Hello, I’m Back with the update of the World of MogulTunes. Last week the MogulTunes.com team took a trip to Las Vegas for the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). We attened the Billboard Digital Music Live event. It is here where we really discovered how “broken” the Music Industry really is. With DRM going away, the era of the 360 Deal, and the rise of artist direct to consumer sales, it is no wonder that the Music Industry as we know it is “falling apart”. No longer are the days of the Big Record company handing out what I call the Dream deal.  This is the 21st century and these record companies have to keep up with the times and ever changing technology. While at CES the MogulTunes team met with some of the biggest names in the industry.  As a company MogulTunes, is poised to be the future of new music discovery. With our patented Mogulytics we have the reporting system that will tell you if you have a “Hit” or not. MogulTunes has caught the attention of companies, such as Iris Distribution, Pandora.com, and others.  While at CES items such as  the importance of Podcasts, social networks, licensing, and DRM, were addressed, and it was discovered that companies like Mogultunes.com are leading the way in ushering in an entirely new era of new music discovery. Stay tuned for more updates, and further information. See you at MIDEM, and then SXSW.     

Finally the wait is over. Very soon, the world will have MogulTunes.com

we would like to invite you to join thousands of other music industry professionals online with the launch of MogulTunes.com, a trusted, invitation-only social music network that finally takes the guesswork out of determining where a song’s “hit” potential lies. So, If you Dont have an invite or dont know anyone that can vouch for you, just wait and you’ll get your chance at this exclusive music industry community.

MogulTunes is democratizing the popularity of new music from established and independent artists, bands and musicians. As a user, members participate by discovering, selecting, sharing, and discussing new music that appeals to them.

If you are selected you can gain access to new and unreleased music, real-time new music charts, and participate in the intimate conversations that surround the new music that matters. This experience is all controlled by other DJs, Program Directors, Music Directors, A&Rs, Producers, record label executives, and music industry trendsetters who:

• Participate in shaping the future of music
• Decide what new music matters
• Want to see what their music industry peers feel about newly released music
• Want to help artists and labels determine the hit potential of their music
• Help artists and labels determine what new music to release

Once your MogulTunes account is approved, you can:

• Submit music
• Discover new music
• Vote on new music
• Bury new music
• Comment on new music
• Provide crucial feedback
• Gain popularity
• Build your network
• Connect with othersMogulTunes is the place where “YOU Control The MUSIC”…

I wanted to pen a thoughtful piece on my journey during the earlier days of hip-hop up until now. It wasn’t until I started writing that I realize my roots run deep and I can trace it back not only from the early days of hip-hop but to it’s founding father or as I often hear him referred to as “The GodFather of Hip-Hop”, Afrika Bambatta himself.

My first experience with hip-hop was back in the late 70’s when I was living in the ghetto enclaves of the Bronx. My legal guardian at the time owned a Record Store on East Tremont. He brought home King Tim the 3rd record by a group called “The Fatback”, when vinyl albums and 45 was still in use. CD’s were not heard of nor thought of. I remember it to this day; it had a green and white label.

My fascination with this new found sound called hip-hop began on that day with that one single record. Eventually, I moved to the West Farm section of the Bronx where hip-hop music played daily. Being too young to attend the nightly park jams I was relegated to being a listener and spectator from my windowpane. It was during these listening sessions that I started recording them on Cassette tape.

One day while playing with a group of friends 5 strange looking guys exited the elevator. One of them was my friend Andre’s brother. And he was carrying a big boom box on his shoulder. They began to slap us all five and inspired us to rap for them. After we said our little nursery rhymes, they played their latest studio recording for our listening enjoyment. We were amazed. The 5 strange looking individuals were Rahiem, Melle Mel, Cowboy, Mr. Ness, Kid Creole and Grand Master Flash. The Original Furious Five MC’S.

