Industry in Decline: What Went Wrong in the Record Industry and How They Can Fix It

Even though iTunes upped the price for a single song, making the biggest hits $1.29 instead of 99 cents, that 30 cent raise is a deal compared to what one Boston University student had to pay. Joel Tenenbaum, a postdoctoral student at BU, had to pay a whopping $22,500 a song after being found guilty of illegally downloading and distributing 24 copyrighted songs. In retrospect, I'm sure Tenenbaum would gladly have forked over $30 for those same songs instead of becoming the target of a record industry lawsuit.

The Recording Industry Association of America, or RIAA, is on a mission to stamp out online music piracy. As album sales continue to tumble and the record industry faces a massive loss in revenue year after year, suing illegal downloaders and petitioning Congress for protective legislation is their game plan. It seems to make sense; illegal downloading has coincided with dwindling album sales, so get rid of the downloaders and start making money again.

It all began in 1999 when Shawn Fanning, a Northeastern University student created a peer-to-peer file sharing network called Napster that allowed Internet users to download and distribute music and other media files easier than ever before, and for free. Trouble emerged in 2000 as acts such as Metallica, Dr. Dre, and Madonna filed lawsuits after their music leaked online. It did little to slow Napster's massive popularity and growth. In 2000, there were an estimated 38 million users of the service.

The Decade: A Retrospective The Best Songs 25-11

"We Belong Together"
Mariah Carey
The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)

Mariah Carey spent the 90s as its invincible chart diva, scoring No. 1 singles at will. The first half of this decade wasn't as kind and following several flops, Carey was in desperate need of a hit. Enter "We Belong Together", her monster smash that spent 14 weeks atop the charts. The rapid-fire verses name drop Bobby Womack and Babyface with Carey displaying uncharacteristic restraint in her anxious appeal to reunite with her lost love.

"Mr. Brightside"
The Killers
Hot Fuss (2004)

It started out with a kiss and ended up with a trans-Atlantic hit. The Killers went from being an 80s glam revival flash in the pan to a certifiable rock phenomenon with "Mr. Brightside", their second single as well as the most vivid description of that sick feeling you get in your stomach imagining the love of your life with another man. "She's touching his chest now, he takes her dress off now," Brandon Flowers sings. "Let me go!"

"Black and Gold"
Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro (2008)

Church music used to be nothing but organs and choirs until someone decided you could use guitars and voila, the contemporary Christian genre was born. Few have mastered the art of religious dance music however, but Sam Sparro is the exception. Sparro isn't singing about his true love in "Black & Gold", he's actually wondering what life would be like without God as he sings, "If you're not really here, then the stars don't really matter." Deep.

"Such Great Heights"
Postal Service
Give Up (2003)
"Such Great Heights" lives up to its name. The Postal Service made music that was lighter than air, shining beautiful laptop music that could instantly transport the listener to another dimension, far removed from the stress of normal life. "Everything looks perfect from far away," sings Death Cab for Cutie's Ben Gibbard. I'd like to think that if you went inside an iPod, this is what it would sound like.

"The First Single"
The Format
Lullabies and Interventions (2003)
There are few things as life affirming as listening to the Format's apply titled first single. The 60s guitar pop and hopeful lyrics make sticking it to the man more optimistic that ever thought possible and proving your critics wrong more fun than you thought it could be. "Let's make a list of who we need, it's not much if anything, then we'll throw it away 'cause we don't need anyone." Couldn't have said it better.

"If I Ain't Got You"
Alicia Keys
The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003)
Alicia Keys has always been a classy lady. Plucked from obscurity by Clive Davis and plopped at a piano to make classy tunes for millions of consumers to buy, "If I Ain't Got You" is the classiest thing she's done. If Frank Sinatra were alive today, this is the type of song he would sing. Sure, some people do want it all, but what's the point if they don't have their true love? Keys croons this sentiment, disavowing diamond rings and the fountain of youth for simple and pure love, something more people should agree with during a recession. Thank you Alicia, for giving us the decade's classiest song.

"Idioteque"
Radiohead
Kid A (2000)
"I laugh until my head comes off, woman and children first," sings Thom Yorke in Radiohead's most disturbing track. The lyrics all seem garbled, adding to the apocalyptic sonic atmosphere of the song. Although never released as a single, "Idioteque" is standout from Kid A that strayed from what kind of music rock bands were supposed to make. Amid a paranoid and claustrophobic electronic beat, the band pushed experimentalism forward while warning against every single post-millennial fear the world throws at you. Samples from two 1970s "computer" songs are spliced into the track

"L.E.S. Artiste"

Santogold

Santogold (2008)

Critics saw Santogold (now Santi Gold) as the new M.I.A., but in just over a year, she has become a model for other young black artists who follow her genre-mashing blueprint and scoff at the idea that their skin color requires them to make "urban" music. The former punk band frontwoman and A&R rep's breakout hit is irresistible and rich with irony. It rages against the pretentious hipsters of the Lower East Side through Cars-influenced indie pop yet became just the kind of song those people filled their iPods with. "If you see me, keep going...just leave me out you name dropper," she scoffs in a musical declaration of independence that anticipates the too-cool-for-school crowd latching onto her song after she made it big.

