On Saturday, it was revealed that Interscope, Lady Gaga’s label, has spent $25 million dollars to promote her flop album “ARTPOP,” which is set to sell around 250 thousand copies in its first week — that’s a 75 percent drop from the first week album sales of “Born This Way” only two years ago.

Some have compared the fate of “ARTPOP” to Michael Jackson’s “Invincible,” where $30 million was spent on the promotion for an album that didn’t even launch one solid hit single. But “ARTPOP” is really Lady Gaga’s “Glitter.”

So, how was the money spent? We talked to a music industry analyst (who wants to be referred to as ‘Jacob’ for this story), who has worked at both Warner Brothers and Arista over the past twenty years. He works closely with people from Interscope and told us that the past year has been a huge nightmare for Lady Gaga and Interscope.

“She originally was going to have the album ready by last Christmas. They made her re-record it. When her tour wasn’t selling, they invented a hip injury and told Gaga to go away for months so the public could be interested in her ‘comeback.’ After the lead single ‘Applause’ didn’t get such a great reception, they made her re-record the album again. I hear that they allegedly paid radio stations in order to put the song at the top of their playlists,” Jacob laughs. CONTINUE READING

Temara Melek who we featured just opened for Demi Lovato in Los Angeles at the Belasco Theatre. Temara recently came back to LA from a UK promo tour and at the age of 15 and with no major label backing,  she is  going global as MTV, VIVA, The Hits Radio and In Demand supported her new release “Karmas Not Pretty” in which she got Nationwide coverage throughout Great Britain. Check out the track Karma’s Not Pretty.
Contact: dani@straightfwdmusic.co.uk

Kings favorite Act As If just released a song LA Kid.  This DIY indie pop band has several song placements and released an EP last year which became a favorite among indie bloggers. You can check them out at the Roxy in Los Angeles (KROQ Locals Only presents) on November 18th.
Contact: actasifmusic@gmail.com

Buzz Track: Fall Out

Kings favorite Swedish indie pop band Fou De Toi just released a new single Fall Out. The band released their first EP in 2011 “The Impossible Thrill” (acclaimed by the Swedish music magazine Gaffa). The band gigs at popular venues such as Almost Famous and Sticky Fingers which landed them a publishing deal with Warner/Chappell. Also, check out the track Heartless
Contact: foudetoimusic@gmail.com

Kings favorite Bad Suns who we listed as a top 8 emerging artist and a ‘band to watch’ have signed with Vagrant. The band made a name for themselves when their  single Cardiac Arrest was spun on Kat Corbett’s KROQ locals only show.  They finished multiple CMJ showcases as well as sharing the stage with the likes of The 1975 and Vaccines. Bad Suns are performing regional dates with the band Geographer.
Contact: bryan@newcommunitymgmt.com