It wasn’t until the next day when I let Andre hold my cassette recorder that I learned they were the Furious Five MC’s. From that day on I was a fan and I got all the newly released singles and album courtesy of Rahiem. He would fondly joke with me that I stole his name. I boldly tell him “that’s my name I was born with it and your name is Guy Williams”. He would laugh and say “keep that between us”.

After several years, I moved to Theriot Avenue and attended P.S. 100 and I.S. 131 respectively. I lived directly across the street from P.S.100. This is where I first heard the sounds of “The Mighty Zulu Nation. My brother Shams became a member of the Tragic Force MC’s and the youngest member to ever perform at the Zulu Nation Anniversary party. He was well known in the Bronx River, which lead him to becoming friends with Afrika Bambatta. Being that my brother was so young Bam had to get special permission from my parents so Shams could travel and perform. I remember the first day Bam, appeared at my door, it was on Thanksgiving. He left such a good impression on my parents he was invited over every year and it became a tradition for several years to follow.

I was really into the rapping aspect of hip-hop and wasn’t too much concerned with the DJ until I went to a local DJ competition that my brother Jazzy Joe was a participant in. Days leading up to the battle he broke his arm. It was a wide spread rumor it was intentional so he could forfeit the battle. To everyone’s surprise he showed up and won 1st place. He took everybody by surprise because he had a cast on but his skills and techniques did not falter but only got better as he took the spotlight.

Having one brother as the youngest MC to perform at the Zulu Nation Anniversary and another brother outdoing the DJ’ing competition in my neighborhood. I was looked upon as one who would follow in their path. So I begged my brother Shams to travel with him to his shows. I remember going with him to the Latin Quarter’s and witnessing KRS-1, Rakim and X-Clan perform on stage. One day, my brother had to sneak me in “The World”. I was upstairs in VIP with Melle Mel and Run DMC. I accompanied him to a few Zulu Nation Anniversaries and watched him perform on stage with Cold Crush, Jazzy Five MC’s and Soul Sonic Force.

During the Reagan-Bush era, I became affiliated with the 5% Nation of Gods And Earths. It was at this time the Black Nationalist Movement was on the rise ushering in the wave for conscious rap. Black people felt disenfranchised and were looking for change. I rapped about knowledge of self along the lines of Rakim, Brand Nubian, and KRS-1. It was during this time that I was introduced to Ol’ Dirty Bastard by a mutual friend named Lord Sincere Allah. Being that we were all members of the 5% we hung out daily.

At this time I was part owner of a health food store across the street from Lincoln project in Harlem. There was never a day you could walk in there and I wasn’t free styling or writing rhymes. Ol’ Dirty would come by and kick it with me. During this time he was working on the “Protect Your Neck Single”. I had a large Ad on Amino Acid pills that read, “First things first, protect your health”. That one liner is the opening to the now classic “Protect your Neck” single.

“First things first man you fucking with the worse” then he went on to incorporate some of the 5% teachings into his rhyme about the doctors sticking pins in the babies heads. Since we would build on today’s mathematics while drinking beer and smoking blunts all day it was only natural that our lyrics reflected our state of mind.

Back then all the members of the 5% who were affiliated with the industry stuck together and tried to put one another on. So a brother by the name of Lamel invited me to his show on WHCR 93.1 FM (City College Station) as a guest. He gave me the last 5 minutes to free-style and I went off the radar wit it. Calls were still coming in while exiting the studio. As we rode downtown I listen on the radio as people kept calling asking for more. It was then that I became a frequent guest that would free-style with the likes of The Four Winds; Percy-P; Black Moon, and Common. Lamel was instrumental in me appearing on Bobbito and Stretch Armstrong Show over at City College. It was there that I won an on the air free-style contest. I later appeared live on the show and free-styled with Cypress Hill when they made their first appearance in New York City.

