The way that music is counted on the gold and platinum scale has just been altered for only the 5th time in history. In an attempt to recognize the value of online presence the RIAA will now include On-Demand hits from a number of sources towards sales credits of music.

The previous method change was in 2006, with the addition of  ringtones. Two years before that, digital downloads were included. The now “classic” CDs and cassette tapes added before that which is the standard most of us grew up on. Otherwise, the formula for Gold and Platinum certifications remained largely untouched — 500,000 unit sales for Gold, 1 million for Platinum and 10 million for Diamond.

Via @Montreality

As the entertainment landscape changes, the constant challenge for many artists is to remain in touch with a creative center while attempting to meet the needs of a very fickle mainstream audience. Further complicating the issue is the fact that much of the funding needed for effective support is tied to the major labels of the music industry, who clearly aren’t concerned with creative integrity. What is an artist to do??? Well, NYC based MC Nitty Scott is taking it straight to the people to fund the next stage of her work. After releasing her debut EP, The Boombox Diaries Vol. 1, Ms Scott is now looking to deliver visuals for her standout track “Flower Child”. Utilizing the growing crowdfunding entity Kickstarter, Nitty Scott plans on raising $5000 for the video and giving back along the way.

I’ll be the first to say that I had doubts that anything would come from this but apparently the online petition to protest the upcoming Oxygen reality show “All My Baby Mamas” actually worked to the tune of 37,000 signatures.. After first denying any affiliation with the program, Oxygen has now been reported as planning to cancel the show which highlights the stereotypical disjointed family situation surrounding D-list Atlanta rapper Shawty Lo. Interestingly enough it has just come to light that Mr Lo has another woman pregnant with what would be his 12th child…….that would put the count at 10 or 11 women to 12 kids depending on what report you read.

You know what time it is when VA Lyricists Skillz drops his annual year-in-review production. The good, bad, ugly and unexplainable of 2012 gets served up as a Christmas gift to the people. Enjoy!

Apparently the voice of the “people” has been heard by the powers that be at Instagram. The past 24 hrs was full of angry online posts, blogs and tweets about the new terms of service agreement Instagram was putting into effect. Most disturbing to users was a clause of implied intentions to use personally posted images for commercial gain without the need to contact the person posting the image or compensate them. In truth the difference in wording between the original and new TOS was minor but it was enough to work the Internets into enough of a frenzy that Instgram cofounder Kevin Systrom addressed the situation.

48 hours after the horror of this past Friday’s shooting in CT, President Obama comes to Newtown to address them, the nation and the world.

Peace: A Party for a Cause. December 15 @ Dazzling from Ayah on Vimeo.

Catching many in the Hip Hop community off guard, details of the fatal shooting of The Notorious BIG born Christopher Wallace were released late last week. The LAPD has responded that this was not intended and done in error.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the autopsy was released prematurely due to “an administrative error,” the LAPD said in the statement.
“Our detectives personally spoke with the Wallace family (Friday) night, and apologized for not notifying them prior to the release” said Captain Billy Hayes, head of the Robbery/Homicide Division.

I dont know what is really up with this case. It seems that its and pieces drop every couple of yrs to re open the collective Hip Hop that is the tragic loss of Biggie Small. Today’s edition of “Look at this” is the original Autopsy report from the L.A’s coroners office. It details the 4 bullets that struck C. Wallace, the 4th one being the fatal one that tore across and through BIG’s body hitting multiple vital organs including his heart and a lung.

See the doc image here for more.

RIP