www.blusoul.ca

blusoulent@yahoo.ca

BLuSouL is ready to take the world of live entertainment by storm. They are often compared to the likes of the original Temptations, Four Tops and Boyz II Men, to name a few. With a musical repertoire that spans over 400 songs, BLuSouL is quickly becoming Canada’s number one Motown, R&B and Soul performance group.

BLuSouL has raised the bar when it comes to professionalism and work ethics both on and off stage, proving that they are not just another tribute band, but a band that pays tribute to the artists that have paved the way for this generation.

1. What is BLuSouL and how did you guys come together to form the group?
BLuSouL is a group of Canadian vocalist that grew up together to form Canada’s #1 Motown performance group. It started in my head long before I (Edward) was allowed to even go on the road with these great vocalists. We all had great solo careers on the move and wanted something different so after a long meeting about the idea of coming together and forming Voltron we came to an agreement to become BLuSouL and quite quickly we got to work.

2. How long have you guys been performing together?
Since we were kids. We all grew up together in church.

3. Do you have any musical influences that helped shape your sound today?
We all have our own individual styles and influences. But, as a group we are still to this day heavily influenced by groups deep rooted in complex harmony like Commissioned, The Winnans, Take 6, Boyz II Men, The Temptations, Jodeci and The Nylons

4. Any musical legends you guys would love to work with?
Stevie Wonder, Babyface,Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Al Green just to name a few. Our list is pretty long

5. What artists are getting the most spins on your ipods right now?
Its either practice material or, 50Cent, Big Pun, SWV, Jodeci, Charlie Wilson, Blackstreet, Amy Winehouse, Anita Baker, and Beres Hammond.

6. When you look at the musical landscape today what do you think is missing?
US!!! lol! I think when it comes to performance today we get so caught up in the distraction of lights pyrotechnic explosion and so on that we tend to forget what the audience really came to see. The performers PERFORM. And by that I mean sing live be funny and just straight up entertain.

7. What are you looking forward to as a group what is the next phase in your journey?
The OLG. Turning the casino experience in Canada into more than just the gaming and slots. It’s time people started coming out to see real singers at real shows again. The Vegas experience is more than just gambling and we want to create that experience here on Canadian soil.

8. Is there anything your fans would be surprised to discover about the group?
Unlike most groups we do really hang out together in our spare time.

9. Are there any future projects or events you would like to let people know about?
Our DVD that allows people to see what really goes on before we hit the stage. We even document our side conversations and jokes onstage as well during songs. We will also give our fans a chance to see how many man-hours go into the preparation of a 120min concert.

10. Any advice for the next generation of soul singers?
Learn how to sing!!! We are now in an age were every vocal error can be digitally altered and corrected. This will only last so long. Music goes through shifts and changes and has a way of removing the fluff every now and again. It will only be those that are rooted in the fundamentals of music that will survive a long time. Think of it as a form of natural selection, only the strong singers will survive.

www.Twitter.com/WynSongByrd

www.Reverbnation.com/WynterStar

www.Facebook.com/WDames

“I’m representing Queens but I was raised out in Jersey”, 29yr old Soul R&B singer WynterStar always says. The age of 5 is the earliest time Star can remember wanting to sing. “Music has always been an escape for me. My life isn’t exactly a fairy tale”. Adopted at 3, Star grew up in Bergen County, NJ.

Never seeming to stay out of trouble, she found herself at a Christian Home for troubled teens in Upstate NY where she found her voice. By the age of 15, she was singing, recording, touring stateside & Abroad in the school’s Gospel group. “Oh I miss touring! We would travel ALL over the US & Canada performing in front of hundreds sometimes thousands of people! Schools, Churches, Hotels, Banquets, Public Places, wherever!”. Four years later, she returned to New Jersey & met her fiancée, partner & manager.

After meeting my fiancée Randy, I knew which direction I wanted my music to go. He taught me how to play the keyboard and to song write. I was always a poet, but he taught me how to translate that poetry melodically. Now WynterStar portrays powerful lyrics about life & the issues facing today’s society.” All I can say is her honest, raspy voice will captivate you and her lyrics will make you think.

This Dame also is Co-Ceo along w/ her fiancée in their event planning company, the eXponent. She also runs an Urban Entertainment Blog highlighting up & coming talent http://theeXponent1.blogspot.com Also add her: www.facebook.com/wdames , www.reverbnation.com/wynterstar, & www.twitter.com/WynSongByrd For booking or correspondence write to theexponent1@gmail.com

1. Where are you from and how long have you been performing?

I was Born in the NY Borough of Queens but I grew up in Bergen County NJ. Bergenfield to be exact.

2. What were your musical influences growing up?

Wow. There are so many. My parents had a sick record collection. They still have it in fact along w/ an 8 track collection as well. Lol. But I listened to everything they did. Minny Riperton, Angela Blowfield, Whitney Houston, Freddy Jackson, Anita Baker, Sade, SOS Band, Jackson 5, MOTOWN, Temptations, Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, and the list goes on and on. My family loves music.

