Music Business Blog

Recession Shopping: 10 Things to Buy Right Now Introduction By DAN KADLEC Justin Sullivan / Getty Cash is king during any recession for a lot of reasons; not least being that it provides a welcome cushion for any temporary loss of income. If you've lost your job, or might, this is no time to go on a shopping spree. But if you feel secure at work and have a little spare cash, you can indeed be treated like royalty in these difficult times. Spend wisely now and you'll save a bundle over what things will cost once the recession lifts — a day that, thankfully, may be approaching faster than you think. Some bright spots have emerged recently in areas like housing and consumer spending, hinting that the economy may be starting to bottom out. For example,

Why Young Artists Give Albums Away for Free Originally published on Youthradio.org , the premier source for youth generated news throughout the globe. By: Brandon McFarland Last week, Inglewood based hip hop duo U-N-I released their debut album -- not a mixtape, but the album, for free online! The album is entitled A Love Supreme . Not since the Cool Kids has there been a decent representation of true students of hip hop, and an even better representation of LA's youth scene that doesn't involve gangs. Good beats, dope rhymes, and (most importantly) lyrical style and skill. Plus a video on MTV2, and an XL rating in XXL magazine. So why are U-N-I choosing to be unsigned to any major label? And why give the album away? People sitting on their couches watching artists on MTV and BET simply don't get an accurate portrayal of what life is like for most up-and-coming musicians. Long gone are the days when a record label would take a talented "nobody," make a good r