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Complete List Of Grammy Award Winners

Winners at Wednesday’s 48th Annual Grammy Awards:

Album of the Year: “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,” U2.

Record of the Year: “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” Green Day.

New Artist: John Legend

Male R&B Vocal Performance: “Ordinary People,” John Legend.

Pop Vocal Album: “Breakaway,” Kelly Clarkson.

Rap/Sung Collaboration: “Numb/Encore,” Jay-Z featuring Linkin Park.

Song of the Year: “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own,” U2.

Female Pop Vocal Performance: “Since U Been Gone,” Kelly Clarkson.

Country Album: “Lonely Runs Both Ways,” Alison Krauss and Union Station.

Rap Album: “Late Registration,” Kanye West.

Rock Album: “How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb,” U2.

Rap Solo Performance: “Gold Digger,” Kanye West.

Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: “Don’t Phunk With My Heart,” The Black Eyed Peas.

Rap Song: “Diamonds From Sierra Leone,” D. Harris and Kanye West.

Solo Rock Vocal Performance: “Devils & Dust,” Bruce Springsteen.

Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own,” U2.

Hard Rock Performance: “B.Y.O.B.,” System of a Down.

Metal Performance: “Before I Forget,” Slipknot.

Rock Instrumental Performance: “69 Freedom Special,” Les Paul and Friends.

Rock Song: “City of Blinding Lights, U2, (U2).

Alternative Music Album: “Get Behind Me Satan,” The White Stripes.

Female R&B Vocal Performance: “We Belong Together,” Mariah Carey.

R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals: “So Amazing,” Beyonce and Stevie Wonder.

Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: “A House Is Not a Home,” Aretha Franklin.

Urban/Alternative Performance: “Welcome to Jamrock,” Damian Marley.

R&B Song: “We Belong Together,” J. Austin, M. Carey, J. Dupri & M. Seal, (D. Bristol, K. Edmonds, S. Johnson, P. Moten, S. Sully & B. Womack, (Mariah Carey).

R&B Album: “Get Lifted,” John Legend.

Contemporary R&B Album: “The Emancipation of Mimi,” Mariah Carey.

Male Pop Vocal Performance: “From the Bottom of My Heart,” Stevie Wonder.

Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: “This Love,” Maroon 5.

Pop Collaboration With Vocals: “Feel Good Inc.,” Gorillaz Featuring De La Soul.

Pop Instrumental Performance: “Caravan,” Les Paul.

Pop Instrumental Album: “At This Time,” Burt Bacharach.

Traditional Pop Vocal Album: “The Art of Romance,” Tony Bennett.

Female Country Vocal Performance: “The Connection,” Emmylou Harris.

Male Country Vocal Performance: “You’ll Think of Me,” Keith Urban.

Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: “Restless,” Alison Krauss and Union Station.

Country Collaboration With Vocals: “Like We Never Loved at All,” Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.

Country Instrumental Performance: “Unionhouse Branch,” Alison Krauss and Union Station.

Country Song: “Bless the Broken Road,” Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna and Marcus Hummon, (Rascal Flatts).

Latin Pop Album: “Escucha,” Laura Pausini.

Latin Rock/Alternative Album: “Fijacion Oral Vol. 1,” Shakira.

Traditional Tropical Latin Album: “Bebo De Cuba,” Bebo Valdes.

Salsa/Merengue Album: “Son Del Alma,” Willy Chirino.

Mexican/Mexican-American Album: “Mexico En La Piel,” Luis Miguel.

Tejano Album: “Chicanisimo,” Little Joe Y La Familia.

Engineered Album, Classical: “Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets,” Da-Hong Seetoo, engineer (Emerson String Quartet).

Producer of the Year, Classical: Tim Handley.

Classical Album: “Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and of Experience,” Leonard Slatkin, conductor (Christine Brewer and Joan Morris, University of Michigan School of Music Symphony Orchestra).

Orchestral Performance: “Shostakovich: Symphony No. 13,” Mariss Jansons, conductor (Sergei Aleksashkin, Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Chorus).

Opera Recording: “Verdi: Falstaff,” Sir Colin Davis, conductor (London Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra).

