WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog/media/feedlogo.gif WalletPop Blog http://www.walletpop.com/blog en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Need help releasing an album? Vicky Emerson does it herselfhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/12/cant-get-signed-to-a-record-label-vicky-emerson-does-it-hersel/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/12/cant-get-signed-to-a-record-label-vicky-emerson-does-it-hersel/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/11/12/cant-get-signed-to-a-record-label-vicky-emerson-does-it-hersel/#commentsFiled under: ,

These days it take a lot lot of business savvy to get noticed in the music world. But of course, ultimately you want to be able to focus on the craft of making music. In our ongoing look at how to make it in the music business today, WalletPop sat down with up-and-coming star Vicky Emerson to discuss how she created her own music business, and how important it is to balance creating music with managing your business.

Frustrated at the hardships indie artists face recording and promoting their own music, Emerson decided to try a different route. After being bombarded with fan e-mails and sometimes even letters offering financial assistance, the young Americana singer set up a series of CD Sponsorship Events around the country, raising $10,000 in four weeks to record and self-release her new album Long Ride. She continues to raise funds to promote her album through the intimate sponsorship parties. Emerson represents a growing trend in American music. If the desire for your product is strong enough, there's always a way to feed the public, especially if you're willing to take the jump.

Continue reading Need help releasing an album? Vicky Emerson does it herself

Need help releasing an album? Vicky Emerson does it herself originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>featuredIndie music businessIndieMusicBusinessmaking it in the indie music businessMakingItInTheIndieMusicBusinessmusic businessMusicBusinessVicky EmersonVickyEmersonWalletpop interviewWalletpopInterviewAriston AndersonThu, 12 Nov 2009 12:00:00 ESTFree Movie Friday: Inner city storieshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/28/free-movie-friday-inner-city-stories/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/28/free-movie-friday-inner-city-stories/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/28/free-movie-friday-inner-city-stories/#commentsFiled under:

Crime! Street gangs! Murder! Revolutionary education! You'll find it all in this week's addition of Free Movie Friday as we look at inner city films. These amazing indies are all available free online. So click your mouse and start streaming now.

ACCELERATING AMERICA
Back to school is just around the corner. As schools across the country fight to hold onto falling budgets, take a look at one inner city school in Rhode Island that decides to take matters into its own hands. Accelerating America tells the story of a fearless principal, Robert DeBlois, a quadriplegic who knows how to beat the odds. He revolutionizes the education system by accelerating the studies of youths who are at risk of dropping out of school. It's sink or swim for three students, America, Jason, and Yazmine, and DeBlois is intent on making them succeed in this compelling documentary. Watch it on Fancast.


Continue reading Free Movie Friday: Inner city stories

Free Movie Friday: Inner city stories originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>extracurricularfeaturedFree Movie FridayFreeMovieFridaymoviesAriston AndersonFri, 28 Aug 2009 12:00:00 ESTFree Movie Friday: Work, work work, TGIF!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/14/free-movie-friday-work-work-work-tgif/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/14/free-movie-friday-work-work-work-tgif/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/14/free-movie-friday-work-work-work-tgif/#commentsFiled under:

TGIF is all I can say. After a long week, what better way to unwind then going home and watching a free movie? Of course, no film adequately portrays a case of the Mondays like Office Space, but here are a few ones you may not have seen that address the workplace grind. You'll be ready and willing to face Monday after seeing some of the stress and insanity in these free online films:

Suits
Sunday night marks the Season 3 premiere of Mad Men (woohoo!) and I hope you're preparing for your viewing party with lots of '60s cocktails and apps. But check out Suits while you're at it, Mad Men for the modern age. It's a lively film that follows another war between suits and creative types as two rival ad agencies vie for a scandalous major account. It's a must-see comedy, even if just for the early performance by The Office's Steve Carrell. Watch it for free on YouTube.

Pushing Tin
Remember when Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton were married? Yeah, I don't either. But you can watch their onscreen love in this workplace classic, Pushing Tin, which also stars John Cusack and Cate Blanchett. One place you'd like to be sans drama is an air traffic control room. Fat chance in one of the most highly stressed jobs there is. See the drama unfold in this delicately-played machismo rivalry.