"My Love"

Justin Timberlake

Futuresex/Lovesounds (2006)

No song better describes its parent album than "My Love". It is both futuresex and lovesounds at the same time. Justin Timberlake's falsetto thrills as he sings about writing symphonies, walking on the beach with his toes in the sand, and presenting a ring to his love. Its unclear if this is truly Timberlake popping the question or simply flattering a chick to get in her pants, but Timbaland's vocal pop and clicks, the stuttering synth, and the manic looped laughing voice, it doesn't really matter. "SexyBack" is more instant, but "My Love" is Timberlake's masterpiece. Perhaps the fact that it isn't as sugary sweet is part of its charm.

"Crazy In Love"
Beyonce

Dangerously In Love (2003)

Beyonce always had her sights sets on solo super stardom, after all, her dad managed Destiny's Child. "Crazy In Love" was her declaration of independence, an exuberant, exciting, Chi-Lite sampling manifesto stating that she was the Diana Ross of the twenty first century. The blaring horns are like a blitzkreig on your ears, and Knowle's voice is like a siren, announcing that she is an independent woman who is crazy in love and will get exactly what she wants. Jay-Z's contribution was one of four times he rode the coattails of a female singer to reach the top of the charts and foreshadowed the future power couple's marriage.

"Maps"

Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Fever To Tell (2003)

"Maps" not only inspired the guitar riff in the decade's best break-up song ("Since U Been Gone" at 2:05), but it ended up being on of it's most enduring and heart-wrenching love songs. The lyrics are simple and direct. Karen O pleads, "Wait, they don't love you like I love you," over and over, her last attempt at convincing an old lover to reconsider. What do maps have to do with it? I'm not sure anyone really knows, but that's half the song's appeal. The timid, almost weak delivery of the track early on gives way to a standard Yeah Yeah Yeah's rocking out during the bridge right as the riff that Max Martin ripped off kicks in.

"Crazy"

Gnarls Barkley

St. Elsewhere (2006)

When OutKast failed to deliver past Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, Gnarls Barkley seemed like the duo that would command both critical acclaim, commercial success, and take the radio by its ear and drag it to a psychedelic retro drenched future. "Crazy" sounded like a revelation, a long lost Motown track that was saved for a later date so it could save the world. DJ Danger Mouse, coming off the success of his mash-up masterpiece The Grey Album, provided the beats for Cee-Lo's soulful crooning about mental illness. The song is destined to be covered countless times in the coming years and it made history when it became the first single to ever reach No. 1 in the UK on downloads alone.

"Casamir Pulaski Day"

Sufjan Stevens

Illinois (2005)

Casimir Pulaski was a Polish-born officer in the American Revolution who was destined to remain unknown to anyone outside of Illinois until Sufjan Stevens decided to tell a story about a losing a loved one that just happened to take place on Casimir Pulaski Day. The simple beauty of the song is underscored by the quiet struggle of adversity and wondering if God even cares. "And he takes and he takes and he takes," Stevens repeats after thinking he sees his lost love breathe. Religious themes in music tend to be black or white, totally accepting or totally rejecting. Stevens honesty captures the paradox of living in a world of both hope and faith as well as hopelessness and pain.

"Get UR Freak On"
Missy Elliott
Miss E...So Addictive (2003)

Missy Elliott and Timbaland brought Punjab to the masses with the psychedelic freak out of "Get Ur Freak On". Kickstarted by some Hindi mumbling and propelled by the hypnotic plucking of a ektara, a one stringed Indian instrument, Miss E and Timbaland were able to craft a song that sounded like nothing before it, and although some have tried, no one has been able to make anything like it since. The perfect song for a world grappling with globalization, Indian elements grind up against jungle drum and bass beats, a Japanese countdown, and synth lines that came straight out of American horror movies of the 1950s. When Missy tells you to get your freak on, its impossible to say no.

"Hurt"

Johnny Cash

American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)

"Hurt" is one of the most desperate and painful songs ever recorded. When producer Rick Rubin asked Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails if Johnny Cash could cover the song, Reznor worried that it would be gimmicky. After seeing the video however, he was blown away. "Tears welling, silence, goosebumps...that song isn't mine anymore," he said. The song is stripped down to a simple yet building guitar and Cash's straight forward delivery. The lyrics are piercing. "What have I become my sweetest friend? Everyone I know goes away in the end. And you can have it all, my empire of dirt. I will let you down. I will make you hurt". Released after Cash's death, it is a masterful ending to a storied career of one of country's greats.