Choral Performance: “Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and of Experience,” Leonard Slatkin, conductor (Christine Brewer, Measha Brueggergosman, Ilana Davidson, Nmon Ford, Linda Hohenfeld, Joan Morris, Carmen Pelton, Marietta Simpson and Thomas Young, Michigan State University Children’s Choir, University of Michigan Chamber Choir, University of Michigan Orpheus Singers, University of Michigan University Choir and University Musical Society Choral Union, University of Michigan School of Music Symphony Orchestra).

Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (with Orchestra): “Beethoven: Piano Cons. Nos. 2 & 3,” Claudio Abbado, conductor; Martha Argerich (Mahler Chamber Orchestra).

Instrumental Soloist Performance (without Orchestra): “Scriabin, Medtner, Stravinsky,” Evgeny Kissin.

Chamber Music Performance: “Mendelssohn: The Complete String Quartets,” Emerson String Quartet.

Small Ensemble Performance: “Boulez: Le Marteau Sans Maitre, Derive 1 & 2,” Pierre Boulez, conductor, Hilary Summers, Ensemble Intercontemporain.

Classical Vocal Performance: “Bach: Cantatas,” Thomas Quasthoff (Rainer Kussmaul, Members of the RIAS Chamber Choir, Berlin Baroque Soloists).

Classical Contemporary Composition: “Bolcom: Songs of Innocence and of Experience,” William Bolcom (Leonard Slatkin).

Classical Crossover Album: “4 plus Four,” Turtle Island String Quartet and Ying Quartet.

Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: “Ray,” Ray Charles.

Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: “Ray,” Craig Armstrong, composer.

Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: “Believe,” Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, songwriters, from “The Polar Express.”

Instrumental Composition: “Into the Light,” Billy Childs, composer.

Instrumental Arrangement: “The Incredits,” Gordon Goodwin, arranger (Various Artists).

Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): “What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?” Billy Childs, Gil Goldstein and Heitor Pereira, arrangers (Chris Botti and Sting).

Traditional Blues Album: “80,” B.B. King and Friends.

Traditional Folk Album: “Fiddler’s Green,” Tim O’Brien.

Contemporary Folk Album: “Fair & Square,” John Prine.

Native American Music Album: “Sacred Ground A Tribute to Mother Earth,” Various Artists.

Hawaiian Music Album: “Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Vol. 1,” Various Artists.

Reggae Album: “Welcome to Jamrock,” Damian Marley.

Traditional World Music Album: “In the Heart of the Moon,” Ali Farka Toure and Toumani Diabate.

Contemporary World Music Album: “Eletracustico,” Gilberto Gil.

Polka Album: “Shake, Rattle and Polka!” Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra.

Musical Album for Children: “Songs From the Neighborhood The Music of Mister Rogers,” Various Artists.

Spoken Word Album for Children: “Marlo Thomas & Friends: Thanks & Giving All Year Long,” Various Artists.

Spoken Word Album: “Dreams From My Father,” Sen. Barack Obama.

Comedy Album: “Never Scared,” Chris Rock.

Musical Show Album: “Monty Python’s Spamalot.”

Gospel Performance: “Pray,” CeCe Winans.

Rock Gospel Song: “Be Blessed,” Yolanda Adams, James Harris III, Terry Lewis and James Q. Wright, (Yolanda Adams).

Rock Gospel Album: “Until My Heart Caves In,” Audio Adrenaline.

Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: “Lifesong,” Casting Crowns.

Southern, Country, or Bluegrass Album: “Rock of Ages … Hymns & Faith,” Amy Grant.

Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: “Purified,” CeCe Winans.

Gospel Choir or Gospel Chorus: “One Voice,” Gladys Knight, choir director.

New Age Album: “Silver Solstice,” Paul Winter Consort.

Jazz Vocal Album: “Good Night, and Good Luck,” Dianne Reeves.

Jazz Instrumental Solo: “Why Was I Born?” Sonny Rollins.

Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual or Group: “Beyond the Sound Barrier,” Wayne Shorter Quartet.

Contemporary Jazz Album: “The Way Up,” Pat Metheny Group.

Large Jazz Ensemble Album: “Overtime,” Dave Holland Big Band.

