the death of the record industry.

Reportedly, Itunes is now the number one music provider, surpassing the incumbent Wal-Mart who used to be the biggest music seller in America.

Album sales have been suffering ever since the Napster boom. After downloading for free became illegal, the next best thing was Itunes, where you could purchase a song for $0.99. After all, who would spend $12.00 on the entire album, “The Dutchess,” when “Glamourous” is clearly the only good song? Thanks to services like Itunes, we have the option of picking and choosing the songs we buy, instead of having to suffer through “Fergalicious” and “London Bridge.”

Apple claims that Itunes has sold over four billion songs since it began five years ago. That doesn’t even encompass the movies, podcasts and audiobooks that have also become available in recent years.

What are the implications for the declining record industry? We’re not sure, but it’s not looking good. As long as we have the choice of purchasing what we like one song at a time, it’s going to be more and more difficult to sell music in album form.

Story and Images by Joyce Chen

She doesn’t ask for much – a smile, a tip of the hat, just a smidgen of respect for her craft. Large silver earrings glinting under dim lights, eyes closed with the kind of emotional energy fit for a stage diva, Juliana Lisk croons jazz into her microphone with all the self assurance of a veteran songstress, all the soul of a mature thespian mid-monologue.

Her striking Afro is pulled back away from her face with a simple band, a grey woolen coat standing out in stark contrast to her deep chocolate skin, revealing her wrists and the hands that hold her microphone so carefully. There is nothing showy about her dress or her demeanor, but the intensity with which she holds her small corner of the tube station warrants a second glance.

She’s in her own element.

Only the occasional soft thump of coins hitting her pail interrupts the smooth flow of song, her words gliding like spoken rhythms over the clatter of train tracks and the pattering of feet as people bustle to and fro around her.

London Underground’s stage may not be glamorous, with fluorescent lights glowing in place of a dramatic lounge spotlight, but it’s a stage filled with character – an integral part of London culture that more than justifies the location.

“The best thing about busking is undoubtedly the fact that you meet so many people, and through people you can get to know yourself,” Lisk said. “I would perform even if no one were listening, but because there are obviously people passing by me, listening to my songs, I feel like I’m working through them and hearing my own voice reflected back at me. I think it makes me a stronger singer.”

Lisk, who started busking in tube stations throughout London three months ago, explained that for her, busking is all about performance and contributing to a better London Underground culture.

“Some passersby really enjoy the performances because it gives them a lift in their day to hear you sing,” she said. “The best thing that’s ever happened to me is when a man who was passing by dropped flowers into my tin. It was unexpected and such a sweet gesture. People often stop to have a chat with me as well, which brightens my day because I feel as though I’ve made a small difference in theirs.”

Busking, the act of live performance in public spaces, has long been an iconic part of the London Underground scene, and though its presentation has changed, the very nature of the practice hasn’t. Once associated with homelessness or begging, busking in the heart of one of the world’s most diverse cities now means being a part of a close-knit, fully functioning music community.

Thelondonpaper and radio station Capital 95.8 are the official joint sponsors for all tube buskers, and Londoners familiar with the music and energy of underground performers are now also accustomed to the bold pink and purple areas that demark the boundaries of busking.

The decision to legitimize buskers and regulate the underground music scene came about four years ago, said Dean Haynes, the busking site manager at the Oxford Circus tube station. Buskers are now required to go through three-minute auditions to qualify for busking licences, and must perform a minimum of 60 pitches at smaller stations to prove their dedication before moving onto more popular tube locations. “Buskers now have to pay their dues before they’re able to advance to more coveted areas,” Haynes said. “It sets a certain standard for hopeful musicians, and this way, we’re also less prone to having illegal buskers in our hallways.”

With the changing system came a few complaints from veteran buskers concerning the negative impact these regulations could have on the community. Busking, by definition, is meant to be spontaneous, a showcase of artistic impulses in the public domain. However, Haynes noted that the sentiments are split 70/30, with the majority of buskers supporting the system.

“It’s a legitimate concern, that there are more buskers springing up all the time, but not more places for them to busk,” Haynes said. “Sure, there are certain buskers who are annoyed by the new rules because they’ve been doing this for ten or 15 years and are now being asked to audition. But for the most part, buskers are happy to go through the process because it legitimizes what they’re doing.”

Singers like Lisk said they find camaraderie in the support they receive from their peers, and added that aside from honing their skills, busking offers them the ultimate test as performers: total vulnerability at the mercy of the public.

Tashomi Balfour, a 19-year-old busker, understands the pressures of public performance all too well. He explained that he has become a very different performer than he was when he first started playing the saxophone in the underground a year ago, and attributed much of his improvement to the support he receives from the busking community.

“When I first started, there was a lot of fear involved,” he said. “I was overly concerned about a lot of people’s first impressions of me, how they would judge me because I was just a performer in a tube station. I worried about what my peers would think, because no one we knew was doing the kind of thing I was doing. But now, I know what I’m doing, I know why I’m here, and the fear is a thing of the past.”

Nowadays, Balfour, who stands tall at 6 feet, in baggy jeans and a white sports jacket, has shed his insecurities. He confidently performs approximately four hours a day and doesn’t flinch from the attention his lively saxophone-playing garners – good or bad.

“A lot of buskers play what others want to hear and not what they want to play, because whether they admit it or not, busking is still meant for the masses,” he said. “That’s not me, though. I play what I want to, because at the end of the day, I don’t want to spend two hours at a time, playing music I don’t even like. I feel like I play music because it’s what I’m passionate about, and if there happen to be people who appreciate it, all the better.”

Lisk’s mantra is no different. The command of her vocal prowess is strengthened not only by the occasional smile or coin, but by her own love for the music as well. As Londoners hurry on their way to work, to home, to the rest of their day, Lisk stands still, completely enveloped in her own little space of the Underground. Every time she busks is another chance for her to shine in the limelight before her own audience of one.

Want more information on busking? Check out thelondonpaper.com or their audition page.

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Estelle

Already no. 1 in the UK, Estelle is demanding attention from American fans with her single, “American Boy” featuring Kanye West. The singer released her newest album “SHINE” last month under John Legend’s new record label, HomeSchool Records.

Already a success in her home country of England, Estelle is becoming recognized as being the first lady of hip hop in her home country.

The premise for “American Boy” was actually a bit of a joke, said Estelle to The London Paper. She recorded it with Will.I.Am and both of them agreed that though the lyrics were a bit of a stretch, the entire song just worked.

With lyrics like “And no I aint been to MIA, I heard that Cali never rains and New York heart awaits. First let’s see the west end,” the song is a mix between funk, old school, and R&B. Estelle sings over the electronic beat with a subtlety that’s far from being saccharine but still warm and sweet.

We predict that Estelle will become another British diva following in the steps of Leona Lewis. With the backing and acknowledgment of Will.I.Am, John Legend, and Kanye West, who’s to say she can’t do it?

Wanna see her perform? She’s touring all throughout the U.S.

Here are the locations and dates:

Judging from the echoing strains of “forgiveness” in the song used in the trailer, I predict this movie will be deeper and less comedic than the original HBO series.

The Pop Fix predictions for the Sex and the City movie…
-Steve cheats on Miranda, but they stay together anyway, hence the “forgiveness” song.
-Charlotte is finally impregnated by Harry, and the happy couple ends up with on Madarin adoptee and one biological child.
-Samantha moves to Los Angeles with uber hottie boyfriend, actor Smith.
-Carrie and Big plan a huge wedding, which becomes a problem when things get out of control. They eventually cancel the whole thing, but stay together simply because they’re Carrie and Big, and that’s what they do.

Are we right? Are we wrong? Not even close? We’ll have to wait for the film to hit the big screen on May 30th!

We can’t wait!

Ever wanted to hear a woman actually spew vitriolic words of hatred towards another woman on TV without that annoying beep taunting you every two seconds? Did you really want to see a naked wo(man) on television without that stupid censor blurring out all of their goodies? Well, unlike the U.S., television in the UK is very liberated and is able to broadcast everything you would ever want to see on HBO without it becoming some cheap porno. After ten o’ clock, don’t be surprised to see a woman calling another woman a f***ing b**** ass c*** for pulling her t*** without her permission while semi-naked in a diaper. Pure magic. Pure uninhibited television. Pure British culture.

Not only does the UK have the classiest shows like Vanity Lair, a show where ten self-proclaimed “perfect 10s” vote out the ugliest house mate, they show them in a way that will leave you flabbergasted and wondering how something so crude could be shown on your very own boobtube (no pun intended.)

But what makes British television worthwhile is that between these whoreiffic shows are the most hilarious and innovative commercials saturated with British wit and creativity.

Here is a list of the top five hilarious British commercials shown on television these days. From a man kicking a grizzly bear in the balls, to a woman biting a piece of a man’s bum bum off, you will be left questioning why the Brits don’t make commercials for the States.

5.

A dramatic opening focused on a very intense gorilla’s eyes and nose with Phil Collins playing in the background. What is this commercial about? You’ll never guess.

4.

A woman bites a chunk out of a man’s butt. Another woman steals a man’s arm. Two women lick a man’s face until it melts. Sound like a commercial you’d like to see? Yeah, us too.

3.

Women absolutely hate it when their spouse does stupid things. Like gambling away their savings, not having an income, or cheating with another woman. But some things are just downright unforgivable like what this man does in this commercial. Watch and learn, men!

2.

Whoever thought that a dog like the kid series Wishbone could help sell a car? Who knew that a dog had some real soul in him and could sang a bad tune? Great marketing for VW. Without this commercial with this brilliant dog, viewers would be laughing at the car rather than laughing with it. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t laugh at a car named…Polo?

1.

A man hunts for salmon. A man gets into a Tekken 4-like scuffle with a grizzly bear. A grizzly bear reverse roundhouse kicks the man with the prowess of a fat Tae Kwon Do master. Who will win? Hmm…

After all the public fights, near drug overdoses, and rare conjugal visits, one might ask, “What keeps them together?” I can’t shed much light on the subject, but I do know that the beauty of their relationship is that they’ve seen one another at their absolute worst, and still love each other. While many relationships are shrouded in mystery, deception, and lies, Blake and Amy made a “for better or worse” commitment to each other on their first date to crack-alley. Oh, young love!

(image via RollingStone.com)

Blake and Amy have something that very few of us will ever share in a relationship. And, no, I’m not talking about needles, crack-pipes or hallucinations. This drugged-out duo shares an existence on another plane of reality that members of sober society can never hope to understand. How many people on this earth are familiar with the euphoria of snorting Absinthe and Adderall? How many times have you thrown a bottle of wine at your boyfriend when your argument about which drug dealer to call got a little heated? How often do you wake up to find your girlfriend, who recently lost control of her bodily functions, sleeping on the bathroom floor? Until we familiarize ourselves with these experiences, how can we hope to ever understand Blake and Amy’s relationship? I’m not even going to try, the task is too daunting.

When it comes to Blake and Amy, we have to remember that love is similar to a powerful drug. The highs are strong and addicting. Coming down is the worst feeling in the world, and withdrawals are miserable. But unlike drugs, love is the only overdose I’d like to see Blake and Amy experience.

My frozen snot gushed out of my nostrils like a Mountain Dew slurpee filling a 16oz. 7-11 cup. As I looked at my hands I realized that the purple color was not from gloves, rather, my leathery, semi-frostbitten hands. I felt that my chicken legs were shaking so fiercely I knew I just had to look like a rooster flapping its wings during mating season. It was the worst weather I’ve experienced at any time of my life (I’m from Colorado, mind you) and I knew I was going to be sick. Sure, the city was perfectly picturesque, like one of those montages you see in paintings, or described in manuals or seen on the History Channel, but the bloody cold ruined everything for me.

Before I left on this excursion, my friend had offered me three tablets of Airborne, the pill that turns water into a magical elixir preventing any cold, anytime, anywhere.

Yes, I’ve taken Airborne before. I actually bought several bottles in the past years and have consumed these tablets at every “first sign of cold or flu symptoms.” But they never worked for me. I always got sick after religiously downing this fizzy, grapefruit flavored “remedy.” All of my friends told me that they never got sick after taking Airborne, and that it really did work. I guess I was the only one who didn’t think some flavorful chalk wrapped in a tube worked…until recently.

It’s funny, because earlier this month, Airborne was sued for scamming customers into believing that the “drug” was actually a “drug.” They were sued specifically for falsely advertising and by stating that the tablets were “clinically tested.”

On a “Good Morning America” drugstore investigation, it was exposed that Airborne was no more than just vitamins. The “school teacher” that we read about on every box of Airborne who created the tablet, Victoria Knight-McDowell, finally admitted that the pill is not a cold remedy.

“I would never sit here and tell you that it’s a cure for the common cold,” she said to Good Morning. “We don’t know if Airborne is a … cure for the common cold. What Airborne does is it helps your body build a healthy immune system. When you have a healthy immune system, then it allows your body, on its own, to fight off germs.”

More so, when they said it was “clinically tested” it was literally tested by two individuals.

The statement made by this school teacher is way different from what it says on the box and in ad testimonials where it’s supposed to get rid of most colds in an hour and how it is a “miracle cold buster.”

Airborne eventually lost the lawsuit and is now refunding any customer who was swindled into purchasing the chalk-tablets.

I suppose when my peers and friends told me that this tablet really “does work” they were experiencing the placebo effect, a phenomena that occurs when one believes something so much they trick their body and brains into experiencing it, which blows my mind. At this point, I’m so impressed by the placebo effect, I’m thinking of creating multi-million dollar concoctions of my own. How about concentration tablets guaranteeing a perfect LSAT score made from Skittles? Or face wash made from Tide detergent? How about an invisible condom (If I believe that I won’t get pregnant so much, I won’t get pregnant!)

If you’ve been personally duped into purchasing Airborne, go here for a settlement.

For more information on the settlement, check this site out.
As for me, I’ll stick with my own traditional remedies–a bottle of Scotch and Whiskey always does the trick.