Mr. Laughs: A Look Behind the Curtain
After heading to the theaters to see Funny People, head to SnagFilms to check out this original look at the stand-up comedian industry. Sal "Mr. Laughs" Richards is a tireless worker aiming to gain his place on the stand-up circuit. It's an intimate documentary with testimonials from some of the greats: Sid Caesar, Don Rickles, Red Buttons, Jerry Stiller, and more.

Free Movie Friday: Work, work work, TGIF! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Fantastic FreebiesFantasticFreebiesfree moviesFreeMoviesrecreationAriston AndersonFri, 14 Aug 2009 17:00:00 ESTEternal slumber above Marilyn Monroe on sale for $500,000http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/14/buy-the-crypt-above-marilyn-monroe-for-500-000/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/14/buy-the-crypt-above-marilyn-monroe-for-500-000/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/14/buy-the-crypt-above-marilyn-monroe-for-500-000/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

What would you pay to lie eternally on top of Marilyn Monroe?

In what has got to be one of the most obscene gesture yet in this recession, a Los Angeles woman is proving you're not even safe in death. She's putting her husband's prime crypt real estate, directly above the bombshell blonde, up for sale on eBay, with bids opening at $500,000, reports the LA Times. Is nothing sacred?

The Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park cemetery is home to a slew of celebs including Merv Griffin, Natalie Wood, Dean Martin, Mel Torme, Truman Capote, and now Farrah Fawcett.

Continue reading Eternal slumber above Marilyn Monroe on sale for $500,000

Eternal slumber above Marilyn Monroe on sale for $500,000 originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>deathmarilyn monroeMarilynMonroeAriston AndersonFri, 14 Aug 2009 14:00:00 ESTFree Movie Friday: Win tickets to see Captured!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/07/free-movie-friday-win-tickets-to-see-captured/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/07/free-movie-friday-win-tickets-to-see-captured/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/07/free-movie-friday-win-tickets-to-see-captured/#commentsFiled under:

Ru PaulIf you've spent any time in the Lower East Side in New York, you may have noticed a strange boarded up gallery on Essex St., that boasts the Patterson Gallery and Outlaw Art Museum, a dark storefront full of painted mannequins and other odd delights. Or you may have noticed a photographer roaming the streets, sporting a black baseball cap, covered in wonderful iconic embroidery. You've just encountered the legendary Clayton Patterson.

No one documented the Lower East Side in the 80s better than Patterson, through photography and early videography. Whether it was the Alphabet City squat riots, the battle of Tompkins Square Park, or just the day to day life of punks, trannies, artists, bikers and boarders, Patterson was there to document it all. And through the amazing documentary Captured, you'll see his story through his own eyes. It's a must-see portrait of the historical LES.

WalletPop is teaming up with Cinetic and Dailymotion to give away 10 free pairs of passes to a special screening this upcoming Wendesday, August 12 in New York. For your chance to win, e-mail events-us@dailymotion.com with the subject line "WalletPop." Ten lucky winners will be chosen at random.

Not in New York? Don't fret. You can watch Captured for free, beginning Friday, August 14 at Daily Motion.

CAPTURED

Wednesday, August 12
7pm Cocktails, 8pm Screening

Free Movie Friday: Win tickets to see Captured! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>expire-images:2010-6-3free filmsfree fridaysfree moviesFreeFilmsFreeFridaysFreeMoviesmovie passesMoviePassesAriston AndersonFri, 07 Aug 2009 14:30:00 ESTToo busy to find a date? Get a Virtual Dating Assistant!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/01/too-busy-to-find-a-date-get-a-virtual-dating-assistant/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/01/too-busy-to-find-a-date-get-a-virtual-dating-assistant/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/08/01/too-busy-to-find-a-date-get-a-virtual-dating-assistant/#commentsFiled under: ,

As a pharmaceutical sales executive, Mark Anderson was constantly traveling. He had trouble meeting women, and decided what any reasonable man would do: master the art of online dating. Problem solved.

Except the process became way too time consuming. So he decided to outsource the task to his virtual assistant, who was already paying his bills, managing his schedule, etc. Hey, it beats having your real assistant set you up on blind dates. Um, embarrassing.