Latin Jazz Album: “Listen Here!” Eddie Palmieri.

Traditional Soul Gospel Album: “Psalms, Hymns & Spiritual Songs,” Donnie McClurkin.

Dance Recording: “Galvanize,” The Chemical Brothers featuring Q-Tip.

Electronic/Dance Album: “Push the Button,” The Chemical Brothers.

Bluegrass Album: “The Company We Keep,” The Del McCoury Band.

Contemporary Blues Album: “Cost of Living,” Delbert McClinton.

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Steve Lillywhite.

Short Form Music Video: “Control,” Missy Elliott Featuring Ciara and Fat Man Scoop.

Best Long Form Music Video: “No Direction Home” (Bob Dylan).

Recording Package: “The Forgotten Arm,” Aimee Mann and Gail Marowitz, art directors (Aimee Mann).

Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: “The Legend,” Ian Cuttler, art director (Johnny Cash).

Album Notes: “The Complete Library of Congress Recordings by Alan Lomax,” John Szwed, album notes writer (Jelly Roll Morton).

Historical Album: “The Complete Library of Congress Recordings by Alan Lomax,” Jeffrey Greenberg and Anna Lomax Wood, compilation producers (Jelly Roll Morton).

Engineered Album, Non-Classical: “Back Home,” Alan Douglas and Mick Guzauski, engineers (Eric Clapton).

Remixed Recording, Non-Classical: “Superfly (Louie Vega EOL Mix),” Louie Vega, remixer (Curtis Mayfield).

Surround Sound Album: “Brothers in Arms 20th Anniversary Edition,” Chuck Ainlay, Bob Ludwig, Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits).

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Add comment February 9th, 2006

Nominees For The 48th Annual Grammy Awards, 2006

Album of the Year
Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi
Paul McCartney - Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
Gwen Stefani - Love, Angel, Music, Baby
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Kanye West - Late Registration

Record of the Year

Mariah Carey - “We Belong Together”
Gorillaz - “Feel Good Inc.”
Green Day - “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”
Gwen Stefani - “Hollaback Girl”
Kanye West - “Gold Digger”

Song of the Year

Rascal Flatts - “Bless the Broken Road”
Bobby Boyd, Jeff Hanna & Marcus Hummon, songwriters
Bruce Springsteen - “Devils & Dust”
Bruce Springsteen, songwriter
John Legend - “Ordinary People”
W. Adams & J. Stephens, songwriters
U2 - “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”
U2, songwriters
Mariah Carey - “We Belong Together”
J. Austin, M. Carey, J. Dupri & M. Seal, songwriters

Best New Artist

Ciara
Fall Out Boy
Keane
John Legend
Sugarland

Best Female Pop Vocal Performance

Mariah Carey - “It’s Like That”
Kelly Clarkson - “Since U Been Gone”
Sheryl Crow - “Good Is Good”
Bonnie Raitt - “I Will Not Be Broken”
Gwen Stefani - “Hollaback Girl”

Best Male Pop Vocal Performance

Jack Johnson - “Sitting, Waiting, Wishing”
Paul McCartney - “Fine Line”
Seal - “Walk on By”
Rob Thomas - “Lonely No More”
Stevie Wonder - “From the Bottom of My Heart”

Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal

Black Eyed Peas - “Don’t Lie”
The Killers - “Mr. Brightside”
Los Lonely Boys - “More Than Love”
Maroon 5 - “This Love”
The White Stripes - “My Doorbell”

Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals

Black Eyed Peas & Jack Johnson - “Gone Going”
Foo Fighters Featuring Norah Jones - “Virginia Moon”
Gorillaz Featuring De La Soul - “Feel Good Inc.”
Herbie Hancock Featuring Christina Aguilera - “A Song for You”
Stevie Wonder Featuring India.Arie - “A Time to Love”

Best Pop Vocal Album

Fiona Apple - Extraordinary Machine
Kelly Clarkson - Breakaway
Sheryl Crow - Wildflower
Paul McCartney - Chaos and Creation in the Backyard
Gwen Stefani - Love, Angel, Music, Baby