3. What do you think it is that separates you from other up and coming artists?

Oh I KNOW I’m mad different lol. I’m not traditional R&B. My music is very experimental. You get all different types of genres infused in my music. I refuse to be put in a box. I take time writing my lyrics making sure I’m conveying a clear message to my listeners.

4. What has your experience been like with the local music industry in your area?

I mean I’m in North Jersey which really to me is like the unofficial 6th Borough. An extension of NYC. SO the grind is still the same. Gotta make those connections, network, and be consistent.

5. Any dream collaborations with any major artist or producers?

Hmmm. I would love to work w/ Timbaland. I think we could make some amazing music together. But I’m pretty much open to work w/ anyone that’s dope and different.

6. Is an album in the works?

I’m actually in the midst of recording my 1st EP “The Search for Emerald City” due late Summer.

7. What songs get the most play on your iPod right now?
I refuse to really listen to mainstream radio. Lol. I have an event planning/media company, The eXponent. So I’m surrounded by the dopest in Independent talent around. Plus THE CLASSICS! Anything dope 1990′s stays on playlist. But right now I’m digging artists such as Duffy, Marsha Ambrosius, Jazmine Sullivan. Then ofcourse you got Jay-Z, The Roots, Lupe, Kanye, I rocks w/ them hard.

9. Are there any upcoming projects that you are working on?

Besides the EP my company’s launching an independent urban mag. X3 MAG. First issue debuts in July! So we’re gearing up for that!

10. Any advice for future up and coming artists?

Stay focused. So many times we focus on what everybody else is doing. Nah you gotta plan your work then work your plan. Never get sidelined for the bullshit. And NETWORK! Reach out and constantly network.

Download to single “Never Look Back” Featuring BK HEFE http://bln.kr/13FR/

BLOG http://theeXponent1.blogspot.com

Booking/Features: theeXponent1@gmail.com

www.exploretalent.com/sherickacunn
www.soundcloud.com/shericka-shanta

www.twitter.com/Shericka25

An Unstoppable Gem is the best phrase that defines the artist Shericka. She was born in Jackson , Tennessee and has been singing every since. She used her gift of song to gain recognition in her community as well as on a national level. To her credit she has performed in numerous talent shows and events. Most recently, the 50Mics Showcase Tour in Richmond VA. Shericka’s style of music is Pop/R&B/Techno. Her performances are high energy and mind blowing. Shericka is currently involved with many social networks such as Explore Talent, Facebook, Twitter, and Sound Click to showcase her music. Shericka has worked with Kenny Olson who has work with such artist as Kid Rock, Snoop Dogg, TI, Faith Evans just to name a few, Geoff Koval who has worked with WilderSide Studios, Kenny Olson, Dic Dickerson and David Z” Purple Rain” by Prince, Iron -Maverick, The 50mics Showcase Tour and Allen Styles a fellow musician who has done numerous shows under Sony Urban Music and for Scott Ambush from Sypro Jyra. Shericka’s Hot Hit “Hey DJ” & “Zitty Boom” has created a stir in local club arenas. “Hey d.j is definitely a club hit. I’ll spin it with no problem.” Quote from D.J. Spider of the Green Turtle from Baltimore , MD.

Shericka plans to elevate her music career globally. She wants to reach fans all over the world and express her love for music through every avenue that’s available. Shericka loves to collaborate with artist whether it’s on a local or mainstream scale.

Shericka is the “real deal” as stated by her fans. Her music speaks to every emotion you could possibly be feeling at that time.Shericka desire is to be as she says” The Music”

As Shericka continues to work on new music she guarantees to provide the best music that she can put out and an explosive show that you will never forget. Shericka’s favorite quote: “Nothing will work unless you do” by Maya Angelou.

1. Where are you from and how long have you been singing?

I am from Milan,Tennessee. I have been singing since i was little.

2. What were your musical influences growing up?

My musical influences are Madonna, Beyoncé, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Fergie, and Pink..

3. Where do you feel more comfortable singing in front of a audience or in the studio?

I must say it too different worlds to me. I love the studio because its where the magic happens but the audience i get to share my love for music on a up close and personal level.

4. What has your experience been like with the local music industry in your area?

Its been great love shown.

5. Any dream collaborations with any major artist or producers?

I would love to work with Ne-Yo, Kevin Lyles, Will.I.AM, Simon Powell, L.A.Reed, Missy Elliott and the list goes on. I would love to collaborate with Pink, Nicki Minaj, Wayne, Gucci, Beyoncé, Kanye West, John Mayer just to name a few..

6. Is an album in the works?

In the future

7. What songs get the most play on your iPod right now?

Stevie Wonder, Kanye West, Rihanna, John Mayer

8. What do you think of the current state of R&B/Pop and where would you like to see it go?

I think R&B/pop are starting to sound a little similar. I wish more soul and creativity was used more within the arts. I hope to see modern music exude disco, soul, and funk which is where it all began.