The Decade: A Retrospective The 25 Best Albums

The album was a diluted art form by the turn of the century. Greedy record executives reasoned that if a hit song was big enough, they could slap it onto an album with 11 other tracks of filler and people would pay $14 to buy it instead of just selling a physical single. That's how Vanilla Ice, Chumbawamba, and Natalie Imbruglia sold so much. That model worked fine in the booming economy of the 1990s, but it wasn't feasible.

Another nail in the album's coffin came in the form of Napster, which by 2000 was only a few months old. As the site grew larger, illegal downloading began to chip away at album sales, foreshadowing the eventual havoc it would wreck on the industry. When the iPod debuted just over a year and a half later, the single was resurrected as consumers could spend 99 cents to get a solitary song instead of buying an entire album.

As the decade drew to a close, one of the album's leading supporters, Radiohead's Thom Yorke announced that his band was done making albums. Recording a full length had become a "drag," and in this digital world, instantly available singles and EPs were the way to go. Another popular although less critically acclaimed group, the Black Eyed Peas, made similar comments, saying that the album was dying, that in its place would be a living breathing musical creation that would live online.

Even 17 Tracks is feeding this notion as our best albums of the decade list is only 25 creative works while our singles list is a sprawling seven-day-100-entry affair. Still, its easier to latch onto three minutes and 30 seconds of music rather than a 45 to an hour long piece of work. So many of todays albums are nothing more than a collection of songs anyway, strung together with no thought of making something that is lasting and can be called art.

What this list represents is 25 albums that are art. They aren't just a few radio hits slapped onto a disc filled with filler, they are a collection of songs that collectively mean something. They are proof that the album is not dead. You can hop onto iTunes and download the 'must download tracks' that are listed below each album description, but if that's all you listen to, you're doing yourself a disservice. Consider those songs something to whet your appetite, these albums were meant to be listened to in their entirety.

25. American Life (2003)
Madonna
[Maverick/Warner Bros.]

Nowhere near as successful as Green Day's similarly themed album, Madonna tore apart Bush-era America in her forray into folk pop.

Must download tracks: "American Life", "Hollywood", and "Easy Ride"


















24. Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not (2006)
Arctic Monkeys
[Domino]

The Arctic Monkeys faced intense pressure as the hyperbolic British rock press labeled them the next big thing. They delivered with the fastest selling debut album in UK history.

Must download tracks: "I Bet That You Look Good On The Dancefloor", "Dancing Shoes", and "When The Sun Goes Down"


















23. Futuresex/Lovesounds (2006)
Justin Timberlake
[Jive/Zomba]

Justin Timberlake's sophomore solo effort teamed him up with Timbaland for what would become the producer's creative and cultural peak. The Tims blew our minds with ridiculously good pop.

Must download tracks "My Love", "SexyBack", and "What Goes Around...Comes Around"


















22. Plans (2005)
Death Cab for Cutie
[Atlantic]

For Death Cab's major label debut, Ben Gibbard and company created a sprawling soundscape that spanned "the length of the isle of Manhattan" and reflected on the meaning of love, life, and death.

Must download tracks: "Marching Bands of Manhattan", "Soul Meets Body", and "I Will Follow You Into The Dark",


















21. The Emancipation of Mimi (2005)
Mariah Carey
[Island]

Mariah's mid-decade comeback album showcased the voice just as strong as ever, but more reserved. It remains Carey's classiest album to date.

Must download tracks: "We Belong Together", "Shake It Off", and "One and Only"


















20. 808s & Heartbreak (2008)
Kanye West
[Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam]

Kanye ditched his four year college theme plan and rapping when his mother died and his fiance broke it off all in the same year. His emo-pop art masterpiece became his most divisive release.

Must download tracks: "Welcome to Heartbreak", "Heartless", and "Love Lockdown"


















19. Breakaway(2005)
Kelly Clarkson
[RCA]

Kelly Clarkson let the real her show in her sophomore album, rocking out to some of the best pop rock tunes this decade has heard. Still the best release by an American Idol alum.

Must download tracks: "Breakaway", "Since U Been Gone", and "Behind These Hazel Eyes"


















18. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (2008)
Coldplay
[Capitol/Parlophone]

Coldplay became the world's biggest band, but they needed an album to justify that to themselves and everyone else. Ditching a formula that had already sold millions of albums, they teamed up with Brian Eno and ruled the world.

Must download tracks: "Violet Hill", "Viva La Vida", and "Lost!"


