Best Dance Recording

The Chemical Brothers Featuring Q-Tip - “Galvanize”
Deep Dish - “Say Hello”
LCD Soundsystem - “Daft Punk Is Playing at My House”
Fatboy Slim & Lateef - “Wonderful Night”
Kylie Minogue - “I Believe in You”
New Order - “Guilt Is a Useless Emotion”

Best Electronic/Dance Album
The Chemical Brothers - Push the Button
Daft Punk - Human After All
Fatboy Slim - Palookaville
Kraftwerk - Minimum-Maximum
LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance
Eric Clapton - “Revolution”
Robert Plant - “Shine It All Around”
Bruce Springsteen - “Devils & Dust”
Rob Thomas - “This Is How a Heart Breaks”
Neil Young - “The Painter”

Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal

Coldplay - “Speed of Sound”
Foo Fighters - “Best of You”
Franz Ferdinand - “Do You Want To”
The Killers - “All These Things That I’ve Done”
U2 - “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own”

Best Hard Rock Performance
Audioslave - “Doesn’t Remind Me”
Nine Inch Nails - “The Hand That Feeds”
Robert Plant - “Tin Pan Valley”
Queens of the Stone Age - “Little Sister”
System of a Down - “B.Y.O.B.”

Best Metal Performance

Ministry - “The Great Satan”
Mudvayne - “Determined”
Rammstein - “Mein Teil”
Shadows Fall - “What Drives the Weak”
Slipknot - “Before I Forget”

Best Rock Song
Foo Fighters - “Best of You”
Weezer - “Beverly Hills”
U2 - “City of Blinding Lights”
Bruce Springsteen - “Devils & Dust”
Coldplay - “Speed of Sound”

Best Rock Album
Coldplay - X&Y
Foo Fighters - In Your Honor
The Rolling Stones - A Bigger Bang
U2 - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb
Neil Young - Prairie Wind

Best Alternative Music Album

The Arcade Fire - Funeral
Beck - Guero
Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
Franz Ferdinand - You Could Have It So Much Better
The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan

Best Female R&B Vocal Performance

Amerie - “1 Thing”
Beyoncé - “Wishing on a Star”
Mariah Carey - “We Belong Together”
Fantasia - “Free Yourself”
Alicia Keys - “Unbreakable”

Best Male R&B Vocal Performance
Jamie Foxx - “Creepin’ “
John Legend - “Ordinary People”
Mario - “Let Me Love You”
Usher - “Superstar”
Stevie Wonder - “So What the Fuss”

Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals

Beyoncé & Stevie Wonder - “So Amazing”
Destiny’s Child - “Cater 2 U”
Alicia Keys Featuring Jermaine Paul - “If This World Were Mine”
John Legend Featuring Lauryn Hill - “So High”
Stevie Wonder Featuring Aisha Morris - “How Will I Know”

Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance
Mariah Carey - “Mine Again”
Fantasia - “Summertime”
Aretha Franklin - “A House Is Not a Home”
Alicia Keys - “If I Was Your Woman”
John Legend - “Stay With You”

Best Urban/Alternative Performance
Floetry - “SupaStar”
Gorillaz - “Dirty Harry”
Van Hunt - “Dust”
Damian Marley - “Welcome to Jamrock”
Mos Def - “Ghetto Rock”

Best R&B Song
Destiny’s Child - “Cater 2 U”
Rodney Jerkins, Beyoncé Knowles, Ricky Lewis, Kelly Rowland, Robert Waller & Michelle Williams, songwriters
Fantasia - “Free Yourself”
Craig Brockman, Missy Elliott & Nisan Stewart, songwriters
John Legend - “Ordinary People”
W. Adams & J. Stephens, songwriters
Alicia Keys - “Unbreakable”
Garry Glenn, Alicia Keys, Harold Lily & Kanye West, songwriters
Mariah Carey - “We Belong Together”
J. Austin, M. Carey, J. Dupri & M. Seal

Best R&B Album

Earth, Wind & Fire - Illumination
Fantasia - Free Yourself
Alicia Keys - Unplugged
John Legend - Get Lifted
Stevie Wonder - A Time to Love

Best Contemporary R&B Album
Amerie - Touch
Mariah Carey - The Emancipation of Mimi
Destiny’s Child - Destiny Fulfilled
Mario - Turning Point
Omarion - O

