Producer Timbaland Exclusive Giveaway!

Producer Timbaland has been found on Twitter! The first 1000 "twiggas or twitches" who tweets Twimbaland, i mean Timbaland, receive 25 free ringtone downloads! Thanks Timbo! Your'e a swell guy!

"_RealTimbaland" Is that you Timbo? If not somebody is on one!

The Red Pill - Power To The Producer!

The Red Pill - Power To The Producer!
The second you decide to turn your artistic expression into a commercial commodity you have officially entered the world of business. The pursuit of financial gain made possible by an existing business structure is what separates the professional from the hobbyist, the restaurant chef from Mom cooking for the fam, Kobe Bryant from the kids grabbing quarters off the backboards at your neighborhood ball court. It would be nice to just focus on your creative output and hope somehow the monetary part of the equation figures itself out, but who wants a room full of platinum plaques and past due bill notes? Not you I hope. As a music producer your main BUSINESS client is not the record company but rather the music consumer. The artist is your creative marketing tool (when last have you heard of an acapella commercial record?). Even though a label may issue an advance against potential future earnings, it ultimately comes down to the fan being willing to pay for the music you create

-Excerpt from "Production Market Place" (www.pmpworldwide.com)

YouTube Ordered To Pay $1.6 Million To ASCAP

You may remember last year around this time, a district court set a totally arbitrary royalty fee that AOL, Yahoo and RealNetworks had to pay ASCAP for music streamed over their services. Reading through the details of the decision was immensely troubling, because it seemed to calculate the amounts on a somewhat meaningless formula based on taking a percentage of revenue from the companies that had absolutely nothing to do with music itself. Basically, it looked at almost any revenue that somehow sorta kinda touched on music (including search) and included that as part of the calculation process. Recently, ASCAP and Google went through a similar case in front of the same district court to determine just how much Google has to pay ASCAP for all the music streamed on YouTube. To be honest, I'm still not sure why it makes sense that Google has to pay anything for this, but that's one of the oddities of modern copyright law.

While the decision hasn't received much press attention, last week, the court ordered Google to pay $1.6 million to ASCAP (thanks to Eric Goldman for sending me the decision). The court seemed to take a "split the difference" approach, as ASCAP had asked for $12 million for all music streamed between 2005 and the end of 2008 (and another $7 million for 2009). YouTube, in response, had suggested $79,500 for 2005 through the end of 2008 and then $20,000 per quarter ongoing. The court rejected both proposals, and dinged both companies for weakly supporting their positions, or being somewhat misleading in their assertions. Google, for instance, tried to focus on the number of "music videos" as compared to the total number of videos on YouTube, though the court noted that the music videos seem to get a lot more views than many of those other videos, and it doesn't take into account the time spent viewing each video. ASCAP basically said: "just take that formula you used last year for AOL, Yahoo and Real and apply it to Google revenue."

The court, instead, went into a lengthy justification of trying to come up with a "fair" proposal, involving an awful lot of redacted information on YouTube's revenue (though... if you work through all the numbers you might be able to piece back together some revenue info) and eventually came up with $1.4 million for 2005 through 2008, and then $70,000 per month afterwards, which, when added to the additional fees this year, brought it up to $1.61 million to date (and counting). Of course, this is all supposed to be a temporary sort of thing until the two sides can work out an agreement on their own -- but given the vast differences in proposals (as the court noted, ASCAP was asking for a rate 150 times as large as YouTube's proposal), it doesn't seem like the two sides are close.

Either way, reading this ruling as well as last year's ruling shows what a total mess this process is. Basically, ASCAP gets to go in and demand cash from anyone who benefits from music anywhere, and a judge sorta randomly makes up reasons to give them cash. I know that ASCAP supporters will claim that the money is for songwriters, not the record labels, and it's important and blah blah blah. But the whole system of such collective licenses is a mess that it makes it close to impossible to do anything with music without getting yourself into a huge licensing hole. For more than a century now, Congress and the courts seem to look at every innovation and simply slap another license fee on it, and leave it to the courts to sort out any mess. All of these license fees add up to a massive tax on innovation that divert money from good business models and into the hands of collections societies, who siphon off a piece and often don't do a very good job distributing that cash. It's a massively inefficient model that's simply not needed.

Rapper's shooting

Roderick Anthony Burton II, a.k.a. Dolla, was killed in a confrontation Monday afternoon between two groups in the valet parking area of the Beverly Center.

