Social media apps have been in the news a lot recently as some make some major moves. Now TikTok is joining the party as they’ve launched their new music streaming service. According to XXL, the app is “a new kind of service that combines the power of music discovery on TikTok with a best-in-class streaming service.” Additionally the app is intended as a competitor for fellow streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. Consequently, it features a discovery mode full of music from the trio of major record labels who have licensed their music to the service.
The app is intended to help speed up the music discovery process. It also claims that while streaming will be a premium priority, it can also provide artists and rightsholders with a more significant portion of their revenue. Later, the app is expected to include features like ad-free high quality streaming and downloading music for offline listening. Fans in the US dying to try TikTok Music will have to wait a bit longer. The initial launch is only in Brazil and various Asian markets serving as a test of the apps capabilities.
TikTok Launches New “TikTok Music” App
INDIA – 2023/07/01: In this photo illustration, a Tiktok logo is seen displayed on a smartphone with a French Flag in the background. (Photo Illustration by Avishek Das/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
The release of TikTok Music comes right on the heels of the release of Threads. Meta, the company who owns Instagram just introduced its new app Threads as a competitor to Twitter. Obviously the app immediately saw a flood of celebrities and brands rushing to the platform. Consequently Usher may have delivered the first truly viral Threads post earlier today.
The continued existence of TikTok itself was called into question earlier this year. Back in April, lawmakers in Montana voted to band the platform. Issues with the platform were raised by politicians who believed its Chinese leadership could gain access to user data. Subsequently, TikTok challenged the ruling in an ongoing legal case. What do you think of TikTok testing a new music streaming app? Let us know in the comment section below.
Earlier today, Spotify released a list of the 50 most streamed rap albums in the platforms history. Artists like Drake, Eminem, Kanye West, Juice Wrld, and Kendrick Lamar found their projects all over the list. XXXTENTACION places two albums in the top 10 including his 2018 album ? at the number one spot. The oldest album on the list was 2Pac’s 1996 album All Eyez On Me. While the newest album on the list was Lil Baby’s My Turn which is nearly a year and a half old. Of the top 50 albums, only two are made by women.
Nicki Minaj’s classic The Pinkprint turns up at the number #39 spot, just one ahead of her collaborator 6ix9ine’s DUMMY BOY. But the most streamed female rap album in Spotify history goes to Cardi B. Her album Invasion Of Privacy shows up at number 16 nestled in between records from Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar. It’s not surprising the album is so high given the fact that it contains two of the biggest rap hits of the past 5 years “Boday Yellow” and “I Like It.” The latter features J Balvin and Bad Bunny and has racked up over 1.5 billion streams.
Cardi B Smashes Her Competition
.@iamcardib’s “Invasion of Privacy” is the most streamed album by a female rapper in Spotify’s history on the platform. pic.twitter.com/7UHVL72sBN
What makes Cardi’s success even more impressive is that Invasion Of Privacy is still her only album to date. She’s been teasing a sophomore release repeatedly all year including even making a burner Instagram account to mess with fans. While no new information ever materialized Cardi B hasn’t kept fans completely starved in 2023. She joined Latto for a remix of her song “Put It On Da Floor” that immediately became a hit. Latto seemed to thank Cardi by gifting her a gorgeous Chanel bag that she showed off on Twitter last week.
Latto’s present wasn’t the only thing that Cardi B showed off on Twitter recently. Last week she introduced fans to a gorgeous custom pink and bronze piano she had made for her house. What do you think about Cardi B having the most streamed female rap album of all time on Spotify? Let us know in the comment section below.
Snoop Dogg has not ever been shy about his opinion regarding streaming services. After he bought Death Row Records last year, the first thing he did was take some of the biggest albums off of streaming. Even as an owner of the label, he revealed he did it for the sake of the artists. “First thing I did was snatch all the music off those platforms… because those platforms don’t pay,“ Snoop said. “And those platforms get millions of millions of streams, and nobody gets paid other than the record labels.” Now, Snoop is asking the same thing about the WGA strike that is currently happening in Hollywood.
The WGA, or Writer’s Guild of America, is a union. It houses most of the writers of films and television shows. According to them, big studios have used the transition to streaming to cut writer pay significantly. As such, the union is on strike, demanding fair pay. Snoop thinks that musicians can take a page from the WGA book. “[Artists] need to figure it out the same way the writers are figuring it out. The writers are striking because [of] streaming; they can’t get paid. Because when it’s on the platform, it’s not like in the box office,” Snoop said. “That’s the main gripe with a lot of us artists is that we do major numbers. But it don’t add up to the money. Like, where the f*ck is the money?”
