US Music Sales Rise For First Time Since 2004

Connecticut decriminalizes personal amounts of pot. New Jersey is poised to implement medical marijuana (just as soon as Gov. Chris Christie quits stalling on the bill signed into law by his predecessor, Gov. Jon S. Corzine in 2010). New York City bans tobacco smoke in parks and beaches across the five boroughs. Rick Ross is the new 50 Cent. Female emcees are en vogue again, selling records in the millions and signing million dollar deals. Labels are back to inking rappers that can actually rap.

At this rate, ten years from now, we may be living in a world where talent-based Hip Hop is the requirement regardless of gender, weed cigarettes are available in the local bodega and perched on the corner outside is some guy pushing a dime bag of nicotine.

Things done changed since the mid-Aughts.

Adding to the paradigm shift this week, the Associated Press reports that US music album sales surprisingly grew in the first half of 2011. Wednesday’s Nielsen Soundscan tracking shows album sales rose to 221.5 million units, a 4 percent growth from 213.6 million units this time last year.

“And the crowd goes wild...as if Holyfield has just won the fight.”

As meager as it seems, 4 percent growth represents the first gain in album sales since 2004! The increase is attributed to rising sales in compact discs and digital releases. “Nielsen also counts 10 tracks sold individually as one album,” the report states.

Does this mean that selling music is again a viable industry? Are artists back focused on making solid albums instead of only chart topping singles? Has the economy suddenly recovered and the millions unemployed nationwide are financially stable enough to spend their hard-earned duckets on increasingly less-disposable tunes?

Probably not.

It probably means that our parents have officially tapped into technology, copped a new iMac and tossed a few dollars at whichever artists was featured on Leno last night. Change is all around us all the time. But while the industry continues to lather itself in an archaic business model, that 4 percent growth is looking less like a celebration and more like an outlier.

PUBLISHED @THEWELLVERSED.COM

Stalley Talks Maybach Music Group, Upcoming Album

Stalley Talks Maybach Music Rumor, Upcoming Project

Posted by The Company Man on Wednesday, July 6, 2011 · 1 Comment
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Rick Ross is looking like the new 50 Cent these days. Platinum selling albums. Check. Complete mainstream radio saturation. Check. Fraudulently pimping the name of a real life gangster as his rap moniker. Check.

It’s a bit eery, really. 50 Cent broke big after pinning Ja Rule for “singing for hoes and sounding like the Cookie Monster” then bait and switched his career only to end up “singing for hoes and sounding like the Cookie Monster.” And when the smoke cleared after 5-0’s watered down one man assault on Ricky Rozay — dropping Pimpin Curly video after Pimpin Curly video complete with a Vegas romp with Ross‘ ex-Misses — ironically, “Officer Ricky” is the one still standing looking like he as an “S on his chest.”

It appears Mr. Maybach Music’s Maybach is actually bulletproof.

But what’s most interesting about Rick Ross’ recent industry domination is the diverse range of artists affiliated with his bourgeoning record label. Along with Meek Mill, Wale and Pill, Maybach Music Group raised all eyebrows with the rumor spread that Massillon, Ohio native, Stalley is also underneath the umbrella. “You know, it’s coming,” Stalley told The Well Versed at Brooklyn Bodega’s Media Day for the 2011 Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival, confirming his pending signing. “We’re working out the paper work but it’s pretty official.”

He continued: “That’s one of the reasons why I was so comfortable going over there, because [Rick Ross] knows music and he’s a lyricist. He knows the formulas and he knows how to make great songs. We all know he’s a great beat picker. He has a great ear. And that was a compliment too, for him to come and say he was a fan of me and wanted to actually have me over there and be a part of that family was just great because I know what type of ear he has. So for him to hear me and hear that is [great]. There’s no question about it.”

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