Mark Anderson wanted to get in on the action of online dating. He joined forces with his longtime friend Scott Valdez to form Virtual Dating Assistants.

Continue reading Too busy to find a date? Get a Virtual Dating Assistant!

Too busy to find a date? Get a Virtual Dating Assistant! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>online datingonline dating servicesonline dating tipsOnlineDatingOnlineDatingServicesOnlineDatingTipsAriston AndersonSat, 01 Aug 2009 15:00:00 ESTFounder Tim Westergren on the future of Pandorahttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/31/founder-tim-westergren-on-the-future-of-pandora/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/31/founder-tim-westergren-on-the-future-of-pandora/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/31/founder-tim-westergren-on-the-future-of-pandora/#commentsFiled under:

Pandora is the brilliant brainchild of Tim Westergren, who founded it to satisfy the need for Internet radio through the highly scientific music genome project. And up until recently it was free. Many fans were upset that the site is now charging its users. But Westergren maintains that they created a model that works for everyone.

For the user who doesn't want to pay anything, they're allowed 40 free hours a month. For the user who might listen more than this, but doesn't want to sign up for anything long term, they can pay 99 cents month-to-month, for unlimited listening with advertising.

And the third option, is Pandora One, a $36 per year subscription program for people who want to either support Pandora, or want to pay for a higher quality experience with added features and no advertising.

Today Pandora is doubling in size annually, and also doubling in revenue annually. They have built a team of 50 in advertising sales, and are really banking on their existing models, as well as serving as innovators in online advertising such as audio advertising.

Continue reading Founder Tim Westergren on the future of Pandora

Founder Tim Westergren on the future of Pandora originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>musicpandoraAriston AndersonFri, 31 Jul 2009 18:00:00 ESTFree Movie Friday: Girl Power onlinehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/31/free-movie-friday-girl-power-online/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/31/free-movie-friday-girl-power-online/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/31/free-movie-friday-girl-power-online/#commentsFiled under:

This week's addition of Free Movie Friday brings you a few online flicks with one thing in common: heroines with embeddable girl power. So gather some gal pals, pop some corn, and huddle around the screen for your weekend of free empowering female films online.

What's Your Point Honey?
Whoever said woman can't succeed in politics? This pointed documentary shows that while one woman may have put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, it's still a tough world out there for women in leadership. The film follows seven possible female contenders through their political ambitions, revealing that the grass ain't so green on Capitol Hill for the female sex.

Continue reading Free Movie Friday: Girl Power online

Free Movie Friday: Girl Power online originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 15:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Fantastic FreebiesFantasticFreebiesfree movie FridayFreeMovieFridayAriston AndersonFri, 31 Jul 2009 15:45:00 ESTMiller Lite tries to sell you on costly beer in a boxhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/30/miller-lite-tries-to-sell-you-on-costly-beer-in-a-box/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/30/miller-lite-tries-to-sell-you-on-costly-beer-in-a-box/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/30/miller-lite-tries-to-sell-you-on-costly-beer-in-a-box/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Talk about bad marketing.

As the recession wanes on, beer sales continue to decline across all markets. According to the WSJ, recent sales of Bud Light, the No. 1 seller in America, have fallen 5.5%, while Heineken, the No. 9 brand, fell 15%. So rather than create a new product, the beer companies are just repackaging the same old stuff.

To revive its Miller Lite brand, whose sales have recently fallen 7.5%, MillerCoors has begun testing a 1.5 gallon, $20 box of home draft. The box of beer stays fresh in the fridge for up to 30 days, and costs roughly 15% more per ounce than the same 18-pack of beer.

According to Andy England, chief marketing officer at Miller Coors, told the Journal, "We're really trying to meet that occasion when you just got back from work and want to reward yourself," instead of beer for "the party occasion." They're attempting to target the 30% of beer drinkers who prefer the taste of draft beer over bottled or canned beer.

What's the problem here? This is Miller Lite we're talking about. The taste difference of a glass of Miller Lite poured from a bottle and that poured from a home tap is negligible. The 30% of beer drinkers who prefer the taste of tap beer might just have been talking about beers that actually taste like something besides water.