9. Are there any upcoming projects that you are working on?

Yes I am so look out!!

10. Any advice for aspiring singers?

Yes, build great relationships. Always stay focused even if it takes longer than expected can’t put time on success. Also remember to stay true to yourself, your music, and your fans. Everything will happen on God time! Ask and shall receive.

Boom Ziddy Boom~1 by Shericka’

Hey DJ by Shericka’

Snoop Dogg – Doggumentary

(Release Date: March 29, 2011)

Priority/Capitol/EMI Records

www.snoopdogg.com

www.twitter.com/SNOOPDOGG

www.myspace.com/snoopdogg

out of

Snoop Dogg and I have had a bit of a love hate relationship over the years I loved his first album (matter of fact I still play it in my car from time to time and it is probably never going to leave my WP7)… on the other hand I hated his second album, was so so on his Master P laced 3rd album, enjoyed his 4th album disliked his 5th album and on and on it went back and forth until his 10th studio album which I liked (but never truly loved). I guess 11 times is the charm because Snoop knocked this sucker out the park, I am officially back on the bandwagon. Well metaphorically I guess I never really left I just tuned out form time to time.

Snoop Dogg is a larger than life character and I have had my issues with vets who just seem to stick around, take up space while complaining, and never really contribute, Snoop on the other hand continues to work his butt off releasing albums after albums. It actually boggles my mind how hard he works. It never really occurred to me how hard his grind was until I made a few west coast mixtapes over the summer and I discovered (again) how influential Snoop was to the West Coast, and how amazing it is that he is still as relevant as he was back in 1992 when he first traded verses on 187 with a non muscle bound Eminem less Dr. Dre… wow 92 is a looooooooong time ago but it feels just like yesterday. If this review feels like I’m rambling bare with me I have a point to make somewhere in here. In a music business where young kids show their age after their second single Snoop is still here, how… who flipping knows I doubt he even knows but damn it is impressive. I have argued with friends that Snoop was busy phoning it in during a few of those 11 albums but this new Snoop seems like he is all business like he was standing on top of the Donut shop in long beach again.

The secret to longevity isn’t just making sure nobody else gets to shine around you, and taking all the good songs for yourself, longevity comes from making good quality songs a point sorely missed on a few people who got the first two parts but failed miserably on the latter. Snoop eased away from the pop songs and slinked back comfortably into the G-Funk you know the good stuff, teaming back again with legends like Fredwreck, Rick Rock and Battlecat while mixing it up with newer legends in their own right like Jake One and DJ Khalil (who I have yet to hear a wack song let alone a relatively ok or below his omg this is stupid I need to quit making beats standard he has set for himself over the years) yeah that DJ Khalil. If you think I am exaggerating go check the stats for yourself… but I digress… This is the Snoop I grew up listening to and with a few minor exceptions these are the songs that I expect from him each and every time I hear he is making a new album. At the rate he is going it could be another 10 more years before he decides to hang it up and if he keeps making albums like this I won’t be mad at it at all.

See yougins this is how it is done.

Wiz Khalifa – Rolling Papers

(Release Date: March 29, 2011)

Atlantic, Rostrum

www.wizkhalifa.com/

www.myspace.com/wizkhalifa

www.twitter.com/REALWIZKHALIFA

1/2 out of

Wiz Khalifa the wunderkind who captured the hearts and minds of a nation (and even a football team) with the release of his hit single on his third debut debut debut. Yeah you heard me right this is his third album… watching this journey unfold still amazes me. You see when a artist tanks from weak single rotations and their album gets pushed back into the ether only to be dropped from a major, said artist usually fades away into oblivion but not Wiz he put his head down and built his own buzz back up from scratch. I have never seen an artist come back bigger and better than before on their own back and that alone deserves recognition. 2006 to 2011 is a long time in the music industry but it is an eternity for somebody trying to make it back on top.

I actually remember in 2006 when he was trying to get this album “Show and Prove” out, it’s kind of funny but at the time everybody was talking about this kid from Pittsburgh (much like today) who was going to be the next big thing, the internet buzz was tremendous on its own and then poof he just disappeared from my radar. When people ask me my thoughts about the music business I always tell them, to have great determination but remember whatever so and so did is a onetime occurrence never to happen exactly like that again. If anything think of career paths in the music industry like snowflakes they are all made from the same secret sauce but no two are exactly alike.

Wiz Khalifa is the second coming in a lot of ways, he is the second coming of the smoke raps (Snoop Dogg, Redman/Method Man made popular in the 90s). Wiz is also the second coming of people just chilling for a change. Rap music right now has a problem of taking itself way to serious, everybody has to be on the block trapping/selling snowmen or shooting people and if it isn’t that everybody has to remind you how much money they are throwing in the air because of these amazing drug deals, I almost think it is ironic that Wiz was able to skip all that by bragging about how much weed he smokes over how many people he smokes. I have to say that it is nice to see a popular rapper not take life so serious for a change.