Snoop Says East Coast Rap Had A Bigger Impact
US rapper Snoop Dog speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference. (Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
Snoop has recently made a reputation for himself as an outspoken and honest artist. He’s an artist who fights for his contemporaries and won’t let loyalties to anyone cloud the truth. However, even for Snoop, his comments on East Coast rap having a bigger impact were shocking. There isn’t really a rivalry between the two coasts these days. However, in the 90s, it was all you heard about. Snoop, however, gives credit where credit is due. During his appearance on ESPN’s First Take, the iconic rapper laid down some knowledge.
“East Coast started hip-hop,” Snoop said. “It has the biggest impact where it was born. Where it was grown, where it was developed is always gonna be the biggest impact. Because that’s the epicenter, that’s the foundation, that’s where it began. It’s the East Coast.” Snoop went on to mention the specific rappers that laid the foundation for their West Coast counterparts. “We learned from them, got our style from them. We got our swag from them, got our know how to get it together from them, our stage presence — everything from RUN-D.M.C., LL COOL J, Grandmaster Flash, to people who didn’t have no record deals. They set the foundation.” What do you think about Snoops comments? Let us know below!
As the world’s leading streaming service, Netflix has been a game-changer in the television industry. Since its launch in 1997, the company has revolutionized entertainment consumption. Today, the platform boasts over 200 million subscribers in 190 countries, with a vast catalog of movies, TV shows, and original content. The impact of Netflix on the television industry is undeniable, changing how we watch TV forever. We’ll explore how Netflix has influenced the future of television. From the rise of streaming services to the decline of traditional TV networks, we’ll examine the effects of Netflix on the industry.
The Rise of Streaming Services
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 02: Netflix logo is displayed during the ‘Paris Games Week’ on November 02, 2017 in Paris, France. Netflix is an American company offering streaming movies and TV series on the Internet. ‘Paris Games Week’ is an international trade fair for video games and runs from November 01 to November 5, 2017. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)
Netflix’s success has paved the way for the rise of streaming services. Before its launch, traditional television networks controlled the distribution of TV shows. Networks had complete control over what was aired, when, and who could watch it. However, the emergence of Netflix disrupted this model.
With its on-demand streaming service, Netflix put viewers in control. Viewers no longer had to wait for their favorite shows to air on TV; instead, they could watch their favorites whenever they wanted. This shift in control marked a turning point in the industry, and it wasn’t long before other streaming services like Prime Video and Hulu followed suit.
Streaming services have become the norm today, and it’s not hard to see why. Viewers no longer have to worry about missing an episode of their favorite show or being tied to a specific TV schedule. The rise of streaming services has been a direct result of the success of Netflix.
As viewers continue to shift towards on-demand streaming, TV networks have struggled to keep up. With more people ditching traditional cable TV in favor of streaming services, traditional TV networks have seen a decline in viewership. This drop has led to a shift in the TV industry, with networks forced to adapt to the changing landscape. Many networks have launched their own streaming services, like NBC’s Peacock and CBS All Access. However, these services have struggled to compete with established players like Netflix, Prime Video, and Hulu.
Television networks have also struggled to attract advertisers. With fewer people watching TV, advertisers have shifted their focus to digital platforms like Facebook and Google. This has led to declining ad revenue for TV networks, further exacerbating their financial troubles.
One of the critical factors behind Netflix’s success has been its investment in original content. In recent years, the company has shifted its focus toward producing its own shows and movies. This has allowed Netflix to differentiate itself from competitors and attract new subscribers.
The success of Netflix’s original content has been staggering. Shows like Stranger Things, The Crown, and Narcos have become cultural phenomena, attracting millions of viewers and earning critical acclaim. Netflix’s original content investment has also helped bolster the careers of up-and-coming filmmakers and actors.
The Impact on the Entertainment Industry
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 07: The Netflix logo is displayed at Netflix’s Los Angeles headquarters (TOP) on October 07, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The IATSE union which represents Hollywood’s film and television production crews voted to authorize a strike, calling for better working conditions and higher pay amid a surge in streaming demand. Negotiations are ongoing but a strike may be imminent. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Between YouTube’s churning out of great online content that anyone could watch anywhere and the genesis of Netflix, TV as we knew it was in trouble. Why pay for cable when you can buy Netflix and watch your favorite shows anywhere? Original programming has also allowed Netflix to diversify its content offerings, creating shows and movies that cater to specific audiences.