Cheap beers like Pabst Blue Ribbon or Bud Light are best tasted straight out of the can or bottle. A home draft of Miller Lite is certainly not worth the added 15% price tag. Save the mini-keg or home tap for a real beer.

Follow Ariston Anderson on Twitter here.

Miller Lite tries to sell you on costly beer in a box originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>beermiller liteMillerLiteAriston AndersonThu, 30 Jul 2009 15:00:00 ESTA conversation with MySpace Music President Courtney Holthttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/30/qanda-with-president-of-myspace-music-courtney-holt/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/30/qanda-with-president-of-myspace-music-courtney-holt/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/30/qanda-with-president-of-myspace-music-courtney-holt/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MySpace Music has long been THE place on the web for established and emerging artists. For many musicians, MySpace has become their primary website, as it offers a free platform for publishing music and connecting with fans.

There are more than five million artists with MySpace music pages, and each year about 250 of those are exposed. MySpace Music President Courtney Holt describes it as "obscurity chasing opportunity to be noticed." Numerous top artists have emerged from platforms like MySpace into record deals, such as Sean Kingston, Taylor Swift, Drake and Lily Allen. Arguably, even the Jonas Brothers got their start on MySpace. And even more importantly, they come back. Katy Perry used the site to release unsigned music before she won her EMI deal. And now she's using MySpace with her second record launch to reignite her fanbase.

We spoke with Holt at the New Music Seminar to learn more about how MySpace is helping to bridge the gap between new media and the old music industry. Holt, throughout his career in the music industry, has been instrumental in embracing technology and innovating new ways for labels to promote artists. So it was only natural he ended up taking the reigns at MySpace Music, to build new tools, launch new artists, and analyze data to help the suffering music industry find some solutions to their woes. Helping the music industry understand how new media is the key to unlocking the future of the biz is a big job, and Holt is just the man to do it. Read on to learn his game plan.


Continue reading A conversation with MySpace Music President Courtney Holt

A conversation with MySpace Music President Courtney Holt originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Courtney HoltCourtneyHoltfeaturedmusicMySpaceMyspace musicMyspaceMusicnew musicNewMusicrecording industryRecordingIndustrytechnologyup and coming bandsUpAndComingBandsAriston AndersonThu, 30 Jul 2009 10:00:00 ESTSo you wanna make it in the music biz? Here are the new ruleshttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/25/so-you-wanna-be-a-rockstar-here-are-the-new-rules/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/25/so-you-wanna-be-a-rockstar-here-are-the-new-rules/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/25/so-you-wanna-be-a-rockstar-here-are-the-new-rules/#commentsFiled under: ,

The music industry in general has been slow in playing catch up to the tools of new media. While record labels and publishers are still fighting to maintain ownership of their properties, there's a whole new world of new media elite who are working to find tools to empower musicians and to build a bridge between the new media and the old media.

Whether it's putting music online for free, working to build an online community, or simply starting a dialogue, the folks seeking out answers are quickly replacing the stagnant ways of old media.

I decided to check out the New Music Seminar in New York City this week to find out just how musicians are becoming empowered.

The mastermind behind the conference, Tom Silverman, founder of Tommy Boy Entertainment, started the New Music Seminar in 1980, to discuss the future of the business then.

Continue reading So you wanna make it in the music biz? Here are the new rules

So you wanna make it in the music biz? Here are the new rules originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>musicAriston AndersonSat, 25 Jul 2009 15:00:00 ESTFree Movie Friday: Indie crime flicks onlinehttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/24/free-movie-friday-indie-crime-flicks-online/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/24/free-movie-friday-indie-crime-flicks-online/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/24/free-movie-friday-indie-crime-flicks-online/#commentsFiled under: ,

It's that time of the week again, for Free Movie Friday!

As more and more movies go up for free online, we've got the best of the best for you to check out. And this week, my personal favorite, Indie crime flicks. If you're in the mood for an over-the-top bank heist, start streaming these hot flicks and start your weekend off right.