Best Rap Solo Performance

Common - “Testify”
Eminem - “Mockingbird”
50 Cent - “Disco Inferno”
Ludacris - “Number One Spot”
T.I. - “U Don’t Know Me”
Kanye West - “Gold Digger”

Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Black Eyed Peas - “Don’t Phunk With My Heart”
Common Featuring the Last Poets - “The Corner”
Eminem Featuring Dr. Dre and 50 Cent - “Encore”
The Game Featuring 50 Cent - “Hate It or Love It”
Ying Yang Twins - “Wait (The Whisper Song)”

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Ciara Featuring Missy Elliott - “1, 2 Step”
Common Featuring Kanye West & John Legend - “They Say”
Destiny’s Child Featuring T.I. and Lil Wayne - “Soldier”
Jay-Z Featuring Linkin Park - “Numb/Encore”
Gwen Stefani Featuring Eve - “Rich Girl”

Best Rap Song

50 Cent - “Candy Shop”
Kanye West - “Diamonds From Sierra Leone”
Black Eyed Peas - “Don’t Phunk With My Heart “
The Game Featuring 50 Cent - “Hate It or Love It”
Missy Elliott Featuring Ciara and Fat Man Scoop - “Lose Control”

Best Rap Album

Common - Be
Missy Elliott - The Cookbook
Eminem - Encore
50 Cent - The Massacre
Kanye West - Late Registration

Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
Josh Groban - “Believe” (from “The Polar Express”)
Glen Ballard & Alan Silvestri, songwriters
The Arcade Fire - “Cold Wind” (from “Six Feet Under: Volume 2 - Everything Ends”)
The Arcade Fire, songwriters
Wyclef Jean - “Million Voices” (from “Hotel Rwanda”)
Jerry Duplessis, Andrea Guerra & Wyclef Jean, songwriters
Tom Petty - “Square One” (from “Elizabethtown”)
Tom Petty, songwriter
Danny Elfman - “Wonka’s Welcome Song” (from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”)
John August & Danny Elfman, songwriters

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
“Beyond the Sea” (Kevin Spacey)
“Napoleon Dynamite” (Various Artists)
“No Direction Home: The Soundtrack - Bootleg Series, Vol. 7″ (Bob Dylan)
“Ray” (Ray Charles)
“Six Feet Under: Volume 2 - Everything Ends” (Various Artists)

Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media

“The Aviator” (Howard Shore, composer)
“The Incredibles” (Michael Giacchino, composer)
“Million Dollar Baby” (Clint Eastwood, composer)
“Ray” (Craig Armstrong, composer)
“Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” (John Williams, composer)

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Danger Mouse
Demon Days (Gorillaz)

Nigel Godrich
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard - Paul McCartney

Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis
“Be Blessed” (Yolanda Adams)
“Dance With My Father” (Celine Dion)
“Harajuku Girls” (Gwen Stefani)
“Never Too Much” (Mary J. Blige)
“Nobody Cares” (Deborah Cox)
“Pure Gold” (Earth, Wind & Fire)
“These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ ” (Jessica Simpson)

Steve Lillywhite
How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (U2)
Mr. A-Z (Jason Mraz)

The Neptunes

“Already Platinum” (Slim Thug Featuring Pharrell)
“Hollaback Girl” (Gwen Stefani)
“Let’s Get Blown” (Snoop Dogg)
“On & On” (Missy Elliott)
“Say Somethin’ ” (Mariah Carey Featuring Snoop Dogg)
“Touch” (Omarion)

Best Short Form Music Video
Missy Elliott Featuring Ciara and Fat Man Scoop - “Lose Control”
Gorillaz Featuring De La Soul - “Feel Good Inc.”
Jamiroquai - “Feels Just Like It Should”
Martina McBride - “God’s Will”
Sarah McLachlan - “World on Fire”

Add comment February 7th, 2006

Music Biz Laments “Worst Year Ever”

It was yet another unhappy New Year for the music industry: Despite hits by Mariah Carey, 50 Cent and Green Day, 2005 saw album sales drop 7.2 percent as labels continued to struggle with adapting to the age of the iPod and the Internet. Overall, consumers bought 48 million fewer albums than in 2004, marking a disastrous twenty-one percent slide from the industry’s peak in 2000, according to Nielsen SoundScan. And the holiday season, which typically accounts for forty percent of annual sales, was a bust. “It was arguably the worst in the music business’s history,” says Steve Bartels, Island Records president.