Wiz puts me in a difficult position, in addition to rooting for the Steelers this past Superbowl I was also rooting for him. To put it bluntly I was really hoping this album would be amazing instead words like lackluster, disappointing, and below average pop into my head. I pride myself as being an objective hater if you will, if I don’t like something I can tell you why with a fairly straight forward argument, which allows you to agree or disagree with my conclusions on your own terms but at least you can see where I am coming from. This review is no different, as greatly as it pains me to say this, Rolling Papers sounds more like a rushed lazy mixtape than a complete official album, it feels like a collection of random songs with zero enthusiasm. If you were looking in the dictionary for the phrase “phoning it in” Webster’s would probably point you in Wiz’s direction. I don’t know why or how but the joy seems to be completely sucked out of the disk and you can color me un-amused. I don’t know what to say maybe it’s me, maybe I am just listening wrong…

Now that I have gotten off my high horse I can’t tell you not to buy the album if you loved everything you heard from Wiz so far then by all means, but If you were expecting more like I was prepare to be disappointed. To put it another way whatever you saw on the surface is all you are going to get from this steel town native so enjoy. From my perspective 15 songs about getting high start to loose their shine after song number 3. Ok so you like to smoke weed now what?

• Bizzy Bone & Layzie Bone – Bone Brothers IV
• Blueprint – Adventures In Counter-Culture
• Brotha Lynch Hung – Coathangastrangla
• Crooked I – Million Dollar Story
• Ill Bill & Vinnie Paz – Heavy Metal Kings
• J. Rocc – Some Cold Rock Stuf
• Jim Jones & The Syndicate – King Capo: Part One
• John Robinson & Robot Koch – Robot Robinson
• Kool Keith – The Legend Of Tashan Dorrsett
• Mint Condition – 7
• Opio – Vulture’s Wisdom Vol. 2
• Raveonettes – Raven In The Grave
  

  ---

April 12, 2011

• Atmosphere – The Family Sign
• Cam’ron & The U.N. – Gunz N’ Butta
• Classified – Hand Shakes & Middle Fingers
• Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma Alt Takes
• Foreign Legion – Night Moves
• Jessie J – Who You Are
• Mack 10 & Glasses Malone (as Mack & Malone) – Money Music
• Ms. Dynamite – A Little Deeper
• Roscoe Dash – Ready Set Go!
• Swollen Members – Dagger Mouth
• Ultraviolet Sound – ‘Ultraviolet Sound’
  

  ---

April 19, 2011

• !llmind – Behind The Curtain
• Beastie Boys – Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2
• Blu – Her Favorite Colo(u)r
• Curren$y & The Alchemist – Covert Coup
• Daz Dillinger – D.A.Z.
• Del The Funky Homosapien – Golden Era Triple Pack
• DJ Quik – The Book Of David
• Dudley Perkins (as Declaime) – Self Study
• Eliza Doolittle – Eliza Doolittle
• Gorillaz – The Fall
• Jennifer Lopez – Love?
• Just-Ice – Masterpiece
• Killer Mike – PL3DGE
• Kool G Rap – Riches, Royalty & Respect
• Les Nubians – Nu Revolution
• Lloyd – King of Hearts
• MF DOOM – Operation: Doomsday
• Pete Rock & Smif-N-Wessun – Monumental
• Slim Thug Presents… – Boss Hogg Outlawz – Serve And Collect Part 3 (Immahogg)
• Wayne Brady – Radiowayne
  

  ---

April 26, 2011

• Blitz The Ambassador – Native Sun
• Bootsy Collins – The Funk Capitol of the World
• Dirty Vegas – Electric Love
• Gorilla Zoe – King Kong
• Royce Da 5’9" – Success Is Certain

* If your album isn’t listed here lemmie know

I was reading a tech blog about video games the other day and I came across an article about Michael Vick possibly being chosen for the cover of this year’s game due to his outstanding play on the field and turning his life around off it. That wasn’t what caught my eye the blog was titled “Admitted dogfighter” is a candidate for game cover. And of course the comments underneath were the usual disgusting vile things said when his name comes up nowadays. Your morality tells you that dog fighting is evil and anybody involved must be killed too but isn’t that as vile and evil as the original act in the first place. Or maybe we should punish him by not letting him play a game he loves that long term will utterly destroy his body from concussions and other insane injuries that come along with entertaining folks drinking a beer sitting on a lazy boy. The joke about this is that I don’t even have to defend Michael Vick as a human being to punch holes in everybody’s continued outrage over this controversy. Vick did some terrible things but he is no more a sociopath than hunters or people who eat chicken for dinner, but I know what you are going to say Vick killed puppies think of the message this sends to kids. Surely humiliating him, throwing him in jail, and taking all his money isn’t nearly enough of a punishment, while convicted spousal abusers and actual (I’m not making this up) drunk driving killers are still allowed to play, so says the guy who shoots Bambi to relax after a long week at the office and then mounts it on his wall to remind his kids Thumper the rabbit can get it too.