Wild Seven: If you liked Ocean's Eleven, you'll love Wild Seven. Well, minus Brad Pitt, George Clooney, and Matt Damon, but this is one smart crime drama that wasn't remade two times over. A career criminal, fresh out of prison, rounds up a gang to target an easy bank. But when a group of high-rolling 20-somethings begin to target the same bank to fuel their drug, booze, and women lifestyle, they threaten to thwart the plan for everyone. Starring Robert Loggia, Robert Forster, and Richard Roundtree. The film is streaming for free on Babelgum.



Kwik Stop was nominated for an Indie Spirit Award when it came out for its daring male lead Michael Gilio. There's nothing I love more than a good con-artist story. A young grifter, Lucky goes on a westward road trip, with the goal of knocking off a few gas stations on the way. When he meets another pretty young drifter, she convinces him to take her along for the ride. It's a perfect little American film both stylistically and emotionally engaging. Now on Hulu.

Under the City, based on true events, is a gritty Chicago thriller shot for a mere $60,000. When an ex-con attempts to rebuild his life and family, he is thrown headfirst into Chicago's underbelly sex trade. He is forced to kidnap a little girl in order to save his own. Redemption ain't free in this modern film noir. Check it out on Fancast.

Follow Ariston Anderson on Twitter here.

Free Movie Friday: Indie crime flicks online originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>free movie FridayFreeMovieFridaymoviemoviesonline moviesOnlineMoviesQuik StopQuikStopUnder the CityUnderTheCityWild SevenWildSevenAriston AndersonFri, 24 Jul 2009 18:00:00 ESTRecall: There's dairy in my sorbet!http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/21/recall-theres-dairy-in-my-sorbet/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/21/recall-theres-dairy-in-my-sorbet/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/21/recall-theres-dairy-in-my-sorbet/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sorbet is a simple food for people who have shunned off dairy like myself. The best sorbet has three ingredients, sugar, ice and fruit (or a chocolate liquor if you must). It's hard to mess it up. But when two major supermarket chains have recalled sorbet products for possibly having dairy, you know it's not a safe world for vegans or lactose-challenged people out there.

Both Giant Food and Stop & Shop announced Friday they are taking select products off of their shelves, after being informed by the supplier that the pints were improperly labeled and could contain dairy.

A wise move, lest they run into any angry lactose-intolerant consumers out there. Dairy allergens can be life-threatening, and vegans, well we all know how mad vegans can get.

The culprits are "Nature's Promise" lemon and strawberry-flavored sorbet as well as "Espo's" mango, lemon, and raspberry sorbettos. Be on the lookout for these brands, and if you've already purchased them, take them back to the store for a full refund.

It's a tough world out there for people with limited diets or food allergies. A recent independent study tested 17 local LA vegan restaurants, and found that seven of the restaurants carried food made with animal products.

With any processed food, you never really know exactly what you're getting. It's enough to make you want to sit at home and just eat fruits and vegetables all day. Me? I'm off to my local gourmet dairy-free ice cream shop, StoGo, aka the best thing ever.

Recall: There's dairy in my sorbet! originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>dairyEspoGiant FoodGiantFoodNatures PromiseNaturesPromiserecallssorbetsStop and ShopStopAndShopVeganAriston AndersonTue, 21 Jul 2009 12:00:00 ESTRedbox vs. Old Hollywood: who's going to win this time?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/20/redbox-vs-old-hollywood-whos-going-to-win-this-time/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/20/redbox-vs-old-hollywood-whos-going-to-win-this-time/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/20/redbox-vs-old-hollywood-whos-going-to-win-this-time/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Redbox, the bright red kiosks 17,000 strong around the country that rent new and old releases for a mere buck a day, have long been the bain of studio releases. Whereas studios get a portion of rentals from Blockbuster and Netflix, Redbox offers no such deal, forking over only the cost of the rental DVD. As a result, they can keep their rental prices low.

While DVD sales are expected to fall by 850 million this year to $12.9 billion, the portion of that slated by kiosk sales is expected to grow by about $125 million to $415.3 million. Many studios are realizing that while it's a disagreeable model, it's a model they can't ignore, and when sales are this low, they need to take what they can get. (Does this sound familiar at all...hmmm...online movies?) While DVD sales continue to plummet, many studios, including Disney, Lionsgate, and Sony, are biting; quietly cutting deals with Redbox, and hoping to collect a meager, but immediate, profit of a DVD sale.