In contrast to CD sales, digital-song downloads jumped 150 percent in 2005 as consumers bought 352 million of them. “With digital technology, everyone’s figured out that a business built only on the manufacture, distribution and sale of CDs has ended,” says Dixie Chicks manager Simon Renshaw, echoing many other industry veterans. “The traditional model can’t continue.”

Where Are the Hits?

In 2000, the industry’s last boom year, the top five albums — including megahits by Britney Spears and Eminem — sold a combined 38 million copies. The top five in 2005 sold just 19.7 million. Mariah Carey had the comeback story of the year, selling 5 million copies of The Emancipation of Mimi, the year’s top album. Green Day, who sold 1.8 million copies of American Idiot in ‘04, sold 3.4 million more in ‘05. And a baby diva, American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson, broke through, selling 3.5 million copies of Breakaway.

Just below the top ten, there were signs of hope, as developing artists — Ciara, Young Jeezy, Fall Out Boy — all sold at least 1 million copies. But expected best sellers from Missy Elliott and Santana barely broke 500,000 copies. “Last year you had releases from superstars such as U2, Eminem, Lil Jon,” says Best Buy music buyer Lon Lindeland. “This year didn’t match that.”

Latin music was the only genre to see increased sales in 2005. As the reggaeton-heavy “hurban” radio format grew — taking over rock stations in several major markets — the genre’s sales leaped 12.6 percent. Sales of alternative rock fell 8.8 percent, hip-hop dropped 7.8 percent and R&B saw an 11.6 percent decline. “Consumers who used to buy a lot of hip-hop are now buying Latin records,” says Virgin exec Jerry Suarez. “It’s something for the younger demographic to get excited about.”

Digital Music Surges

In 2005, digital downloads became a major moneymaker for the first time, earning more than $500 million as sales of digital tracks jumped from 141 million in 2004 to 353 million in 2005, and sales of digital albums rose from 5.5 million to 16.2 million. In the fall, Apple’s iTunes Store became one of the ten biggest U.S. music retailers, ahead of Tower and Sam Goody. And in the last week of 2005, digital single sales exploded to a record-setting 19.9 million — outselling CDs for the first time in history — as about 11 million Christmas-gift iPods flew off shelves. The digital boom helped offset some of the labels’ losses; using SoundScan’s formula of counting every ten sold singles as an album, album sales dropped just 3.9 percent.

Ring tones were even more profitable, as revenues doubled to $600 million. Real tones — actual music rather than tinny reproductions — became the dominant format.

But as sales shift toward digital distribution, battles are brewing over how much downloads should cost, and who should get the money. Apple CEO Steve Jobs called the labels “greedy” for suggesting iTunes should charge more than ninety-nine cents for hits; Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman Jr. shot back, “We want, and will insist upon having, variable pricing.” Artists, meanwhile, complain that their royalties from digital tracks — fourteen cents is the typical rate — don’t make up for the loss of income from CD sales. “This is where the sales are going,” says Josh Grier, a music lawyer for Wilco. “But being part of the transition might be a bad thing.”

Major-Label Woes

As the industry contracted, market share declined or remained steady for three of the four major record companies. The exception was Universal Music Group, which sold thirty-two percent of all music and six of the year’s top ten albums. Warner, which became the first publicly traded record label in 2005, managed to hold steady, thanks to Green Day and the Asylum subsidiary, which scored hits with Houston rappers Paul Wall and Mike Jones. EMI dropped just 0.4 percent, with strong releases from Coldplay and Gorillaz. “It’s not a growth market,” says Arista exec Tom Corson. “This is a mature market that’s being attacked on all sides.”

Of all the labels, Sony BMG — which merged in 2004 — had the toughest year: The company’s market share shrunk three percent, it paid $10 million to settle a payola investigation (Warner eventually settled for $5 million) and had to recall 4.7 million CDs that included invasive copy-protection software. “How does a record label self-destruct?” says Darryl Pitt, manager of the Bad Plus, whose CD was recalled. “This is a pretty good way.”