See the problem people pick and choose the line they are willing to cross in the fight to show their moral superiority by injecting their own personal experience and projecting it on to the subject at hand. I know that was a mouthful but sound it out. After a rash of dogs mauling and killing children and a women one summer not too long ago local municipal legislators drafted laws to euthanized all pitbulls and ban other vicious type A dogs. The most delicious part about that is many of the people who would spit on Vick today all thought this was the best news ever after the death of a little girl, they even went on TV saying how they aren’t “real” dogs and need to be put down for the safety of everybody in the community… apparently the line to cross using simple logic is gambling not so much the murder stuff. The point I am trying to make is that when you inject your own personal experience into an argument you throw your own morality under the bus on a whim.

People enjoy action packed spy shows like 24 were Jack Bauer routinely impinges on people’s rights, freedoms, and liberties all in the name of safety. Years ago Jack would be a pariah rotting in a jail somewhere after the judge threw the book at him today he is a hero and people wish he would shoot more women in the kneecaps to get vital information so that the evil doers don’t win. Really? Is that what we have all settled on as an acceptable level for our morality line to stop at? If your argument is that Jack Bauer is not real he is a fictional character, tell that to the all private military dudes right now in the Middle East. The idea of public security and safety are always at odds with each other and for many of us myself included we often look the other way when it is convenient. The slow grinding of “justice” in our society has whittled down our morals to the nub of “fighting them over there so we don’t have to fight them here” and other ridiculous catch phrases. I know it and you know it, we have become so numb to war that the idea of military action in another country doesn’t even pre-empt Dancing with the Stars anymore. Somebody somewhere should be slightly concerned not just the people with tinfoil on their head worried about birth certificates.

I would be lying if I said that it doesn’t concern me that our country is so ridged on its own convenient morality, but is also in such a hurry to toss other morals at the slightest discomfort to ourselves and our way of life. And that my friends is the rub, it doesn’t matter how civilized we are as a society and how much we look down at other countries for their customs and beliefs, we haven’t even mastered the nuances to our own standards. The thing that makes morals so difficult to comprehend is that the concept of what is right and what is wrong can only be grasped by the loudest of offenders only after it happens to them. People only seem to care about healthcare and the burden on families when it happens to their family. People only care about social security when their parents or they don’t have any. People hate war until it happens in their own backyard and then and only then do they get serious about foreign policy. And people want the government out of their lives unless it is something they feel strongly about and then the government can’t strip your freedoms fast enough. Like I said before celebrates aren’t the crazy loons we are and as much as it pains me to say this epic battle for Good vs Evil isn’t as clear cut as we all wish it would be.

Jennifer Hudson – I Remember Me

(Release Date: March 22, 2011)

Arista

www.myspace.com/jenniferhudson

www.facebook.com/jenniferhudson

www.twitter.com/iamjhud

www.jenniferhudson.com

1/2 out of

There is something compelling about Jennifer Hudson, her life story, the highs, the lows… they all add too the voice that speaks to us through her music. After losing Idol she could have disappeared from the public like most of the people on the show but instead she hung around and waited until it was her turn to shine. I like Jennifer I’m not even ashamed to say I watched the entire season she was on Idol. I remember the awkward over singing and the transition she took to the complete package she is today. Life is not without its tragedy and she has had her fair share but here she is new album and all. Unlike most of the people who sing about hurt and love you can feel it coming from her voice, it is something that is genuine both tragic and beautiful.

Jennifer is what you would call a “traditional” singer I know it has been so long that we have heard or even seen one of those especially in urban music that it is a shock to my system, but it is a welcome shock. It also helps that she can sing her butt off and could put a hurting on a lot of more famous people than her (everybody should have seen her hold her own with the likes of Beyonce in Dreamgirls by now). So it is nice to see her continue to get some shine in the music game even if lesser talents and I use the term loosely get more spotlight I’m glad that Arista hasn’t forgotten about her.

I Remember Me is a tour de France of the who is who in song writing and music production from Alicia Keys, Rich Harrison, Ne-Yo, R.Kelly, Ester Dean, and Diane Warren. I’m sorry but as impressive as that list is at least to me none of these people brought their A+ game to the table. It is Jennifer who carries the so so alright-ish music over the finish line and that is more a testament of her skills as a singer rather than the music being mind blowing. I think it probably came down to one of those instances when people are so used to over compensating for the terrible artists that when somebody is actually good for a change they were left a little bit out side of their element (I’m going to pretend like that was the problem). Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying the music is terrible at all what I am saying is I know what all of these song writers and producers are capable of and they could have done more. The album is light no drama no heavy handed songs just nice light R&B Pop music which is good because there are only so many Drop it Low girl and BMF type songs I can listen to before I need to rotate my tires. I would have liked to see a more personal album from Jennifer but I’ll settle for this at least for right now.