17. Sam's Town (2006)
The Killers
[Island]

Brandon Flowers boasted that Sam's Town would be one of the best albums in 25 years. It's actually the 17th best of the decade. Toning down the synth-glam, the Killers made a the great American rock album.

Must download tracks: "When You Were Young", "For Reasons Unknown", and "This River Is Wild"


















16. Back To Black (2006)
Amy Winehouse
[Island/Universal Republic]

Amy Winehouse captivated the world with her bizarre behavior and catchy neo-retro sound. Filled with drug and alcohol references, her album mirrored her tabloid life, which didn't stop her from winning a slew of awards.

Must download tracks: "Rehab", "Tears Dry On Their Own", and "Love Is A Losing Game"



















15. Transatlanticism (2003)
Death Cab for Cutie
[Barsuk Records]

Death Cab's breakthrough album took snapshots of life, a New Year's party, rummaging through a glove compartment, making out in the back of a car, and it found the drama, beauty, and pain that exists in those moments in time. Ben Gibbard's lyrics are pure poetry.

Must download tracks: "The New Year", "Title and Registration", and "The Sound of Settling"


















14. Intimacy (2008)
Bloc Party
[Wichita]

Bloc Party is the sort of band that assaults your ears with raw visceral guitar and rapid-fire percussion. Not exactly intimate. They managed to craft a deep and emotional record however, one with songs that perfectly describe the rage, anger, and sadness in losing love.

Must download tracks: "Mercury", "Halo", and "Signs"


















13. Blackout (2007)
Britney Spears
[Jive]

Britney Spears is shockingly absent on her greatest album. Her voice is shredded through vocodors to become another instrument in her producer's arsenal, but its haunting, danceable, and dark vibe is a frighteningly accurate soundtrack to her self destruction.

Must download tracks: "Gimme More", "Piece of Me", and "Break the Ice"


















12. The Blueprint (2001)
Jay-Z
[Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam]

Jay-Z wowed the world with his soul sampling The Blueprint, an album that became the blueprint for hip-hop in the 2000s. Without it, Kanye West would never had made it big (he produced several songs), sampling wouldn't have become the default option in rap, and the "-izzle" phenomenon would have never happened.

Must download tracks: "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)", "Girls, Girls, Girls", and "Heart of the City (Ain't No Love)"


















11. A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002)
Coldplay
[Capitol/Parlophone]

Coldplay's second album cemented their status as one of the biggest bands of the decade. More rocked out than their debut, they still managed to produce some beautiful, lighter than air tracks that resonated with the hopeless romantic in all of us.

Must download tracks: "The Scientist", "Clocks", and "Green Eyes"


















10. Give Up(2003)
The Postal Service
[Sub Pop]

When Death Cab's Ben Gibbard and electronic artist Jimmy Tamborello teamed up, the results were breathe-taking. Their one time Postal Service gig was an indie laptop daydream, and the biggest selling album for the Sub Pop label since Nirvana.

Must download tracks: "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight", "Such Great Heights", and "Brand New Colony"


















9. Richard X Presents His X Factor Vol. 1 (2003)
Richard X
[EMI/Astralworks]

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. That was the attitude EMI took after bootleg mash-up artist Richard X was caught illegally distributing mash-ups. This authorized compilation of mash-ups rerecorded by a slew of Europe's biggest pop acts made for the decade's best pop album.

Must download tracks: "Being Nobody", "Finest Dreams", and "Freak Like Me"


















8. Kid A (2000)
Radiohead
[Parlophone/Capitol]

Radiohead welcomed the new century with a disc that oozed millennial fears and paranoia. An alternative rock band using electronica was something new and unheard of, but it won over critics and fans alike.

Must download tracks: "Everything In Its Right Place", "The National Anthem", and "Idioteque"


















7. Speakerboxxx/The Love Below (2003)
OutKast
[LeFace/Arista]

This wasn't an OutKast album, it was two solo records stitched together, sort of a reverse White Album. The Speakerboxxx side is classic old school hip-hop, a fitting successor to OutKast's body of work at the time. The Love Below was a psychedelic freak-out that drew its influences from the entire history of pop, rock, and rap.

Must download tracks: "Hey Ya!", " Happy Valentine's Day", and "Love In War"


















6. Is This It (2001)
The Strokes
[RCA]

There was a lot of pressure on the Strokes when their debut album came out, so much so that they ironically named their album Is This It. Fortunatley, it was it. The group deserved all the accolades the rock press threw on them and they kickstarted the garage rock revival with this energetic debut.

Must download tracks: "Last Nite", "Someday", and "Hard To Explain"

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5. Interventions and Lullabies (2003)
The Format
[Elektra]
.

