth album and his first in three years - will be released in the UK and US on August 18th.
The album, which will be put out through VP/Atlantic Records, is expected to be yet another success for Sean Paul, who is to date one of the world’s most successful reggae artists.
His last album, The Trinity, is certified platinum in Europe and reached the top 10 on the Billboard Charts: #1 Billboard Top Reggae Albums, #3 Billboard Top Rap Albums, #7 Billboard 200 and #4 Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums.
The first single from Imperial Blaze is So Fine. Produced by Stephen “Di Genius” McGregor, the track is available for free download from Sean Paul’s website.
Usher has officially announced his new 15 year old protege to the world.
Canadian singer Justin Bieber - who is part of a deal between Usher and Universal Records - was discovered by manager and former So So Def label exec Scooter Braun after posting a series of videos on YouTube.
After meeting with Usher last year, Bieber - also a musician who plays instruments - was offered a deal by Island Def Jam chairman L.A. Reid.
The teen, who Usher describes as ‘a priority’ for Island Def Jam, is set to release his track ”One Time” shortly. It is currently receiving good radio airplay.
The Dream and Midi Mafia are among those who have written and produced tracks for Bieber’s debut album “My World”.
People’s Music Store, an online independent music retailer powered by music fans, has teamed up with Universal Music to offer 300,000 of the label’s tracks for paid download.
Considering how few physical independent record shops are left, could the people’s music store provide a good model for other online independent shops? Could its success be replicated in the urban market to replace the stores that have closed down in recent years?
