I never got into it for the music. I got into it for the business,� 50 Cent is reported to have told Forbes.
Rappers are still branding themselves with corporations. A recent article in Forbes magazine claims that 50 Cent and his manager Chris Lighty of Violator management are negotiating the branding deal with Apple Computer, reports AllHipHop.com.Â

XM is not sitting quietly as the RIAA filed a lawsuit against the company in May. In fact, XM has enlisted it’s 6.5 million listeners and subscribers asking them to voice their opposition to both the Senate and the record industry’s lawsuit. Read the full article here

Sprint and Interscope Records will launch a mobile music series June 23 with Vagrant/Interscope artist Dashboard Confessional. The promotion will run every Friday for nine weeks. Other artists to be featured include Busta Rhymes, Mobb Deep and Wolfmother.

Although mixtapes have always been important to hip-hop culture it seems they are getting bigger especially among unknown artists. It seems hip hop artists are losing faith in the labels who are profiting at the expense of the artist. You can make a record and get it out on the streets in days while making a healthy profit.

“Jadakiss is a perfect example. He has never gone platinum, but he has sold almost 500,000 on the street alone. So the argument becomes if I can sell 300- or 400,000 copies of my album on the street, then what can I do exclusively (on a mixtape),” Hill says. There’s been a recent evolution on the Internet, with sites like http://www.mixtapekings.com/ providing international exposure for mixtape DJs and their work. Read the full article here.

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Busta Rhymes – 206,733
Dixie Chicks – 130,242
AFI – 103,562
Three Days Grace – 78,073
Blue October – 22,228
Buckcherry – 20,014
Hoobastank – 10,832
Pink – 10,049
Hawthorne Heights – 5,160

Hoobastank who failed to deliver a solid first single dropped -13% with a total of 110k. Pink’s record “I’m Not Dead” never really took off despite strong video rotation and radio play. The record hasn’t even gone gold yet. Three Days Grace is doing well at radio, thus had a good opening week landing on the #5 position on Billboard top 200. Hawthorne Heights who encouraged their fans to help them achieve the #1 position fizzled out rather quickly selling only 5,160 with total sales of 373,104.

Anyone working at Columbia and Epic has a reason to be nervous. Several A&R’s have already been let go. A new President will bring a new “regime” consisting of his old buddies and friends to make him look like a pro. This cycle repeats itself over and over. Even the Ataris wanted to avoid “the hoopla” and split from the label. It seems that the days are gone when A&R’s and label execs were excited to discover and nurture new talent.

The U.S. government has joined forces with the entertainment industry to stop the global epidemic in pirated movies and music, pressuring foreign governments to crack down or risk incurring trade barriers. The once popular Kazaa has half as many users as it did at its peak three years ago.

The Movie Industry is aiming to succeed where the music industry failed and force Steve Jobs to change his mind over the prices of flicks he wants to flog online. Apple wants to start selling movies for video iPods online and according to Variety magazine Jobs is personally entering into negotiations with the movie studios.

Former Warner Brothers CEO Mo Ostin may be close to returning to the label in a consulting capacity after months of talks with current Warner chairman and CEO Tom Whalley.

Former American Idol” winner Ruben Studdard received $2 million in his lawsuit against his ex-manager for misappropriating the singer’s money and credit cards. He filed suit last year against against ex-manager Ronald W. Edwards and Edwards’ promotions company, Sez Inc. Supposedly the poor ol’ manager used Studdard’s money to repay a $10,000 bank loan.

A&R executive John Kalodner is retiring after 35 years in the music business. Kalodner is credited with reviving Aerosmith and Cher’s careers. Among the many other acts he worked with are Genesis, Phil Collins, Yes, AC/DC, Santana, Bon Jovi, XTC, Shawn Colvin, Yes, etc.

Check out the song Stumble On from unsigned Virginia based alt rock band Adelyn. They have a heavy touring schedule this summer performing select dates with Godsmack and Warped Tour. Adelyn is currently working on a new EP and was just picked up by lawyer Fred Davis. For more information get in contact with Gabriela Revilla.

Unsigned reggae influenced and sublime-esque IllScarlett will be the first independent artist to play the mainstage of Edge-Fest in Canada on July 16. Alternative station The Edge (Toronto) has added the song Heaters (mp3) which is now in heavy rotation and #24 on the Top 30 Countdown. IllScarlet is joining the 2006 Vans Warped Tour for the last few weeks including all NY/NJ shows. For more information contact Andy Winkler or legal Brad Rubens.

Rapper Rick Ross received a gold plaque for record sales? no!..but for 500,000 sales of ring tones. Just like vinyl, tapes and CDs, the sounds of ringing mobile phones will now translate into awards for sales of 500,000, one million and beyond.

“Just a few short years ago, it was unthinkable for sales on ring tones to go platinum,” said RIAA Chairman Mitch Bainwol.  “But here we are. We’re transforming the way we hear our music.” According to industry experts, about 10 percent of music industry revenues worldwide now come from ring tones.

Other artists that will receive gold and platinum ring tone records include Black Eyed Peas, Beyonce, 50 Cent, Kanye West and others.