Articles Posted in the Houston Press Category
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Sex, Money & Other Ways To Guarantee Urban Radio Airplay
A cursory glance at the year-to-date urban radio chart reaffirms an age-old music industry adage: Sex sells. You can see the Top 10 at the bottom of this post, but first let’s talk about a…
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Is Commercial Radio Fading Into Oblivion?
How many times has this happened to you: You’re driving home from work. A song comes on. Drums. Guitar strums. A wimpy voice: “Say, oh, got this feeling that you can’t fight…” You’ve heard this…
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What’s The Leading Cause Of Poor Record Sales?
Last week, the music world laughed up a hiccup as Lil Wayne pranced around the VMA stage in nut-suffocating, Le Tigre-inspired jeggings. While that performance affirmed that Wayne is no fashion guru, his chart performance…
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Facebook Music Coming To A Computer Near You
No one’s willing to confirm anything, but all indications point to the same scoop: Facebook is planning to launch a new music service this fall. Here’s what we know so far. CNBC’s John Fortt broke the…
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Eminem’s $3 Million Shows & Other Eye-Popping Performance Fees
Every day, Rocks Off is reminded that we should have taken rapping a bit more seriously in our younger days. Today’s friendly reminder comes in the way of a report saying that Eminem cashed a $3…
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What Google & Motorola’s Marriage Means To The Music Industry
Google stunned the tech world last week when it tied the knot with Motorola for $12.5 billion. But it’s the music business that should be raising its brows at the union. Like any typical suitor, Google weighed…
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How Jay-Z & Kanye West Kept Watch the Throne From Leaking Online
The kingdom is safe. The throne has been watched. In an age where albums spring leaks like baby diapers, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch the Throne arrived on the appointed date without even as much…
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A Brief History Of Hashtag Rap
Every rapper brands himself as an original, but few merit that distinction. The ones that do rarely profit from their innovation. When it comes to emceeing, those who favor intricate rhyme schemes will scoff at…
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White Rappers & The N-Word Conundrum: 4 Case Studies
“You’re talking to the wrong white man, my friend. My people were the white man’s nigger when yours were still painting their faces and chasing zebras.” …
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Is Blog Love Overvalued?
It’s funny watching new artists stumble over themselves trying to score coverage on popular blogs. Take the fast rising L.A. crew Odd Future, for example. Group captain Tyler, The Creator is almost as famous for…
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Eminem’s Victory Over Label Could Have Far-Reaching Effects
Eminem quietly scored a major victory in a case involving download royalties this week. The U.S. Supreme Court threw out an appeal filed by Universal Music Group, the world’s largest music empire, against Eminem’s…
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Professor Trill
“Don’t you think this is a bit much?” Bun B inquires in his baritone voice. It’s 71 degrees in Houston and a throng of journalists is jostling for position inside Rice University‘s Duncan Hall, all waiting to pick the…