The Format's 60's inspired guitar pop is the kind of music that you hear for the first time but you swear you've heard it before. Its so catchy and so familiar, yet so original. Exploring themes of youth, coming of age, and both finding and falling out of love to roll-your-windows-down rock is a beautiful combination.

Must download tracks: "The First Single", "Tie The Rope", and "On Your Porch"

4. Silent Alarm (2005)
Bloc Party
[Wichita]

.

Don't let the title fool you, there is nothing silent about Silent Alarm. But alarm? Yes. As the premier band in the post-punk genre, Bloc Party introduced themselves with a dance rock debut featuring hard hitting rhythmic friction and pointed lyrics that moves at breakneck speeds. It's an album about growing up in the modern, cold, uncaring world, something every teenager and twenty-something can relate to.

Must download tracks: "Banquet", "Helicopter", and "Like Eating Glass"


















3. Bleed American (2001)
Jimmy Eat World
[Dreamworks]
.

Jimmy Eat World was dropped from their record label following their criminally underappreciated Clarity, but the band refused to let that get them down. They went on a grueling touring schedule and recorded their next album on their own dime. The airtight Bleed American was a perfect pop rock album, so perfect in fact, that labels were tripping over themselves to sign the band. Retitled Jimmy Eat World after September 11, this album is a prototype that both J.E.W. and other bands have unsuccessfully tried to replicate.
.

Must download tracks: "Sweetness", "The Middle", and "Hear You Me"


















2. Hot Fuss (2004)
The Killers
[Island]
.

The Killers were an American rock band who tried to sound British but were raised amind the glam and glitter of Las Vegas. The result was one of the most exciting debuts, not only of the decade, but in the entire history of rock and roll. They fit it all into Hot Fuss. There is sex, mystery, love, pain, synth, and a gospel choir. It couldn't have been pulled off without the knowledge and ambition of front man Brandon Flowers. Flowers understands rock and roll. He understands where it's come from and what it means. He has ambition rivaled by few in the music industry. It's evident in Hot Fuss, an album that so desparatley wants to be numbered among the greats, and pulls it off without sounding like it tried too hard.

Must download tracks: "Mr. Brightside", "Somebody Told Me", and "All These Things I've Done"


















1. The College Dropout (2004)
Kanye West
[Roc-A-Fella/Island Def Jam]

Kanye West's debut is a concept album about what it meant to be an African-American in turn of the century America, a successor to The Miseducation of Lauren Hill. Ye touched on drugs, religion, family, and working out so you could get yourself an NBA player and quit your day job at the mall. West appeared in the liner notes wearing a striped rugby shirt with the collar popped, not a basketball jersey and backwards hat. He refused to conform to the stereotypes of who a rapper is supposed to be. In doing that, he opened up the genre to a whole new audience. Capitalizing on what OutKast had already done for rap, Ye took it a step further, and soon, indie kids and rock snobs were certified Kanye West fans. West has proven himself to be one of the decade's most important and influencial artists, and one of the most important rappers of all time, but he has yet to come close to the grandeur of his debut album.

Must download tracks: "Jesus Walks", "New Workout Plan", and "Never Let Me Down"

td:ar albums number 25-1

The Decade: A Retrospective Timeline Part II

November 8, 2005 - Guitar Hero is Released

I can't tell you how many times a song has come on and I've heard the comment, "Oh, this is on Guitar Hero". The video game that took karaoke a step further by adding plastic instruments also seemed like a viable alternative to selling CDs for a record industry scrambling for a new business model. Guitar Hero became apart of pop culture, a Dance Dance Revolution for your fingers, so much so that the Beatles were on board by decade's end.

American Idol Runner-up David Archuleta Releases His Inner Rock Star in Guitar Hero Commercial


February 22, 2006 - Coldplay's "The Speed of Sound" Becomes One Billionth Song Downloaded on iTunes
Only three years after the launch of iTunes, the one billionth song was downloaded from the site. The billionth song downloaded was Coldplay's "Speed of Sound" by Alex Ostrovsky of West Bloomfield, Michigan. “Over one billion songs have now been legally purchased and downloaded around the globe, representing a major force against music piracy and the future of music distribution as we move from CDs to the Internet," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO.

Coldplay performs "Speed of Sound" on the UK's Top of the Pops

March 11, 2006 - James Blunt Goes No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100
In March of 2006, British singer James Blunt shocked chart watchers when his song "You're Beautiful" went No. 1. It was the first non-hip-hop, non-American Idol coronation song to go No. 1 in America since Nickleback's "How You Remind Me" in 2001 ("Hollaback Girl" was produced by N.E.R.D., so its position as the milestone single has been disputed). "Beautiful" was a turning point for the Hot 100 because after it, the charts were once more diverse. For the remainder of 2006, pop acts like Rihanna, Shakira, and Fergie scored No. 1s alongside Ludacris and Akon. The advent of iTunes democratized the Hot 100, allowing consumers to influence the charts instead of just radio programmers.

