As you may already be aware, we’re big fans of Spotify at Base Magazine. So much so that unlike many of you, I pay the monthly fee for the premium service! Today, the award winning digital music service added 13 new apps to its desktop client, including offerings from all the major labels  (Universal, Sony, EMI), plus a few big indies (Domino, Matador).

The coolest apps (to me) is Complete Collection which allows you to read the album booklet while listening to the music (cool for folks like me who grew up reading credits) and The Legacy App, which allows you to delve into the catalog of iconic artists like Bob Dylan and Miles Davis. Other dope apps, include the Billboard Charts app, which allows you to keep up with what’s currently charting without having to make your own playlist weekly, a great addition considering Spotify spins are now taken into account for the charts.

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The Billboard Chart rules have seen quite a bit of amendments in the past couple of years. Without doubt, this is Billboard’s attempt to modernize a system to reflect the true nature of the current state of the digital music scene. The latest change to make its way to the charts is the sources by which Billboard collects their data. Once locked to radio play, physical sales, digital downloads and video streams, on Thursday, “Billboard will begin to publish a new chart — On-Demand Songs — that ranks singles according to the number of times they were listened to on those six Internet services — Spotify, Rhapsody, MOG, Slacker, Muve Music and Rdio. That data will then be folded into the Hot 100 chart, along with tallies of streams from sites like Yahoo, Myspace, Guvera and Akoo. ” (NYT).

As a premium subscriber of Spotify, I think this makes a lot of sense. I buy digital singles when I like song enough to want to access it in the (now rare) times when I am away from my laptop or unable to access a viable internet connection with my mobile device. With Spotify, I may not pay directly for that one single, but I am paying for access to it, and shouldn’t that demand on my end be as worthy as me spending $0.99 on a single?

What’s most interesting about this development is how it could now shine a light on artists who are often marginalized or relegated to success within the streaming market without totally hitting the main stream. Artist that my friends champion like James Blake, Jamie Woon, Skrillex and Janelle Monae, may make more of a mark on the charts that they did before, which may also encourage radio to be a bit more adventurous  in their programming choices.  Even with all that said, the chart still gives the greatest weight to sales, followed by radio play, and then online streaming, so if you want to see your fave hit #1 on the charts, don’t abandon your iTunes…yet.

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We here at Base Magazine would like to congratulate Beyonce and Jay-Z on their first baby girl, Blue Ivy Carter. Blue (or Ivy as I like to refer to her as) was born Saturday at a “healthy 7 lbs,” according to both Beyonce and Jay and the two parents couldn’t be happier. According to some reports, the name Ivy came from the Roman Numeral for four (IV), which has significance to both parents. Jay decided to show his happiness in the song below called “Glory,” which talks about the experience of now becoming a parent. The song even sheds light on how B had a miscarriage at one point and features Ivy towards the end crying (the child was just born and is already featured on a song smh). With family and friends such as Gaga, Gwenyth Paltrow, Rihanna, and her Destiny’s Child bandmates, Kelly and Michelle, Ivy will certainly be growing up with plenty of love…and money and will probably be spoiled rotten. Give the song a listen below and let us know what you think!

Glory – Jay-Z feat. Blue Ivy Carter by Warhol2011

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Just note next time you’re dubbing to a Vybz Kartel song and he says some off the wall, next level, violent sh*t, he might not be joking.

The new #TeamLightSkin member was hit with a second murder count in connection with the August murder of Jamaican party promoter Clive “Lizard” Williams. Kartel, known for his sexually agressive and violent lyrics and well as his recent decision to bleach his skin, is one of the most popular contemporary dancehall stars on the island. Since September 30th, Jamaican police officials have held him in custody in regards to charges stemming from the death of promoter Barrington “Bossie” Burton. He will most likely remain in custody with this new charge.

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Elba is best known for his role as intellectual drug dealer Stringer Bell on HBO’s acclaimed series, The Wire. As well as roles in Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, Takers and Obsessed.

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Frontman Abel Tesfaye is one of many acts and DJs including A-Trak, Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ Nick Zinner, and Black Lips who will also appear at the event which will launch VICE.com. (Source)

Look for a sea of snapbacks invading Fort Greene next week….

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Bad news for comic turned late night host George Lopez! After giving up his spot to  Conan O’Brien a few months ago and watching his  ratings for Lopez Tonight slide, Lopez, pictured above with Janet Jackson, got a pink slip from TBS!  Thursday night’s show at midnight will be the final Lopez Tonight, the cable network said in a statement.

“TBS has reached the difficult decision not to order a third season of ‘Lopez Tonight,’” the network said, adding that it was proud to have worked with the “immensely talented comedian and entertainer.”

Are you sad to see Lopez Tonight go?

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To help promote her upcoming album, 4, Beyonce has decided to partner with Target to release an exclusive deluxe edition of the album that will feature three additional songs, three remixes, as well as an exclusive version of the “Run The World (Girls)” music video. The deluxe version is available for pre-order on the Target website and will also go on sale, June 28th. B is also doing a countdown on her website everyday until the album is released, in which she will reveal a new song, image, and special insight on that particular song. If you’re a fan, it’s pretty cool; today’s song was “1+1,” which she explained was her favorite off of the album. About the album, Beyonce describes it as “musical gumbo…a melting pot of musical styles.” Make sure to check out the site and look at the hot new promo pics below!

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Check out Beyonce’s ad for her latest fragrance, Pulse, which is set to be on shelves this September. Pulse, which is B’s third fragrance, follows the success of Heat and Heat Rush and is said to have scents of pear blossom, peony, midnight blooming jasmine, Madagascar vanilla, and bluebird orchid. About the new fragrance, Beyonce says that Pulse represents her stage persona, Sasha Fierce, and “is a fragrance you can wear all the time.” Based on the success of her last two fragrances(which smelled pretty amazing actually), Pulse is sure to fly off the shelves. Will you be getting yourself a bottle?

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Finally, after weeks of teasers and promos, the “Run The World (Girls)” music video has been set to premiere this week on Wednesday during American Idol. With a lion, hyenas, and an army of fierce dancers, I cannot wait to see what Queen B has in store for us; let’s hope the video lives up to the hype!!  Be sure to check back here, on Base Magazine, Wednesday night for our review of the video.

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