Hip-Hop 2.0: Chuck D and DMC Launch Beyond.fm @ CES
Another site for the independent artist crops up in a partnership between Chuck D and DMC of Run-DMC. Though I’ll probably write a more thorough post about the site at a later date, and perhaps even hook up with Chuck D for a podcast, I wanted to let you in on the news as it was offered in a press release (early).
First a little background on Chuck D and the digital future of music:
Chuck D, a co-founder of hip hop’s Public Enemy — and one of the first high-profile musicians to adopt MP3 and online distribution — said the Internet is causing a top-to-bottom shift in the music industry.
“What you’ve got is not an eradication of the middleman, but a balancing out … everybody will have to share a little bit more,” he said. [Wired: 10.18.99]
“The majors are never going to go away, they’re like the NBA,” said outspoken rap artist and MP3 activist Chuck D. However, he added, MP3 could provide something like an alternative league.
The occasion was a panel discussion, “Convergence: The Future of Media,” held at the Silicon Alley 99 conference. [Wired: 02.24.99]
As for the future, Chuck D said the recording industry has to change. He suggested that record labels could become the “modern day record clubs” of the Internet, where people pay for a subscription to their “wealth of material.” He also suggested that artists’ material should be sold in smaller units, such as a five-track album for five dollars online, or promoted by giving away certain songs to sell others. [Wired: 03.07.99]
Editor’s Note: Let it be known that Chuck D and Public Enemy and Prince and his New Power Generation were likely two of very few “first” artists to embrace the digital future by luanching some version of their own online music club or digital store, and thereby cut out the middleman (in other words the big dogs of the recorded music industry).
At the end of last year, Chuck D stepped into a different kind of spotlight when his then-record label sent him a letter threatening a lawsuit after he posted audio clips from the still unreleased Public Enemy album in the MP3 ( 1, Audio Layer 3) format on his Web site.
In December, Chuck D parted ways with Def Jam to focus on his own production company, dubbed Creamwerks. Through this venture, Chuck D will use the Web as his distribution channel as well as for promoting new and existing talent. [CNET News.com: 03.09.99]
Music biz icon Al Teller broke ranks earlier this year by founding online record label Atomic Pop. Now Teller’s new label has signed its first big Public Enemy frontman Chuck D, a champion of online music distribution.
Teller’s Atomic Pop will represent both Chuck D and Public Enemy, and release the band’s upcoming album, “There’s a Poison Goin On.” [The Industry Standard: 03.16.99]
Now that the past is in perspective, on the the future. Chuck D’s is another case (Russell Simmons and 360hiphop.com and Pseudo’s 88hiphop.com were others) of someone who dreamed up a digital future way ahead of its time. Whether this effort will make a big splash has yet to be seen. But I’ll let the press release speak for itself, for now.
Las Vegas, NV – January 6th, 2008: Hip Hop legends Chuck D of Public Enemy, DMC of RUN-DMC and DJ Johnny Juice Rosado team up for one night only at the Hard Rock Hotel to launch BEYOND.FM and to kick off the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) being held from Jan. 7th through the 10th at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
“Chuck D is my favorite rapper of all time!” said DMC. DMC was also instrumental in Public Enemy getting signed to Def Jam. Chuck D, arguably one of the most revered of Hip Hop elder statesmen echoes DMC’s statements. “Run DMC is one of my favorite groups of all time! This will be incredible!” Joining them will be legendary DJ/producer and BEYOND.FM program director DJ Johnny Juice, long-time Public Enemy associate and Emmy nominated composer. Says Juice, “It will truly be an honor to share the stage with Chuck D and DMC. I’ve been on stages with both but never at the same time. The catalogs that those two have are just plain ridiculous. It will be like one big party and the fans not able to make it to Vegas can enjoy both Chuck D and DMC’s music on BEYOND.FM 24/7.” BEYOND.FM president and co-sponsor Norm Levy agrees, “This is phenomenal! Two of Hip Hop’s greatest legends joining forces on stage for the first time! It will be a historic event and I’m just happy to be able to help put something like this together! What better way to launch BEYOND.FM and our 2008 showing at CES?”
Public Enemy is celebrating their 20th Anniversary with the release of their new album, How Do You Sell Soul To A Soul-less People Who Sold Their Soul? DMC has just released his solo EP The Next Level. Both are available for immediate download at BEYOND.FM.
Editor’s Note: I’m just especially happy that the music of The Cold Crush Brothers will be available. I popped all my cassettes from back in the days, and it will be awesome to have access to that music once again.