The labels continued to battle piracy, filing hundreds of lawsuits against peer-to-peer downloaders. But in the month of November, for instance, twenty-one percent more users traded music online than in the same period the year before.

The Indie Scene

As the majors stumbled, independent labels gained market share, accounting for eighteen percent of CD sales in ‘05. Indie labels proved especially adept at Internet marketing via outlets like MySpace; the emo label Victory Records sold 558,000 copies of Hawthorne Heights’ album The Silence in Black and White without radio play. And several hip indie acts — the Arcade Fire, Interpol and Bright Eyes — sold more than 250,000 copies each. The indie model of earning profits on a broad range of small-scale releases, rather than focusing on blockbusters, may offer a new direction for the majors. “The major labels want to say the glass is half full,” says Gwen Stefani’s manager Jim Guerinot. “I think everybody’s getting the message: You better get a fucking smaller glass. The music business is a different game.”

- Rolling Stone

Add comment January 15th, 2006

Rap Meets Metal: Boo-Yaa TRIBE’s ‘ANGRY SAMOANS’

Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E When you think of the icons of west coast gangsta rap, the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. is one of the first to come to mind.

These legendary, hard hitting Samoan rap artists are from Carson, California. They emerged on the hip-hop and rap scene in the era of legendary gangsta rapper Ice Cube and have been cutting tracks since 1988. The Compton ‘influence’ is still present in their music and their ‘swagger’. It’s likely these are physically the biggest and heaviest rappers ever, and their music is equally heavy!

Along with the great albums and collaborations they have done over the years and their affiliation to the Mob Piru Bloods, the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. has built a huge and faithful worldwide fan base, and they have toured the world from Europe to Japan and New Zealand.

On January 31, 2006 The Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. will release in the US ‘ANGRY SAMOANS’. Mix the lyrics and harmonies of the Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. with rock/metal and you indeed have - ‘ANGRY SAMOANS’.

Being one of very few rap or hip-hop groups who play live music on stage, The Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. is unique in many ways. From hard core gangsta rap to rap mixed with rock music the Bo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. are truly one of a kind artists.

‘ANGRY SAMOANS’ is a unique blend of rap and rock/metal. Unlike their WEST KOSTA NOSTRA album, ‘ANGRY SAMOANS’ lets the rock in these Samoans out. The music is as hard hitting as their harmonies and vocals. If you’re a Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E. fan this may be a side of them you have yet to experience.

‘ANGRY SAMOANS’ will be released in the US on January 31st, on First Kut Organization, a Division of Kent Entertainment Group Inc., and Samoan Mafia Records. If you can’t wait, the album is available now for early release at www.FirstKut.com .

The Boo-Yaa Tribe, originally consisting of the Devoux brothers – Roscoe, Danny, Paul, Ted, Vincent and Donald– are sons of a Baptist minister. Their skillz of surviving have brought them more street credibility than any other rap artists out there. They all served prison sentences, but after one brother was shot dead they decided to concentrate on their music. They have ‘survived’ in the music industry with great music and great projects over the years. Donald has left the group but his brother Vincent has taken his place.

The brothers Devoux explained in an interview the meaning of the name Boo-Yaa Tribe. “Boo-Yaa, at that time was slang in the neighborhood for the sound of a shotgun, so we used the term to describe the impact of us on stage, blowing people away,” and T.R.I.B.E. = “Too Rough International Boo-Yaa Empire.”

Be sure to check out Boo-Yaa T.R.I.B.E.’s ‘ANGRY SAMOANS’ January 31st and hear when rap meets metal and join the Boo-Yaa Empire.

Track List for ‘ANGRY SAMOANS’:

No Free Ride (Intro)

Skared for Lyfe

Breakin’ Lyfe Sykos

Buried Alive

Full Metal Jack Move

Kill For the Family

Retaliate

Boogie Man

Where U Want It

Gang Bangin’

Mr. Mister Redeyes

Angry Samoans

No Free Ride (Outro)

Add comment January 15th, 2006


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