I remember vividly the day I met Lord Fitness, we both appeared on a Public Access Channel show called “The Ron Alexander Show”. I was there promoting my brother Shams independently released record and he was promoting his record on Wild Pitch. After the filming of the show we engaged in a conversation outside that lead to us free-styling. I remember him telling me he was going to sign a deal worth $125,000 with Giant/Warner Brother and that he was now managed by Ice-T under Rhyme Syndicate Management.

From that day forward I started taking rap more seriously and pursued it as a career. I was being managed by a sistah name Cindy Russell from Hartford, Connecticut during that time. While being signed to her management company I produced a 3-Song demo and was offered a deal with Wild Pitch Records. The deal was garbage and I was well advised by management, industry affiliates and several lawyers not to sign.

I continued to rhyme as I seen several of my childhood friends and associates reach stardom. The first was Greg Nice from “Nice and Smooth” who were signed to Sleeping Bag Records and then eventually Def Jam. We were classmates at C.S. 145 on Teller Avenue in the Bronx. Our affiliation started from being graffiti artists. I used the tag name PERA ONE and he was known as NINE. My friend Buck Wild whom I known from my graffiti days as well went on to produce songs for Gang Star, Lord Fitness, Biggie and Fat Joe. Shell Rumble made his debut by guest appearing on Lord Fitness’ album. My brother Shams became a producer and produced Tim-Dog’s album that was released by Roughhouse/Columbia.

Ol’Dirty signed a solo deal with Elektra and recorded several albums with Wu-Tang, before signing a deal with Roc-A-Fella Records. Unfortunately, ODB died last year in November, which brought shock to the entire hip-hop community. I remember going to a show with him and he got booed only to turn around before departing to tell the crowd “fuck it I still love yall anyway”. . . He loved them then and he loves them now. Which is the reason Common stood boldly on stage and rapped “Why we had to lose ODB to the Lord, he was supposed to be on stage rockin’ the Vibe Awards”.

I then became introduced to Keith Murray while he was incarcerated. Throughout, his 3 years of trials and tribulation I became a close comrade having severed 6 years myself, I knew the on going struggle first hand. I began to educate him in the teachings of the 5%. He became known as King Magnetic. Keith Murray is home from prison, we still talk regularly.

During the Clinton era things got a little bit better for Black folks and we began to floss. Also, keep in mind the drug era was at its highest level. Street corner hustlers to the middleman were making money. My lyrics changed to what is now coined “Bling-Bling” and the champagne lifestyle. By now I was living the life and well connected in the streets dealing drugs. I eventually, relocated my drug operation to Binghamton, New York. As expected, I got incarcerated and sentenced to a 4 to 8-year bid. Knowing, that my time to reach stardom in the rap came had expired once I was released I started writing about hip-hop culture.

Since writing, I traveled the world extensively and was welcomed into the inner sanctuary of the industry where I emerged myself into the world of journalism, where I covered a who’s who in the entertainment industry. Lately, I have been busying myself with screenwriting. I just finished my first movie “The Sun Will Rise”, a novel titled “Love On Lay-Away” and book on my life, where I reintroduces the readers to the early days of hip-hop and my early childhood leading up to becoming one of the industry’s most sought after journalists. So this is my introduction into hip-hop culture.

The David North Agency, Inc. (DNA) is preparing to introduce the First Annual Music Marketing, Imaging and Media Conference (MIMC - pronounced, “mimic”) to the GTA. The conference is designed to assist artists, management companies, producers, songwriters, independent record labels and industry personalities capture a better understanding of how things work within the industry from a marketing, public relations and imaging perspective. Read more…

Internet firm Tiscali has suspended its music sharing Juke Box and accused the European recording industry of being “virtually impossible to work with”.

It took the move after it was told to remove the service’s search by artist. Read more…

One by one, each child at the East Tennessee Technology Access Center sings in their own way.

“I like to sing,” says camper, Derrick Hunter.”

The music they song is touching, in every sense of the word.

“You see smiles, some of them patting their knees or just moving,” says Angela Hunter, ” I think it’s very good for the children here.” Read more…

The first revenue generating Mobile Marketing Product designed exclusively for radio.