Phillies Friday at 1600 Pennsylvania...

May 16, 2009
Faced with the opportunity to finally meet President Barack Obama on Friday, Jimmy Rollins wasn't sure what he'd say to the man for whom he helped campaign in early November. He has never been shy, and over the years, he has met plenty of celebrities.
"But not one this important," Rollins said.
And when the moment arrived and Rollins was face-to-face with Obama, the conversation took an unexpected turn.
"I asked him where the basketball court is, and he said, 'I've got a foot on you,'" said Rollins, the Phillies' 5-foot-9 shortstop. "He tried to post me up. I told him I'm too quick. So, hopefully, I'll get that invite. When the hardwood's done, I'll throw a couple layups on him."
And that was how it went Friday at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

A Grand Slam For the Phillies and President Obama!

The Art of Rhetoric

Ethos is appeal based on the character of the speaker. 

Logos is appeal based on logic or reason. 

Pathos is appeal based on emotion.

Take time to ponder your thoughts and voice your opinion well. 

Maybach Music

Regardless of the multiple "diss records" Rick Ross has heard and received from the famous & furious 50 cent, Ross has "Up'd" his game with his 2nd tribute to both the luxurious Maybach and his classy & gangster rap delivery. You will find this song on Ross' newest release 'DEEPER THAN RAP'! In addition, this album features John Legend on 'MAGNIFICENT'. This song is HOT! He also gives a shout out to his friend and executive producer Shakir from Oakland, CA. May he rest in peace! BOSS!

5 out of 5 BOSS points!

DMX-it outta jail!

DMX has been released from a Phoenix jail after serving a 90-day sentence for felony convictions.

The rapper, whose real name is Earl Simmons, left a Maricopa County jail Thursday on a $10,000 bond.

Simmons' lawyer, Glenn Allen, said his client was in good spirits and was still in Maricopa County.

"He's extremely happy that he's home," Allen said. "We look forward to being able to handle his case with him out of custody."

A spokeswoman for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office says Simmons will likely return to court to face charges added while in jail. Simmons was booked on a charge of probation violation and aggravated assault for allegedly throwing a tray at a jail officer.

Air Jordan 1 High Retro Bulls vs. Celtics 60+ Pack

A classic name breeds A classic rivalry which will share A classic shoe! Need I say more?

5 out of 5 points. 

Points for Paris

MTV has bought the rights to “Paris, Not France,” a documentary on celebutante Paris Hilton, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The 78-minute documentary will tentatively air on the network this summer.

 "btw, Paris! You are reading one of my favorite books in this picture! Hope you understand it?"

We would like to give Paris 5 out of 5 breakfast book points!

Maldives. Such name of a place needs no description. Some places you just may not want to tell others about. Well traveler's, I am sorry but I could not keep this a secret! Just south of India you will find Heaven! That's right, HEAVEN! This is a place where you will only need your cell phone to brag to those who couldn't make it on the trip. I'm sure they will appreciate the pix txt msg(s). Leave the ringer off or just forget the phone and go for a swim, unwind and tan, or find an island native of your dreams and...okay, reality, better yet, just tell your lovely new wife, or husband, that you are going to catch the next flight out... yeah, the next flight, i'll cya later hunny! 

5 out of 5 breakfast on the beach points

Culinary Destination of the Year

Culinary Destination of the Year The exotic flavors of Morocco have gained popularity around the world and now high-end restaurants, run by European hotshots, are opening in Marrakesh, alongside the city's nonpareil street food and old, home-style establishments. Left, a spice merchant in the Medina. 

If you cannot travel yet, but you would still like to enjoy a taste of culture and tradition, other than hot dogs, burgers, and fries then check out some of your local ethnic restaurants. Don't be afraid of new!

We would like to give Morocco 5 out of 5 spicy breakfast points! 

5950's on Fire!

The New Era 5950 has evolved! These hats were once very simple and basic with the representation of your favorite sports team. Over the years, 5950's have become not only more of a fashion emblem, which coordinates with your fancy NIKE's or Adidas, but it has allowed outside companies like KidRobot, One People Project, and many others to partner up in creating the best match for your oh-so-expensive attire! 

We give New Era all 5 out of 5 breakfast brownie points!

( So, will we ever see The Breakfast Club 5950? We're working on that!)