The internet has been awash with the impending doom of the once mighty Zune brand no scratch that mighty isn’t the right choice of words for it. To the people who have used it, terms like wow and excellent do however come to mind followed by the inevitable “why isn’t this sucker a success”… Conventional wisdom states that the Zune HD is a failure because it was going up against the behemoth that is Apple, but I don’t believe that at all. Microsoft isn’t some start up in a basement fighting the good fight against the “man” Microsoft is a giant in its own right.

This essay isn’t the usual pile on trite that is found all over the internet praising the virtues of Apple and Google while kicking the fine folks at Redmond, no this is the exact opposite these are my thoughts as a loyal Microsoft product owner and user and what I think needs to be done and why to move this division forward to match all the other successful parts of the company.

Confidence

When I purchased my Xbox 360 there was no doubt in my mind that Microsoft was in this battle to win it. I got it a year after the PS3 and Wii were eventually released into the market and the Wii was selling like gangbusters while the PS3 was the odds on favorite to crush everybody due to its dominance during the previous console generation. Sometime during the middle of this epic fight the Xbox division did something uncharacteristic at the time, in order to capitalized on things the other companies weren’t doing they upgraded the software rather than rebooting the hardware which paid dividends in the market and helped to bolster its position in this race. The end result is now Xbox having 2 years plus of strong gains and even outselling the competition sometimes by huge margins. Analysts didn’t expect it other companies have been caught flat footed trying to figure out what that special sauce is that makes this thing do so well. But the undeniable thing that is there is confidence, from the PR release of the NPD numbers every month regardless of position, somebody from Xbox lets you know that the company means business, all the way down to the showing at E3 every year showcasing what is coming next and delivering it on time. These are the things that are the difference makers. Zune HD on the other hand no matter how excellent the hardware and software are, feels like Redmond is trying out a thing rather than this is an important pillar in the Microsoft brand and a foundation to the company. The funny thing about consumers is that they can tell, they feel it from the lack of advertising to the lack of updates to the hardware and software. They can tell from the lack of expanding deals to push the brand into new markets stores and countries. They can tell from things like releasing a SDK later rather than sooner and most of all they can tell from the deafening silence from Washington. It is the little things like updating the Zune desktop that lets people know that there is still something going on in the labs and if you haven’t gotten one yet you should pay attention because you might be missing out. Sadly I feel the same thing happening to Windows Phone 7 although the circumstances are different and it feels like the company is making more of a push to help lift this to a successful status the feelings are still there and so people wait. You can see it on the internet there are rumblings from owners and people feel uneasy with the brand like the rug could/will be pulled from underneath them at any moment and this is helping to bolster the case of waiting rather than jumping in. Once this feeling creeps in it is almost impossible to undo the damage it causes.

Leverage

Microsoft unlike most companies who get into this fight to sell MP3 players or the like has a unique thing most companies do not and that is a ridiculous portfolio full of things people LOVE and use at their disposal, unfortunately each of these things is separate and has little to no interaction with each other. If they are ever going to make solid gains in this market this has to change. Their competition is not shy about throwing around its weight behind its products and it is something that Microsoft needs to consider if it is going to chip away at their market share. Utilizing Hotmail in Windows Phone 7 is a start but that is not nearly enough the Zune desktop should be able to talk to and manage my Xbox as would any device that is plugged into that computer. I should be able to transfer purchased (or otherwise ripped) songs from my desktop over my home network directly to my Xbox as should pictures and videos, and the experience viewing these things needs to go from blah to wow. The most ironic thing about this is that they don’t need to create new programs from scratch the Zune looks amazing playing music and thus so should the Xbox. Looking at pictures looks great on a computer and even a phone why aren’t these experiences pushed to all devices in a similar fashion. These are the very things Apple and Google toss around that Microsoft could do very easily I might add but don’t and for the life of me I can’t figure out why. The same goes for Zune Pass, why is such an amazing thing hidden from the public. Things like the MSN.com portal should integrate everything MS together but it doesn’t. Logging into my Zune account doesn’t give me any pertinent information on the msn.com page special to my music interests. No band information no tour dates no album release dates for the music I like, there is no information as is on my Xbox itself. These are the places that I would like to get my updates rather than needing to search for it elsewhere. Use your music service to your advantage!

The Future

What is the future for the brand as a whole, the buying public wants to know scratch that we need to know that there is a future. Are there going to be more products down the road are you going to get out of the manufacturing game instead and service just software. All of which are super important answers that us consumers have no leadership on. Make me excited give me some meat, the silence is terrible in every way imaginable. Timelines are important but speed is more important. 18 months of being quiet and making little to no movements is not a sign of success or confidence regardless of actual unit sales.