Almost three years to the day after launching Pop2Life, a highly successful Creative Marketing & Promotions Agency, 19-year radio and records industry vet Eric Murphy introduces P1 SMS, a revolutionary mobile content sales and marketing product that is poised to generate substantial revenue for radio, while inciting more listener passion and loyalty. Read more…

The next awards show is upon us. Bigger than the Oscars, more important than the Nobel Prize, it’s the 2006 MTV Movie Awards. Okay, so it may not be as important as they want you to think but it is a lot of fun and has a large online presence. This year’s MTV Movie Awards are on June 8th and will include huge amounts of interactive video on both MTV.com and MTV Overdrive. Read more…

Nokia claims that almost one in two people around the world use multifunctional phones as their main camera.

The Nseries survey, carried out in 11 countries, also found that over two-thirds of users predict a music-enabled phone will replace their MP3 player. Almost half said that they want to be able to hook up their phones to other home electronics kit. Read more…

A Massachusetts company wants to beam commercial radio broadcasts into school buses every morning and afternoon, the latest mingling of education and commerce to spark outcry as the firm lobbies school districts across the state to sign contracts for the fall.

Needham-based Bus Radio said yesterday that it has signed up school systems with nearly 100,000 school children in Massachusetts and other states for the service next school year. The company says it is offering a cutting-edge service in which children select music online for their district’s buses, drivers can finish their routes with their passengers quiet, and school districts get cash from the company. Bus Radio can sell advertising time to businesses trying to reach young consumers. Read more…

Geffen Will Implement FeedBurner’s Full Suite of Feed Management Services to Add Rich Interactivity to the Feeds of More Than 50 Top Artists

Geffen Records has selected FeedBurner, the market-leading feed management provider, to manage Web feeds for its artists’ content, including Mary J. Blige, Lifehouse, Weezer, Snoop Dogg, Rob Zombie and others. By implementing the full suite of FeedBurner’s feed management services to add rich interactivity to its feeds and Web site, Geffen becomes the first in the music recording industry to integrate feeds so thoroughly into its overall promotional strategy to convert passive Web site visitors into loyal subscribers. Read more…

Research and Markets has announced the addition of “Mobile: A New Way to Market Music” to their offering.

Record labels and music retailers have become adept at devising marketing campaigns that use a combination of traditional channels to promote new music. But as fans spend less time watching network TV or reading music magazines and more time using new media platforms such as online and mobile, so music companies are adjusting their campaigns to include the new channels. Read more…

Sites such as MySpace generate more community-related music activity than Yahoo Music, AOL Music or MTV.com, according to a new JupiterResearch report, “Music and Community: Low Cost, Authentic Promotion.” Some 48 percent of music discoverers find out about music from friends, 53 percent discover music through videos, and 87 percent through radio.

The new report studies how much activity related to The Black Eyed Peas music group occurred on MySpace, Yahoo Music, AOL Music and MTV.com. MySpace generated hundreds of thousands of “friends” of the band - and profile views and song plays in the millions. In contrast, mainstream music media sites counted artist community members in the hundreds, at best. Read more…

Pump Audio, the leading provider of quality independent music to content creators globally, announced today that CBS has selected music from Pump Audio to accompany two of its original series for its new broadband channel, innertube. Tracks from Pump Audio’s catalog of independent musicians provide the musical backdrop for GREEK TO CHIC, a college-based makeover reality series that premiered last month, and BBQ BILL, an upcoming scripted sketch-comedy series. Read more…

EMI Music announced it partnered with a P2P service to make its catalogue available. Even more amazing, EMI Music was proud enough to put out a press release of its own on the news. Having seen the news, you may expect Hell has frozen over.

The P2P service, called Qtrax, will be a legal peer-to-peer music distribution service with two tiers of membership. The first tier will be ad-supported. A user will be able to search for a specific track and download it in Qtrax’s proprietary format. Once downloaded…Read more