Continue reading Redbox vs. Old Hollywood: who's going to win this time?

Redbox vs. Old Hollywood: who's going to win this time? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>BlockbusterDVD rentalsDVD salesDvdRentalsDvdSalesfeaturedHollywoodkiosksonline moviesOnlineMoviesRed BoxRedBoxAriston AndersonMon, 20 Jul 2009 16:00:00 ESTWho can save the electric car?http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/13/who-can-save-the-electric-car/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/13/who-can-save-the-electric-car/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/13/who-can-save-the-electric-car/#commentsFiled under: ,

When Neil Young set out last year to transform his 1959 Lincoln convertible into an electric car, he had a dream in sight: to make electric cars the norm, traversing highways from coast to coast. Teaming up with Wichita mechanic Johnathan Goodwin, the duo created the car as a model for a mass-produced electric-powered automobile. The electric car is definitely becoming the standard in cool eco-conscious circles. From a converted classic Lincoln to the sporty Tesla, move over Hybrids.

The documentary Who Killed the Electric Car? theorized that big business and oil industry lobbyists squashed the idea of the electric car, which otherwise might be something as common as a bicycle. But with rising oil prices, fleets of un-sold SUVS, and government programs for greater technology funding, the electric car is reemerging as an American dream once again. This year's auto show in Detroit presented a wealth of plug-in cars, and nine car companies have vowed to release an electric car on the marketplace by 2013.

Continue reading Who can save the electric car?

Who can save the electric car? originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>electric carElectricCarAriston AndersonMon, 13 Jul 2009 17:30:00 ESTFree NYC outdoor movies all summer longhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/13/free-nyc-outdoor-movies-all-summer-long/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/13/free-nyc-outdoor-movies-all-summer-long/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/07/13/free-nyc-outdoor-movies-all-summer-long/#commentsFiled under: ,

If you can get past the muggy summer days of Manhattan, one of the huge perks of living in the city is the wealth of free outdoor events held every season. A variety of festivals hold concerts, operas, street fairs, and our favorite: outdoor films.

There's nothing quite like watching a movie on the big screen alfresco. It's the perfect excuse to call a group of friends, gather some great picnic food, and voila, the perfect budget night. Times listed are suggested starting times, as the films begin as soon as it gets dark, but we recommend arriving early to secure your perfect blanket spot.

Here's your guide to free outdoor movies all summer long:

Our favorite, the River to River fest, which is presenting films this year on the Elevated Acre at 55 Water St., a hidden open air plaza on the southern point of the South Street Seaport facing the East River. All the films have a New York theme, just the way we like it.
  • The Taking of Pehlam 123 (the 1974 original) July 13, 8 p.m.
  • West Side Story, July 20, 8 p.m.
  • Sweet Smell of Success, July 27, 8 p.m.

Continue reading Free NYC outdoor movies all summer long

Free NYC outdoor movies all summer long originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>budget datesBudgetDatesfeaturedmoviesNew York CityNewYorkCityoutdoor moviesOutdoorMoviesAriston AndersonMon, 13 Jul 2009 17:00:00 ESTPet Shop Boys on love in the time of the credit crunchhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/02/pet-shop-boys-write-social-history-1983-2009/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/02/pet-shop-boys-write-social-history-1983-2009/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/02/pet-shop-boys-write-social-history-1983-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,

Ever since the mid-1980s, the Pet Shop Boys have seen the world as a London dance floor. They're nearly as celebrated for their smart, chilly dance pop ("West End Girls," "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)") and their arch cover versions ("Always on my Mind," "Where the Streets Have No Name"). The duo, Chris Lowe and Neil Tennant, met in 1981, and a lot has changed in 28 years. But their 10th album, Yes, new this spring, is typically complex and passionate, blending delightful experimentation with masterful pop.

Tennant spoke with WalletPop about how the Pet Shop Boys' work has documented social history, how to make a living with music videos no longer appearing on MTV, and musicians' latest professional challenges.