James Blunt performs his big hit "You're Beautiful" in Italy.


April 8, 2006 - Gnarls Barkley's Download Only "Crazy" Goes No. 1 in UK

The British singles charts have been more sales oriented than its American counterpart. While the physical single died a painful death in the States, they were still an important part of the British music industry and the weekly charts. With the growing popularity of digital downloads, it was inevitable that a song would come along and top the charts without a physical single release. "Crazy" was that song. On downloads alone, the track went No. 1 for an astounding 9 weeks, an incredibly rare feat in that country.

Gnarls Barkley, dressed in airline uniforms, takes to Top of the Pops to perform a re imagined version of "Crazy"

September 9, 2007 - Britney Spears Performs "Gimme More" at Video Music Awards
By 2007, Britney Spears had come a long way from her ubiquitous squeaky clean sex symbol days at the turn of the century. She had her quickie Las Vegas marriage and canceled her World Tour. She married Kevin Federline, made a reality show and two children with him, and divorced him. She attacked the paparazzi with an umbrella, shaved her hair, and went in and out of rehab for the whole world to see. It was a sickening tabloid fueled reality show that kept the world on the edge of their collective seats. No moment encapsulates Spears' public downward spiral like her VMA performance where she lip sync and half-dances to "Gimme More", a song that both lyrically and sonically describes the state Spears was in at the time.

Britney Spears in what some have called the worst VMA performance of all time


October 1, 2007 - Radiohead Releases Choose Your Price "In Rainbows" Online

Radiohead blew up the Internet and what was left of the record industry when they released their seventh studio album, In Rainbows. Having fulfilled their contractual obligation to EMI, the band could do whatever the hell they wanted with their new material. "Every record for the last four—including my solo record—has been leaked. So the idea was like, we'll leak it, then," said lead singer Thom Yorke. The album was put online for fans to download at allowed them to name their own price. You could be a cheapskate and get it for free, or you could drop $50 right then and there if you thought it was worth it. Some speculated that Radiohead ended up making more money this way then they would have with a normal physical release. For the rest of the decade, the phrase "Radiohead model" was knocked around anytime a band thought out of the box to distribute their music.

The winning fan made video for the "Reckoner" music video contest.

May 27, 2008 - Weezer Releases Video for "Pork and Beans"
The 2000s was a decade where anyone could broadcast a message, and if it was interesting enough, millions of people would tune in and watch it. YouTube was the perfect medium for wannabe entertainers seeking an outlet. In the latter half of the decade, it seemed like new viral videos popped up on a weekly basis. Some videos had people who intentionally wanted their 15 minutes of fame, while the fame was probably unwanted for those starring in embarrassing clips. While everyone was nostalgically poking fun at the 80s, Weezer was doing the same thing to the 00s before they were even over. The band packed every YouTube star into their ironic "Pork and Beans".
How many viral video stars can you spot?


June 17, 2008 - Lil Wayne Sells 1 Million Copies of "Tha Carter III" in a Week
As album sales continued to spiral south, 50 Cent's 2005 album The Massacre seemed destined to be the last to post a million plus sales the first week of its release. Three years later, Lil Wayne proved everyone wrong when Tha Carter III stormed the charts with similar numbers. Wayne's route to impressive first week sales seemed counter-intuitive, he flooded the Internet with free music. Offering free mixtapes, demand for his full length album built and buzz on the blogosphere reached dizzying levels. When he dropped Tha Carter III, the buying public responded. Maybe free music is the way to go.

Lil Wayne's first No. 1 hit, "Lollipop".


November 24, 2008 - Kanye West Releases "808s & Heartbreak"
Kanye West's 808s & Heartbreaks was a game changer. It was one of the most controversial records of the decade with many embracing Ye's transition from rapper to pop star and his heavy unashamed used of auto-tune, while many thought it was trash. The record was such a landmark because it was one of the few records of the decade that showed an artist using their music to tell their story. Sure, everyone from Christiana to Ashlee Simpson has promised that they would show you the "real me", but each attempt fell flat on its face. Unfortunately, Jay-Z's announcement that auto-tune was dead along with West's VMA outburst minimized the record's importance as time wore on.

The artsy music video for "Heartless", 808s & Heartbreak's most successful single.