For example, Stranger Things and The Witcher have become immensely popular among sci-fi and fantasy fans, while shows like Orange is the New Black and Dear White People have tackled important social issues. By providing a platform for niche programming, Netflix has not only attracted a wider range of viewers but also opened up opportunities for new voices and perspectives in the industry.
The impact of Netflix on the television industry has led to increased competition. There is an emphasis on quality content as networks strive to keep up with the high standards set by the platform. The rise of streaming has also affected how shows are produced and released. Many opt for the binge-watch model instead of weekly episodes.
One of the challenges that Netflix faces as it continues to grow is the cost of producing original content. While the company has succeeded with its shows and movies, it has also faced criticism for canceling fan favorites after only a few seasons. The decision to cancel a show is often based on the cost-benefit analysis, as Netflix looks at factors such as viewership and production costs to determine if a show is worth continuing. However, this has frustrated fans who feel invested in the characters and storylines.
The Challenge For Netflix
PARIS, FRANCE – SEPTEMBER 19: In this photo illustration the Netflix logo is reflected in the eye of a woman on September 19, 2014 in Paris, France. Netflix September 15 launched service in France, the first of six European countries planned in the coming months. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
Another challenge for Netflix is navigating the regulatory landscape, particularly as it expands into international markets. The company has faced criticism and legal challenges in countries such as India and Indonesia, where there are strict rules around content that are considered offensive or blasphemous. This has led to Netflix self-censoring certain shows and movies in these markets, which has drawn criticism from some viewers and activists who argue that it goes against the company’s commitment to creative freedom.
Despite these challenges, the future looks bright for Netflix and the streaming industry. With the pandemic accelerating the shift toward online entertainment, it is clear that streaming services are here to stay. As more people cut the cord and move away from traditional TV, companies like Netflix will continue to play an essential role in shaping the future of television.
Logic’s songs have done very big streaming numbers. He has almost 14 million monthly listeners on Spotify. Many people have differing opinions on his music. Still, he continues to achieve more and more success. Besides doing music, he has also written two books. Listeners of his music are used to his creative writing passion coming through in his music. Several of his albums have a narrative theme running through them. There are skits on the albums that weave the story together, The covers also have given listeners visual components to go with the story. Additionally, he also produces many of his own songs. This is a testament to his skill set expanding as he took his commitment to this to the next level. His discography has multiple types of songs in it for different audiences. In this list, we’ve ranked his top streaming songs.
10. Shimmy – Logic (feat. Joey Bada$$)
Logic listeners have been waiting for this song for years. This is a collaboration that has been a long time coming. The two of them did a freestyle while on tour together in 2017. Listeners had to go to YouTube if they wanted to hear the freestyle. This is their first official collab and it dropped in 2023. The freestyle was over a 90s-esque boom bap beat and fans expected an official song from them to sound similar. However, Logic and Joey decided to go the opposite route. In this song, the two of them rap over a spacey trap beat. For listeners, this was a pleasant surprise because they still enjoyed the song. Logic and Joey have confident yet chill flows on it. The song’s title, hook and verses pay homage to ODB from Wu-Tang Clan.
#9. Lightsabers – Logic (feat. C Dot Castro)
This song from Logic has a very motivational feeling to it. There are horns all over the song’s hook that sound triumphant and the hook is very positive. This is a special song because it features a brief intro from Juicy J. Hearing a legend on a song with Logic is a testament to the level he’s reached as an artist. The song’s opening moments also have one of his older name tags he used on his mixtapes. After the triumphant opening moments, there’s a beat switch and a piano replaces the horns. The triumphant tone dials down and things change to a more tranquil atmosphere. Still, Logic tells of how things have changed from the past to now as we get a glimpse inside his mind. Feature C Dot Castro continues the reminiscent theme established by Logic.
