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Music Industry

Fat Beats Closes Last Remaining Retail Locations

Source: HypeBot
August 20, 2010

Early this September, hip hop label Fat Beats will be closing its two remaining iconic retail locations in New York and Los Angeles. The label will be throwing a series of blow-out sales and tribute parties, open to the public, to celebrate the 16 years that the stores were in operation. To Fat Beats, their ability to maintain two stores well into 2010 is a great achievement and a testament to the importance of music, given the turmoil that undertook ...

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Music Industry

EMI Loses Another $802 Million, More Trouble Ahead

Source: HypeBot
August 19, 2010

UPDATED) In its report to investors this morning, EMI detailed a net loss of £512 or US $802 million. The company also wrote off another £602 million ($943M USD) in 2009-2010 and despite a recent round of refinancing still has £3 billion ($4.7B USD) in outstanding debt. Just in case investors think that things can't get much worse, EMI also forecast that it may need another cash infusion as early as next year and that it will fall short of ...

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Music Industry

New Chicago-Based Blues Label, Swississippi Records, Launches September 21, 2010

Source: Just Roots PR
August 18, 2010

Chicago, IL—Chris Harper & Dave Katzman are proud to announce the launch of their new Chicago-based blues label SWISSISSIPPI RECORDS on SEPTEMBER 21, 2010 with three new releases: SWISSISSIPPI CHRIS HARPER “Four Aces and a Harp" (also featuring JIMMY BURNS, JOHN PRIMER, WILLIE “BIG EYES" SMITH AND BOB STROGER), ROB BLAINE's “Big Otis Blues" and PEACHES STATEN “Live At Legends." Swississippi Records represents a hybrid name, adventurous concept and intense advocacy for a classic sound. CEO Chris Harper and General ...

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Music Industry

Lady Gaga: The Pornification of Popular Music

Source: HypeBot
August 18, 2010

And How Kindie Music Creates New Opportunities. Is Lady Gaga poisoning children's minds? Daily Mail columnist Bel Mooney seems to think so. In researching claims made by music producer Mike Stock that that pop culture is 'sexualizing' youngsters; Mooney sat down to watch some of the Miss Gaga's videos on YouTube and was appalled at the undertones of violence and sexual acts that she found. She argues that commercial pressure has pushed Gaga into a world of spectacle unlike any ...

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Music Industry

MFLA Seeks Donations of Musical Instruments

Source: St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
August 18, 2010

Once again this fall, Music for Lifelong Achievement (MFLA) will be seeking donations of musical instruments for its annual drive, which will take place from September 10 through October 15. MFLA is a not-for-profit organization based at the Sheldon Concert Hall that donates used and new musical instruments to school and community music programs serving disadvantaged young people. MFLA also raises funds for instrument repair and musical accessories. For this year's drive, St. Louis-area Starbucks stores will serve as drop-off ...

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Music Industry

Arcade Fire Rethinks Album Format, Tells No One

Source: HypeBot
August 17, 2010

Normally, Topspin CEO Ian Rogers makes good on his Vanna White style of presenting the albums that he works on, buys, and films himself opening like a kid on Christmas. For whatever reason, when he clicked through Arcade Fire's new album Suburbs, which comes with digital art that's synchronized to the music, I felt a little underwhelmed. Now, I'm starting to realize that it wasn't for lack of Rogers dazzling display; it was I that didn't understand the significance. First, ...

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Music Industry

"Now in Stores" VII

Source: Groove Notes
August 17, 2010

We recommend five jazz albums that were released over the past week and here ere are five more recent (or soon to be) jazz releases worth giving a listen to: 1. Tribal by Dr. John (429 Records, August 3, 2010) Iconic American musician Dr. John goes TRIBAL with the follow-up to his 2008 Grammy Award Winning release 'The City That Care Forgot' for 'Best Contemporary Blues Album.' TRIBAL, featuring a track with Grammy winner Derek Trucks, is a unique spicy ...

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Music Industry

Jazz Venue Chronicles: Jazz is Alive in Alabama

Source: The Independent Ear by Willard Jenkins
August 16, 2010

There's a tendency among some to view the presentation of live jazz as purely an urban, major-market phenomenon. I've had the privilege of experiencing jazz in seemingly unlikely places since developing the first regional jazz service program, at Arts Midwest in the mid-80s. Since then one of the great pleasures of this work has been hearing the stories of those who have striven successfully to present jazz performances in places that to some are off the figurative beaten path. Communicating ...

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