February 7, 2009 - Kelly Clarkson Breaks Record Again

The Hot 100 during the late 2000s became a battleground for breaking and re-breaking the record for largest jump to No. 1. The initial record was set by the Beatles in 1964 when "Can't Buy Me Love" leaped 27-1 in a single week. That record stood until 2002 when Kelly Clarkson laid waste to it with a 52-1 jump of "A Moment Like This". Each record happened for its own quirky reason. The Beatles had released dozens of songs on a handful of American labels without much success and then their television exposure on The Ed Sullivan Show shot them from obscurity to massive success overnight. Similarly, Clarkson received huge exposure after winning American Idol and her debut single was released the week following her win which made for a lot of pent up demand. When Billboard began incorporating digital sales into the singles charts, the whole game changed. To break the record, an artist would need to release a song to the radio only for a few days so it would barley make the Hot 100, and then release the song digitally and sell bus loads of it. Maroon 5 broke Clarkson's record in 2007 with "Makes Me Wonder" followed by T.I. breaking it in 2008 with "Whatever You Like" and breaking it once again with "Live Your Life" featuring Rihanna. His new record lasted a week until Britney Spears re-set it with "Womanizer". Kelly Clarkson finally retook the position for biggest leap to No. 1 in 2009 when "My Life Would Suck Without You" pole vaulted 97-1.

Kelly Clarkson performs her second record breaking hit "My Life Would Suck Without You".

April 18, 2009 - Black Eyed Peas Begin 24-week Run at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100
As music continued to fragment and the task of getting the whole world to pay attention to one artist for even more than a few days became harder and harder, a few things happened in 2009 to show that it was still possible. Of these three events, two involved some of the greatest artists of all time from decade's past. Only one involved a current act. The Black Eyed Peas shattered the record for most consecutive time at No. 1 when "Boom Boom Pow" topped the charts for 12 weeks and was immediately followed by "I've Gotta Feelin'" which stayed in the penthouse for 14 weeks. That's six months. Half a year. I'm sure the Peas would love to interpret that as meaning they are among the greatest musical acts of all time, but it really came down to Americans not getting tired of these two songs for a very long time as well as no other songs being able to garner enough digital downloads and radio airplay to take them down.

The Black Eyed Peas go Boom Boom Pow at the Much Music Awards.


June 25, 2009 - Michael Jackson Dies
On the eve of his highly anticipated This Is It show, Michael Jackson was rushed to a hospital and declared dead shortly thereafter. News of the singers death blew up the Internet, and soon radio stations switched to an all Michael format. The self proclaimed King of Pop's catalog of music stormed the iTunes store, and in the following weeks, Michael Jackson albums outsold the Black Eyed Peas The E.N.D., the first time an older album had outsold a newer release since Soundscan began tracking album sales in 1992. Michael Jackson's death brought together the world for a single musical force in a way that few artists could have ever done and even fewer will be able to do in the future.

Footage from Michael Jackson's concert rehearsal was turned into a movie and a cash cow called This Is It.


September 9, 2009 - The Beatles' Remastered Catalog, Rockband Game Released
On the prophetic 9/9/09, the Beatles released their entire body of work digitally remastered as well as their very own version of the successful Rockband video game. Only a few months after the death renewed interest in Michael Jackson and his music, many saw this as the Beatles opportunity to do the same. Although the Beatles failed to garner the sales that Jackson did, they did manage to outsell many new releases and by the end of the year, Billboard decided to count older albums in its flagship album chart, the Billboard 2000.

The Beatles' Rockband commercial.


September 13, 2009 - Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift During Acceptance Speech
Taylor Swift's "You Belong With Me" beat out the superior and more culturally significant "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" by Beyonce for Best Female Video at the 2009 Video Music Awards. A drunk Kanye West took to the stage, as he often does, but instead of wanting an award for himself, he stood up for Beyonce (who later won the Moonman for Video of the Year). The word "jackass" was thrown around quite liberally, including by Barack Obama, Taylor Swift became America's sweetheart, and Beyonce, who gave up her mike time to Swift came out a hero.

Kanye West gives his PR team the biggest headache of their careers.

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Free Download: Radiohead Covers Oasis

Radiohead covered the 90's alt-rock classic "Wonderwall" and its pretty miserable but, as they said over at Pretty Much Amazing, "...hey, it’s Radiohead, so I guess it makes it ok. They might be one of a very select few bands that can get away with covering, and simultaneously ‘taking a piss’ (as our English friends would say) on such a 90’s classic". Download it here.

Raise Your Grades: Listen to Sufjan

A study by CalTech student Virgil Griffith showed that students with better SAT scores listen to Sufjan Stevens. Actually, Beethoven has the smartest listeners with an average SAT score of 1371. Other top artists include Radiohead, Counting Crows, U2, and Bob Dylan. At the bottom end? Lil Wayne. Beyonce, T.I., and the Used are just barely ahead of the four time Grammy winning artist. I'm just glad Jimmy Eat World ranked above Fall Out Boy. Thank goodness. Check out where your favorite artists landed here and as we gear up for finals, listen to more Sufjan. Here's my favorite track from the Petoski, Michigan native, "Casimir Pulaski Day".