#8. Wake Up – Logic (feat. Lucy Rose)
This song was the first single for Logic’s latest album College Park. This album is a concept album and it gave listeners a taste of what they could look forward to. In this track, Logic speaks about the things he has been through in his past. In another reference to his past, he uses an ad-lib that longtime listeners instantly will recognize. He also speaks on other situations that listeners with a background like his could relate to. This runs throughout the entire verse. He also speaks on how he overcame these things. He reflected the reminiscing concept in the song’s hook which reinforces how often he dealt with these things. At the song’s conclusion, Lucy Rose offers listeners an explanation of the album’s concept.
This is one of Logic’s most surprising songs. The surprise comes from the amount of people on the song. It also comes from who these people are. Statik Selektah is known for his boom bap production and soulful samples. He’s also known for his scratching which is what he did on this song. Seth MacFarlane of course is know for his shows and voice acting. However, in this situation he uses his singing skills – which are sometimes showcased on his shows. He does a Frank Sinatra impression as he sings on this song and gives the song a very classy feeling. Lucy Rose follows him with vocalizations. Redman of course is a rap legend and it’s surprising and cool that he worked with Logic. Their rap verses have an old school hip-hop feeling to them that matches well with the atmosphere of the whole song.
#6. Perfect – Logic
This is the shortest Logic song on this list. It also is one of the most energetic ones. In this song, there is no hook. The song title comes from the sample in the song. The sample is from the Street Fighter video game series that exclaims “Perfect!”. This happens if a player wins round without getting hit. Logic jumps from flow to flow on this one with high energy as the drums skitter around his words. There’s a distinct bell like noise in the song that carries its melody. For many people, the energy in the song made it a quick addition to their gym playlist. Logic also released a remix to this song that features Lil Wayne and A$AP Ferg.
#5. Ballin – Logic
This is the oldest Logic song on this list. The song originally released in 2013 and was on his mixtape Welcome to Forever. However, on that version there was a feature from C Dot Castro. This version, which comes from the Uncle Drew soundtrack, does not contain his verse. This is another energetic song from Logic that features him speaking highly of himself. The hook is motivational and speaks of Logic attaining the financial goals he wants. For those who are familiar with some of Logic’s other grounded music, this may be surprising. This is a testament to the growth he’s made as well as his range as an artist. The song has claps throughout it which loosely connects to the basketball theme of Uncle Drew. The drums and bass on this one are very high energy too and encourage listeners to rap along with the hook.
#4. 44 More – Logic
This song is actually part two of a different Logic song. “44 Bars” is a song from his project Bobby Tarantino. This sequel is on his project Bobby Tarantino II. The original song contrasted the rest of the songs on the project because of its emotional context. Meanwhile, on this song, Logic abandons this feeling for high energy. However, several of his bars still relate to the overarching subject matter from the original. His delivery of them is what makes them sound different. This song also features one of his fastest verses. It also features a beat switch right before Logic goes into it. Logic adapts to beat switches all over the song as he changes his flow accordingly. Listeners actually got a glimpse of the recording process for this song. In it, they saw how many times it took Logic to get the fast portion of the verse right.
When this song was announced, many Logic fans were very excited. Logic has had a few very fast rap verses in his career. Eminem is known for his fast-paced verses. This song showcases this skill from both artists. Logic’s hook is just as fast as his verses. He goes through a group of flow switches and also uses some humor within the verse. The hook also pays homage to Eminem – one of Eminem’s biggest songs specifically. Eminem’s verse is even faster than Logic’s and is a little different from his too. It doesn’t have the hook from the song during it at all. Eminem’s verse also has many more punchlines than Logic’s. Logic has discussed his admiration for him so it’s safe to say he didn’t mind.
#2. Everyday – Logic (feat. Marshmallow)
This is a Logic song where he tried something new. Before this released, Logic had mostly only worked with his in-house producer 6ix. The two of them have been working together for his whole career. But, on this one 6ix does not have any production credits at all. This is because on this one Marshmello is the sole producer. Marshmello is instantly recognizable because of the large marshmallow head he wears that covers his face. People know him for his electronic music production. However, for Logic he produced something that still lined up well with the rap based production Logic was used to. The song combines trap drums and melodies that are more electronic and pop centric. Logic also sings on the song which is something he did more in his later career.
#1. 1-800-273-8255 – Logic (feat. Alessia Cara and Khalid)
This Logic song has over one billion streams. It without a doubt is the song that took him to an entirely new level of popularity. This track was a large departure from the type of music had previously done. This song also had two surprising features on it. These came from Alessia Cara and Khalid who are pop artists. Previously, Logic had not worked with any artists from that world or even made a pop oriented song. The message behind this song is why it took off in popularity. The song discusses not giving up on life and letting it consume you. The phone number is the Suicide Prevention Hotline. After Logic performed the song on the MTV VMAs in 2017,they received an immense amount of calls. No matter what you think of him, the fact remains that this song literally saved lives.
