From Hypebot:

From hypebot:

From Hype Bot:

PASTOR CROSSES THE LINE
From Preaching the Gospel to Singing the Rhythm & Blues

New York, NY 2008 – What is your conception about a pastor/preacher singing Rhythm & Blues, or music of any other genre other than Gospel? Does it challenge your religious beliefs? Can a pastor/preacher do them both, or is it straddling the fence to do so? Have you ever even been confronted with the opportunity to search your soul for an answer to these questions? Well it seems as though the time has very well come, to do so, as Kenton Rogers, who is an ordained and well known pastor, crosses the line. Certainly, he is stirring up debate and already stimulating heated conversations amongst the church, and unchurched, with his R&B singles “Confession of a Preacha Man” and “Ridin’ High” from his forthcoming and premiere Urban/R&B project “Reality Check…only GOD can judge me.” While the naysayers hold the belief that preaching the gospel and singing the blues somehow just don’t mix and shouldn’t be mixed, there seems to be an even greater wind of support backing this free and unchained (independent) recording artist.

“God’s Son Of Soul” Kenton Rogers is geared up to kick-off his “Heart 2 Heart Connections Radio Tour” on Monday, December 15, 2008 on The Producers Corner “Platinum Morning Show” hosted by The Platinum Girl “Flo” on BlogTalkRadio.com at 8am ET. The tour will grant to radio hosts around the world, the opportunity of access to an upfront and personal interview with Kenton, who is one of the most progressive and inspiring personalities of this millennium. Though he has been referred to as one of the world’s best kept secrets, by far, he is certainly not a newcomer to the industry and entertainment business. However, if you thought you were acquainted with him, think again, this is a new and more matured Kenton, who is more certain than ever about his convictions and purpose in life.

If you are interested in having Kenton Rogers on your radio show or hosting him to perform at your event, please contact us. We would be honored to receive your invitation.

Contact Information
BTG Management
Patricia Norman
717.903.0228
Email: BTGManagement@aol.com
Website: www.kentonrogers.com
URL: www.myspace.com/kentonrogersmusic

YouTube is broadcast its first major live event this Saturday featuring a number of music and video stars that are popular on the site. Musicians like Kate Perry (OK, we’re using the term musician loosely), Akon, Joe Satriani and Wil.i.am were joined by internet video phenoms like the Mythbusters. Watch it at YouTube Live.

Could user generated live video like the increasingly popular Ustream be next?

360 Music deals give labels their standard cut of CD and digital download sales, but also give them a percentage of event ticket profits, merchandise sales, endorsement deals and anything else that uses the artist’s brand or music.

A year ago they were still seen as controversial and experimental. Labels defended them as justification for investing in an artist in a time of decreasing CD sales.

Today, though, those deals are becoming mandatory. Warner Music Group CEO Edgar Bronfman told the Web 2.0 Summit audience that his label now requires all new artists to sign 360 Deals, and that about a third of their signed artists are under those contracts.

Bronfman argued to a hostile crowd that it doesn’t make sense for labels to pour money into artist development when CD sales, their primary source of revenue, continue to decline (although he did say that digital sales now make up 20% of their revenue). Without other ways to make money from an artist, he said, they wouldn’t continue to promote artists.

Bronfman also said that 360 deals give labels the ability to give away music for promotional purposes to spur event and merchandise sales.

And that, for me, is the key. Bronfman, an outsider to the music world until recently, sees the writing on the wall - music downloads will eventually be free, and will serve as little more than marketing collateral to other revenue streams.

360 deals give labels a place in the new music economy, and there’s nothing wrong with their attempt to keep their businesses alive over the long run. Artists can choose to go with them or not, depending on their own opinion of the benefits. If labels really can bring enough marketing and promotional benefits to the table, artists will take those deals. They may be slaves to the labels, but they have a chance (albeit a very small one) of becoming rich slaves, at least.

From Hypebot

• CBS is closing its music site Juke and has laid off its staff. (Idolator).  More staff cuts may be ahead at cNet and other CBS owned web properties.
• INgrooves partners with Myxer for mobile music. (press release)
• The Orchard ranked as 33rd fastest growing company in North America in Deloitte’s Fast 500. (press release)
• The judge that presided over the original Napster case is calling for major copyirght reform. (Listening Post)
• XM and Sirius continue the aggressive merger of stations and offers new packages. (FMQB)
• TorrentValley.com taken down by Bulgarian authorities. (IFPI)
• A look inside the economics of ad supported music. (MediaPost)
• India’s IMI Mobile Buying UK Digital Music Distributor DX3 (PaidContent UK)
• Flip Video, the favorite easy to use camera that is a favorite of bands creating video postcards for their fans, has added an HD camera. (CBS)
• R.I.P. Jimi Hendrix drummer Mitch Mitchell. Listen to a mashup of his best Hendrix drum intros after the jump if you doubt how much he contributed to the power trio.