If the reigns were given to me and Steve Ballmer said DJ Mic Mayhem here is our best team of engineers and software developers you have x amount of dollars and 6 months… OK GO. The absolute first thing I would do is develop Zune Pass for Android, HP, iPhone Blackberry, Traktor and Serato. I know what you are thinking the last two aren’t even phones that doesn’t even make any sense but bare with me I have a point to all this. The first and obvious thing is a no brainer, everybody who has ever used Zune Pass rave about how good it is but unfortunately it isn’t available in their country or on their phone. Zune pass is your Trojan horse to a taste on all that Zune goodness they are missing. While you make this free downloadable app available to all phones markets and platforms make the streaming service free to everybody who is a Xbox live gold subscriber. Now here is the rub you must always make the WP7 version better, I’ll repeat because somebody didn’t hear me ALWAYS make your version better. What we have now is the equivalent of the visiting team getting the fireworks, eye of the tiger theme song, and cheerleaders while the home team walks on the court already defeated to silence. Never and I mean never give other phones your products before you service your own phone. Anyways back to my original point All Zune “apps” across all platforms should have the ability to stream low and high quality music over the phone on wifi or 3G.

The second thing I would do is create Zune Radio. The emergence of radio streaming apps and companies is a budding market, one that has no competition from the other major phone companies (at least not yet but it is coming and wouldn’t it make more sense to be there first?) This radio streaming service should be 4 parts new media and 1 part old school, I am of course talking about making an actual radio station with real DJs/hosts the whole nine yards. So in addition to the real radio programs you of course have multiple channels that stream music like satellite radio does today directly to your Xbox, Zune or wp7 + all the other platforms (android, iOS, Palm/HP, Blackberry, Symbian). The end result would be a cool new app streaming unlimited continuous commercial free music in various traditional music channels like Rock Dance top40 Rap R&B Country etc… each of these channels can choose music based on a algorithm which calculates relevance from portable devices, desktop clients, Bing searches, and even requests from social media like Facebook and twitter. The ways to integrate and make a new user experience custom to your listeners could be unlike anything out there, and is yours for the taking. And the beauty of this is that being here first sets the tone (much like Xbox Live) for how Apple and Google must respond when they eventually bring their versions to the market and by then it could even be too late. The real radio station does two things, 1st it creates a presence in the real world that artist and music fans can see away from their phone/Xbox/Zune/desktop that shows Microsoft’s brand at award shows interviews concerts etc… and 2nd it creates a real face to Zune that people can relate to rather than a faceless company. Little known fact the reason I bought an Xbox instead of a PS3 was because I listened to the Major Nelson show religiously. You can call me old fashion but it means something to me that there are real people behind the scenes who game not just accountants worried about the bottom line. And finally the best part about these radio stations, I like most gamers listen to music when I game and I would love live radio stations beamed down into my Xbox gaming experience that brings to me the latest and the greatest and just like that you could reach an additional 30 million plus Xbox live subscribers and turn them into potential Zune users.

On to why did I include two DJ programs in this list… Integrating your music service with the two largest DJ software companies in the world would change the game in so many ways. Not only would the information the users provide help you keep track of the trends for what music you should focus on who is the target market where and why. I can’t even begin to explain how valuable it would be having people directly in the community of music fans automatically becoming a Microsoft evangelist by default because the two worlds believe it or not do overlap.

The last two things I would do is step up efforts to bring the independent community to the mainstream. Let the musicians be your voice by promoting their music through the Zune service and radio helping to reach potential customers of music and future Microsoft products. Next develop an independent channel that helps you discover new bands or find out where & when they tour, even go as far as creating Zune music festivals. If you want to win the best way is to start on the next generation of budding superstars.

Community

When the Zune was first created the idea that they sold us on was that this was going to be a community of listeners and the first steps were taken with things like the badge, and sharing your music with other Zune owners all of which were good ideas, but now is the time to turn to your existing Zune community and use them to make the service better. As blown away as I was with the Zune desktop client and the wallpapers and bios that showed up on my phone it immediately struck me that there are too many holes in the system. There are well known at least in my eyes artist with platinum and gold albums who have no backgrounds, pictures or bios. It is such an amazing feature that could be improved upon if it was opened up to Zune users and owners. Let the community help keep artist tour information up to date in their own respective cities. The whole Zune platform was designed for music fans and there is so much that the community could offer so why not take advantage of it. While for the most part the background photos are new and fresh every so often you run across artist that don’t have any information or pictures. I know it is a massive undertaking to maintain, but I’ll repeat more could be done if you allow end users to help you do this. This service could become the “go to” place for all things related to music, why not even work together with places like AllMusic, or Wikipedia to enhance the information or a major magazine like rolling stone for interviews that can be read through your portable device or Xbox. These are the things that will make this service stand head and shoulders above the rest and the changes while minor would only improve things. Artist information wallpapers tour dates album releases interviews and news should be available to everybody away from the Zune desktop app on things like the msn music hub and I’ll repeat on the Xbox 360. This is the best hidden thing you have that should be in the limelight everywhere.

