Until 1998, December rarely saw any music releases. But since then, the month has quietly evolved. Now it's loaded with titles as big as those in the other months in the crowded fourth quarter.
December 1, 2006 (Press Release) --
This December's lineup includes ''Eminem Presents the Re-Up,'' Gwen Stefani's ''The Sweet Escape,'' the Pussycat Dolls' ''Live in London'' DVD, the Black Eyed Peas' ''Live From Sydney to Vegas'' DVD, the ''Dreamgirls'' soundtrack, self-titled albums from Taylor Hicks and Fantasia, Ghostface Killah's ''More Fish,'' Snoop Dogg's ''Tha Blue Carpet Treatment,'' Mary J. Blige's ''Reflections -- The Journey,'' Mos Def's ''Tru3 Magic,'' Young Jeezy's ''The Inspiration: Thug Motivation 102,'' Nas' ''Hip-Hop Is Dead'' and Bow Wow's ''The Price of Fame.''
The month's releases are heavily slanted toward hip-hop, rap and R&B, but the titles coming out Dec. 26 are almost exclusively in those genres. Those titles include N.W.A's ''Greatest Hits,'' the Diplomats' ''Dipset: More Than Music Vol. 2,'' ''Death Row: 15 Years on Death Row,'' Johnta Austin's ''Ocean Drive'' and Omarion's ''21.'' Also out that day is a Matisyahu CD/DVD, a new Family Values tour CD/DVD and Switchfoot's ''Oh! Gravity.''
Until 1998, December generally was bare because store owners discouraged new releases, theorizing that their employees are too busy dealing with customers then. But ''that changed once Island Def Jam started to play the game of 'We want to be the No. 1 label at Christmas,' " said Newbury Comics buyer Carl Mello.
That year, Island Def Jam released albums from DMX, Redman and DJ Clue in December. Actually, two other rap releases arrived at that time from Busta Rhymes and Mystikal. Because of Island Def Jam's overwhelming presence that year and the fact that the label followed up in 1999 by announcing four releases for December (only two came out), retailers back then started calling the month ''Def Jam December.''
Since then it has blossomed into just another month on the release schedule, at least for the majors. Retailers say the releases drive traffic, and they particularly like the ones arriving Dec. 26, one of the year's best shopping days. ''It makes sense to have releases that day, particularly if you look at all the kids coming into stores with gift certificates,'' said Super D's vice president of purchasing and marketing Thuy Ng.
In fact, ''the gift-card business has grown substantially over the last 10 years, so titles that come out on that day benefit'' from that phenomenon, Trans World music divisional merchandise manager Jerry Kamiler said.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
POSTED BY ED CHRISTMAN
The month's releases are heavily slanted toward hip-hop, rap and R&B, but the titles coming out Dec. 26 are almost exclusively in those genres. Those titles include N.W.A's ''Greatest Hits,'' the Diplomats' ''Dipset: More Than Music Vol. 2,'' ''Death Row: 15 Years on Death Row,'' Johnta Austin's ''Ocean Drive'' and Omarion's ''21.'' Also out that day is a Matisyahu CD/DVD, a new Family Values tour CD/DVD and Switchfoot's ''Oh! Gravity.''
Until 1998, December generally was bare because store owners discouraged new releases, theorizing that their employees are too busy dealing with customers then. But ''that changed once Island Def Jam started to play the game of 'We want to be the No. 1 label at Christmas,' " said Newbury Comics buyer Carl Mello.
That year, Island Def Jam released albums from DMX, Redman and DJ Clue in December. Actually, two other rap releases arrived at that time from Busta Rhymes and Mystikal. Because of Island Def Jam's overwhelming presence that year and the fact that the label followed up in 1999 by announcing four releases for December (only two came out), retailers back then started calling the month ''Def Jam December.''
Since then it has blossomed into just another month on the release schedule, at least for the majors. Retailers say the releases drive traffic, and they particularly like the ones arriving Dec. 26, one of the year's best shopping days. ''It makes sense to have releases that day, particularly if you look at all the kids coming into stores with gift certificates,'' said Super D's vice president of purchasing and marketing Thuy Ng.
In fact, ''the gift-card business has grown substantially over the last 10 years, so titles that come out on that day benefit'' from that phenomenon, Trans World music divisional merchandise manager Jerry Kamiler said.
Source: http://www.yahoo.com
POSTED BY ED CHRISTMAN
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