During CES, Chuck D and DMC will be on hand to sign autographs and discuss the revolutionary new Music Business Model of BEYOND.FM at the Media Street Booth #37023 in South Hall 4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. They will also be showcasing MediaStreet’s newest innovations in electronics that tie all of the legendary content together. MediaStreet award winning eMotion electronics will be on display including MP3/MP4/PM/DVD players as well as their latest line of Digital Photo/Art/Music frames. BEYOND.FM is powered by its parent company Media Street, Inc.
About BEYOND.FM: a fresh, inspiring and well-timed concept for exposing digital content to the masses and allowing artists, musicians and photographers to create awareness and new-found revenue streams. As the entertainment industry aggravates the consumer, offers discouraging DRM techniques and finds new ways to make the music enthusiast feel like a common criminal, the time is NOW for a paradigm shift bringing the personal, social and meaningful music purchasing experience BACK to the consumer. BEYOND.FM is a destination to discover and purchase (for personal use) or license (for commercial use) music, music videos, photography and podcasts/radio programming.
For each song, video, photo and podcast sold through BEYOND.FM, the musician receives 80%. All music purchased from Beyond.FM downloads in CD Quality (320 kbps) MP3 format. The Musician takes the business model into his/her own hands and goes “beyond” the traditional record label model and markets their full assets directly to the consumer including music, ringtones, videos, photos, stories, podcasts, live events, charity events, electronics, etc.
BEYOND.FM content includes music by Chuck D, DMC, The Cold Crush Brothers, entire Strong City catalog courtesy of the Original Jazzy Jay, Crew Grrl Order, DJ Johnny Juice, Busy Bee, X-Vandals, Masters of Ceremony, Ultimate Force and more plus photos by Ernie Paniccioli. Be sure to check the James Brown Tribute album by Chuck D and the Peeps of SOULFunk as well as radio shows by DJ Tony Tone, Wildman Steve, DJ Johnny Juice and more.
Category: Celeb 2.0, Launches
About the Author Lynne d Johnson is SVP, Social Media at the Advertising Research Foundation, where she guides members on how they can best utilize social media to gain insights and achieve their business objectives, directs the activities of the ARF’s Social Media Council, and expands the ARF’s social media presence. Previously she was Director, Social Media (and Senior Editor/Community Director) for FastCompany.com, a leading website and community for people passionate about business ideas also offering the complete content of Fast Company magazine. There she wrote Digital Media Diva, a technology blog following web, media, and consumer trends. As a consultant Lynne works with technology and Web clients in the areas of content, community, and brand strategy.
Prior to joining Fast Company, she was the General Manager, New Media for VIBE, SPIN, and VIBE Vixen where she she managed marketing, editorial, production, business development, and sales operations for the magazines’ websites and mobile properties.
Lynne also serves on the Board of Directors of the Literary Freedom Project, the advisory board of Black Web 2.0, and the Key Influencers of Interactive One. Her personal blog, Lynne d Johnson || music, media, my life, which launched in July 2001, is the recipient of the 2006 Black Weblog Awards Black Blogger Achievement Award.
See all posts by Lynne d Johnson.
Hello, thx for all,
comment6, linus patch, %-OO,
I am glad you brought this up Lynne because I was just talking to someone else about this, I think that idea is HOT! Over the holidays I was actually using iMeem and AIM to IM with someone and basically develop our own mix. Man let me tell you, a mix at a club would not have been better then what we came up with! Not to mention it was hella fun, the whole session lasted about 4 hours and even that flew by!
MML – How Google-like of an enterprise UBO could have been if they played the game instead of letting the game play them. I think I always kind of felt that Russell and 360hiphopers would find a way to get back in. Not sure globalgrind is the answer, but it’s a start.
Angela – You are so right. Apple has more than proven that a singles-driven market is where it’s at. But then, if artists made better albums again, I don’t think this would be a problem. You know what would be dope, a site that lets you make your own mix, selecting tracks from various artists. Mixaloo, a company bringing the mixtape to the digital age does this in one regard, but it’s not quite what I’m talking about. Mixaloo, might be no more than an uploaded iTunes playlist, except you can earn cash off of it.
Excellent start!!!!! The mistakes and annoyances can be fixed! It’s just great to see us stepping up to technology! The thing that has kept us in existence is our ability to adapt. Look at music,science and daily life. We can do the same on the net!!!
Very cool site! Now I am no expert on the music industries distribution model but i went on the site and it was impressed. Some songs i found were 89 cents which is cheaper then iTunes and also one artist offered 1 track for free. I also liked how you can basically buy half an album for like $5, I only wish you could pick and chose your own tracks versus it coming pre-packaged and allowing the artist to pick which songs are on that half album.
It’s still a shame, 7 years later, that Russell Simmons/BET fumbled the ball with 360hiphop.com. How hiphop Google-like could that enterprise have been by now in the “urban” web space?