Is your favorite Logic song on this list? Let us know in the comments section.
De La Soul’s iconic catalog of music, including their legendary 1989 album 3 Feet High and Rising, will finally be available on streaming sites later this year. The plans have been in the works since Reservoir Media purchased the group’s master recordings in 2021.
“We can’t believe this day is finally here,” the band said in a statement, “and we are excited to be able to share our music with fans, old and new”.
Kelvin Mercer, David Jude Jolicoeur, Vincent Mason, De La Soul, Paradiso, Amsterdam, Holland, 04/04/1989. (Photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images)
De La Soul’s Posdnuos explained the hold up during an interview with BBC in 2016.
“Our contracts on those early albums said specifically ‘vinyl and cassette,’” he said. “The wording wasn’t vague enough to lend itself to [new] music technology.”
He continued: “So once the whole age of digital music came into play, new deals needed to be cut for those entire albums.”
All-in-all, Posdnuos says that Warner Bros. “just don’t want to deal with it.”
“They’re like, ‘Is it worth it?’ They’ve got to go through almost every song with a fine comb to make sure this sample or that sample was cleared. It’s been a very lengthy, draining process.”
The group released 3 Feet High and Rising back in March 1989. The album features many of De La Soul’s biggest songs including “Me Myself and I”, “The Magic Number”, “Buddy”, and “Eye Know.” It’s frequently cited as one of the best rap albums of all time. In 2010, the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry deemed it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
As for when specifically De La Soul’s music will be available, the group announced on social media that March 3, 2023 is the date. Check out their announcement below on Twitter.
Something’s going on at OVO Sound. Albums from PartyNextDoor, Majid Jordan, dvsn, and Roy Woods vanished from streaming services this week for no known reason as of yet. When fans noticed, they flooded social media sites like Twitter with questions and concerns over the missing projects.
MONTREAL, QUEBEC – OCTOBER 02: Roy Woods performs at the Osheaga Get Together festival at Parc Jean-Drapeau on October 02, 2021 in Montreal, Quebec. (Photo by Mark Horton/Getty Images)
Another artist affected by this sudden pull was dvsn, although their projects are available on streaming as of writing this article. However, their album A Muse In Her Feelings isn’t available, so there’s some odd inconsistency. Meanwhile, PartyNextDoor’s output is almost completely gone, including his albums PartyNextDoor 2 and 3. Similarly, all of Majid Jordan’s albums disappeared as well. While he’s a more underrated name, Roy Woods also lost his discography on streaming to fans’ dismay.
Furthermore, the common thread tying these artists together is their label: OVO Sound. Drake signed all artists some years ago, and while Party and Roy Woods haven’t dropped in a while, dvsn just released Working On My Karma this year. Also, Majid Jordan dropped Wildest Dreams last year.
As such, many fans are furious at the disappearance, blaming either the streaming services, the label, or Drizzy himself. Maybe a new OVO-exclusive streaming service? While it’s unclear what’s exactly happening with these albums, the label connection warrants an explanation. Some even directed blame at the artists themselves.
“PARTYNEXTDOOR just removed PND. PND2 and PND3 from all platforms….” one user tweeted. “@partynextdoor you better goddamn EXPLAIN YOURSELF BECAUSE WHY?!!” While his albums are gone, features like Diddy’s recent “Sex In The Porsche” are still available.
Another fan tweeted, “@AppleMusic ya’ll have 24 hrs to put them partynextdoor albums back up or i will be making some phone calls.” Of all the reactions, anger at the services has been the most common. “PUT PARTYNEXTDOOR BACK ON APPLE MUSIC OR IM AIRING APPLE HEADQUARTERS OUT,” another user wrote.
However, many raised eyebrows at OVO. “So there’s no PARTYNEXTDOOR, Majid Jordan or DVSN on Apple Music,” a user tweeted. “But every other artist completely fine. did OVO pull the plug on them or what??”
What do you think happened with these OVO discographies on streaming? Let us know in the comments down below. Also, as always, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest updates on this mystery.
(@deemz03)