Grammy Winners

I got a 6/12 for my predictions. That ain't bad. It ain't good either. I nailed it with the Krauss and Plant collaboration though, didn't I? I know I suck at updating this week but I've been bogged down with school. Commentary on the Grammys is forthcoming.

Album of the Year: Raising Sand - Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
Record of the Year: "Please Read My Letter" - Alison Krauss & Robert Plant
Song of the Year (goes to songwriter): "Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
Best New Artist: Adele
Best Pop Vocal Performance Female: "Chasing Pavements" - Adele
Best Pop Vocal Performance Male: "Say" - John Mayer
Best Pop Vocal Performance Group: "Viva La Vida" - Coldplay
Best Pop Vocal Album: Rockferry - Duffy
Best Dance Recording: "Harder Better Faster Stronger" - Daft Punk
Best Dance Album: Alive 2007 - Daft Punk
Best R&B Recording: "Miss Independent" - Ne-Yo
Best R&B Album: Jennifer Hudson - Jennifer Hudson
Best Country Vocal Performance Female: "Last Name" - Carrie Underwood
Best Country Vocal Performance Male: "Letter To Me" - Brad Paisley
Best Country Album: Troubadour - George Srait
Best Rock Vocal Performance: "Sex On Fire" - Kings of Leon
Best Rock Album: Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends - Coldplay
Best Alternative Album: In Rainbows - Radiohead
Best Rap Performance Duo/Group: "Swagga Like Us" - T.I. feat. Jay-Z, Kanye West, & Lil Wayne
Best Rap Album: Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
Best Music Video Short Form: "Pork and Beans" - Weezer

Mash-Up

DJ Earworm: "Reckoner Lockdown"(Radiohead & Kanye West)

The apocalyptic warning that 'pop will eat itself' has come true this decade as the genre of bootleg mash-ups, sometimes called 'mutant' or 'bastard' pop has exploded. Remixers take two or more songs and 'mash' them together to create a new composition. In order to do this, the different parts of the song, or stems as they are called, are needed. There are stems for the vocals, the lead guitar, the bassline, the percussion, everything. It used to be that you were lucky to find all these different stems but now, artists themselves are supporting the remix/bootleg culture. Throughout the year, Radiohead has sold stems to songs from In Rainbows through iTunes to much success. Kanye West followed suit, though he outradioheaded Radiohead and offered "Love Lockdown" stems free on his personal blog. Celebrated mash-up maistro, DJ Earworm, has reassembled the disassembled "Reckoner" and "Love Lockdown" to create another landmark mash-up, "Reckoner Lockdown".

Free And Legal Downloads


DJ Amplive remixed Radiohead's In Rainbows without their permission. After some legal scuffling, it is available for free on the internet. Enjoy.

Radiohead - Rainydayz Remixes

Bloc Party To Rush Release Album Digitally

Earlier this year we reported on the aftermath of Radiohead giving away In Rainbows as a pay what you want download. At the time, it was still hard to tell the effects of the band's move. There was no doubt that it caused a few nightmares for record executives, but would it kick start a rebellion of artists against their labels? Now, ten months later, the short answer is no. Although Madonna, U2, and Jay-Z are all bailing regular record labels in favor of Live Nation, Hard Candy is $13.95 no matter how much you beg your iTunes to let you get it for $5.00.

Rather than a full scale mutiny, Radiohead has inspired giving away free music as a new marketing tool. To draw publicity to their new album, Coldplay offered their first single, "Violet Hill" as a free download on their website. The track went on the be downloaded over two million times and it's parent album, Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends eventually went #1 in 36 countries. It's impossible to quantify how much of that was influenced by the free song and how much can be attributed to the fact that they are Coldplay. In their wake, both Keane and the Streets gave away free music as album promotion.



Bloc Party, however, is trying a new online marketing scheme. Their third studio album, Intimacy, is slated for release in late October. Of course, it's going to leak sometime before then as albums always do. They have the same idea as Radiohead that if their music is going to leak anyways, why not leak it themselves. Unfortunately, they aren't going to be just giving Intimacy away. This Thursday, three months before its physical release, Bloc Party is digitally releasing the album on their website. Fans who pre-order the physical version of the album from http://www.blocparty.com/ will immediately receive the digital version upon purchase and, to make the deal sweeter, the two versions will feature slightly different track listings. In the coming weeks we'll see just how effective this new marketing strategy is and if it has any effect over combating piracy.

Go download Intimacy this Thursday at http://www.blocparty.com/