Rap up

Listen I know it seems like everybody on the internet is ganging up on you guys, and that is because they really are, it is not a mirage and you guys are giving them all the ammunition in the world. While I know full well that some of my suggestions are a little more difficult to pull off and some have more risk than reward Microsoft needs to once again do things that their competitors wouldn’t or can’t. This is what separates them from other companies in the market right now. I didn’t write this as some sort of back handed suggestion box I am a genuine windows user. I didn’t take the wait and see approach with Windows Phone because I believe that eventually you guys are going to get it right, now it is your turn to prove it.

Editor and Chief, GPlusMath. For questions and comments you can email me at

Chris Brown – F.A.M.E.

(Release Date: March 18, 2011)

Jive

www.chrisbrownworld.com

www.twitter.com/chrisbrown

www.facebook.com/chrisbrown

www.myspace.com/chrisbrown

out of

Chris Brown is literally the most interesting man in America… but not in a he has a grey beard and drinks beer with pretty women around him kind of way… speaking of women it  has been a long tough few years for the guy I almost feel sorry for him. This isn’t his come back redemption album he already did that this is his redemption redemption album. Over the summer Chris Brown’s career and future was pretty much done dead in the water he was one of the most hated brothers in the country (one lives in the White House and the other plays for the Philadelphia Eagles). Women were literally spitting on the ground at the mention of his name and then a funny thing happened he released Deuces and all of a sudden #TeamBreezy was a actual thing not just something people say for jokes. Having gone through some personal triumphs like being an adult during court and all the things that happened there and between, and failures like getting in a argument with a former B2K group member and watching the ridiculously biased / slanted media coverage of said disagreement I have come to the conclusion that F.A.M.E. the title to Chris Browns latest album which stands for Forgiving All My Enemies is aptly titled. The American media is a funny thing, they build you up and turn your song into a internet sensation through YouTube clips of a wedding and then they tear you down but its not enough to see people hit rock bottom. The media goes out of their way to grind you into submission until you snap so they can do it all over again. Say what you will about Chris as a person or what have you, but lesser people would have fallen to pieces not try to rebuild their career and release a second album. I respect that about him, life is so much easier when it is you that is on the other side of the keyboard.

Spousal abuse is a very serious thing to me I haven’t experienced it personally but I know people who have, and it equally disgusts me that there is a double standard when it comes to men and women relations. The other side of this issue that needs addressing is forgiveness which I don’t think people can earn from picking up garbage on the side of the highway I’m sorry Chris Brown I really am. Chris may not have earned your forgiveness or even the right to a second chance at entertaining you but he does deserve the right to be treated like a human being. The people who all giggled when Snookie got punched in a bar for talking reckless to somebody twice her size, people who made fun of Tiger Woods when it was alleged that his wife hit him with a golf club (Saturday Night Live, Oprah, Barbra Walters, TMZ) to you hypocrites you frauds phonies, you all can kindly S.T.F.U. <- see what I did there. Chris’ situation is a little bit like Mike Vicks both men did a (Chris Isaak Bad Bad Thing) I mean a pretty much indefensible thing, both served their time in a matter of speaking, but were and still are treated like a pariah by frauds, hypocrites, liars, and people who actually really care about the issue. The people who care have moved on the frauds, hypocrites, and liars are still hovering I guess looking for attention in their miserable lives which is sad.

*Sigh* Ok let me speak on this album before I turn this thing into a after school special, the remake of SWV Right was not good I don’t know if it is tainted because I’m old or what but I really didn’t like it. Whenever I listen to these types of albums I have a hard time separating myself and my experiences from that of the target audience. That’s the thing about music it speaks to everybody different, for me I gagged while others unfamiliar with Sisters With Voices might think wow this is great. But people don’t read these reviews for what I think people might think about what I think so here goes. The album is ok there is a good mix of dance music blended together with R&B and neither felt out of place which is nice. Usually when people add up tempo music to an album like this there is a tendency to force the songs. Another nice touch is the fact that Chris did a great deal of writing which is outstanding compared to his peers who can’t write for jack and would probably end up going all Rebecca Black – Friday on us if they ever tried. I do have some beefs with the album I don’t know why but R&B singers have gotten together and upped the anti on our ears it used to be this is the last safe place from cursing and explicit lyrics apparently it is not which is a shame. Call me old fashion but I think singers need to stay in their lane and rappers should stick to their strengths like stretching the truth about their life outside of rap music. As Chris grows as a artist, singer, and entertainer (I separated the 3 because I feel like he can go anywhere right now) I am kind of excited to see where he takes this, the flipside of this of course is that as he grows I am starting to expect more out of him talent wise which is a good thing because he doesn’t seem to be complacent which is more than I can say for his peers.