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Pet Shop Boys on love in the time of the credit crunch originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>80s pop stars80sPopStarsfeaturedinterviewmusic stars and moneyMusicStarsAndMoneyPet Shop BoysPetShopBoysAriston AndersonTue, 02 Jun 2009 20:00:00 ESTProject Runway alum Fern Mallis defends Bravo's The Fashion Showhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/02/project-runway-alum-fern-mallis-defends-bravo-s-the-fashion-show/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/02/project-runway-alum-fern-mallis-defends-bravo-s-the-fashion-show/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/02/project-runway-alum-fern-mallis-defends-bravo-s-the-fashion-show/#commentsFiled under: ,

We grew to know and love Fern Mallis, the mastermind behind New York Fashion Week, after she regularly guest starred on Project Runway, advising the top finalists toward their very first (and usually last) fashion week show.

But after Project Runway was caught in programming limbo, as the Weinsteins tried to move their hot reality property over to Lifetime, Bravo decided to step up to the plate and create their own show, The Fashion Show.

The casts are very similar. Fashion designer Isaac Mizrahi hosts, while Fern Mallis plays a judge, replacing Tim Gunn and PR regular Michael Kors. And Kelly Rowland was tapped to play Heidi Klum, minus the German catchphrases.

We caught up with Mallis at the W New York Upfronts gifting suite, where the new TV star was enjoying some of the perks that come along with the job, like picking up freebies like bags by Radley London, Desert Essence coconut body wash, a dress from Yansi Fugel, and recycled speakers from Fashionation.



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Project Runway alum Fern Mallis defends Bravo's The Fashion Show originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>bravobravo tvBravoTvfashionthe fashion showthe fashion show bravoTheFashionShowTheFashionShowBravoAriston AndersonTue, 02 Jun 2009 18:00:00 ESTKatrina Bowden loves her gift-suite swag and her "30 Rock" swaggerhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/02/katrina-bowden-loves-her-gift-suite-swag-and-her-30-rock-swagg/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/02/katrina-bowden-loves-her-gift-suite-swag-and-her-30-rock-swagg/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/02/katrina-bowden-loves-her-gift-suite-swag-and-her-30-rock-swagg/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Last month, the TV industry converged on Manhattan for the annual upfronts -- the period when the networks pitch their fall series to advertisers to attract large "upfront" ad commitments.

Traditionally, the upfronts have meant a grand celebration, full of celebs, musical acts, programming previews, parties with gourmet food and drink, and lots of swag -- er, deluxe parting gifts -- exchanged in hotels' special "gifting suites."

But that was all scaled back after the 2007 writer's strike. Today, many networks have opted instead for smaller "roadshow" presentations to advertisers. With the recession in full bloom, even the swag is more modest than in upfronts past. Still, some still felt the value of media coverage outweighed their modest impulses, and they went in, again, for a big show.

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Katrina Bowden loves her gift-suite swag and her "30 Rock" swagger originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>swagAriston AndersonTue, 02 Jun 2009 13:30:00 ESTMoney advice from 30 Rock's Judah Friedlanderhttp://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/01/money-advice-from-30-rocks-judah-friedlander/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/01/money-advice-from-30-rocks-judah-friedlander/http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/06/01/money-advice-from-30-rocks-judah-friedlander/#commentsFiled under: ,

Like no show on TV right now, 30 Rock has continuously dealt with the recession, turning a tragic situation into something hilarious. Whether it's investment bankers interning at 30 Rock or the crew bonding together to save their jobs, it's given us many laughs throughout the season.

So we turned directly to the source to interview Judah Friedlander, who plays the lovable writer Frank on the show, who dealt with his own career dilemma of becoming a corporate lawyer, or staying on as a TV writer. Judah is also known nationally for being a teen idol, and being the champion of the world, which means he's undefeated in, well, everything. He also manages to get by with a stand up routine or two here and there.

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Money advice from 30 Rock's Judah Friedlander originally appeared on WalletPop Blog on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>30 Rock30RockfeaturedhumorJudah FriedlanderJudahFriedlanderstand-up comedyStand-upComedyAriston AndersonMon, 01 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST