Folks– take a listen to “Champion,” the first single from Darwin Hobbs’ upcoming project of the same name.  As a reminder, the full album– the first live recording of his career– is due on June 8th.

“Champion” is a song empowering and encouraging people– we’re overcomers… we’re champions.  The track is already ripping through radio and I think you’re gonna like it.

It’s got a praise & worship, battle cry type of vibe to me… definitely a song intended to be DECLARED!  I can see praise teams giving it a go on Sunday mornings…

AND, word has it that Darwin Hobbs has just signed a recording deal as the FIRST artist on Imago Dei/Universal, a new label venture by none other than MAX SIEGEL (former President of Verity Records).  WOW… Congrats Darwin!

Click here to listen to “Champion,” then leave a comment to let me know what you think!

I have to admit that I don’t know much about this new artist YET (emphasis on the “YET” part), but I’m definitely gonna be doing my research for y’all cuz I think she’s reeeaally good.

Her name is Indigo and she’s a new artist, soon to be released on Universal Music Group.  She was recently featured on the One Love Gospel Cruise and on the Yolanda Adams Morning Show.  I watched her video and I thought “ummm… yes… we like!”

I could see her doing very well with Christian young women.  Role model-y and what not.  And I really like the song!  Note to BET: please put her video in the 106 & Gospel rotation so we ain’t gotta keep seein’ _______ (Y’all can fill in the blank as you see fit!)

Check her out and lemme know what y’all think! And check out the website for her ministry: http://www.jesusgroupie.com. Pretty cool stuff!

Hey, folks.  BIG NEWS.  BIG!

Yesterday, Apple announced that it would remove digital rights management software (DRM) from all music sold on iTunes.  What does that mean?

Well, you know how if you buy music through iTunes, it comes in a weird file type that can’t be played on devices other than the iPod and iPhone, and it can’t be copied?  Yeah, so… that’s over.  And that’s MAJOR.

Consumers, and Apple, wanted the DRM software removed from songs for a while.  They wanted to be able to copy purchased music from one computer to another, or to play the music on a non-Apple music player, or whatever.  But the record labels didn’t want to provide DRM-free music (except EMI, which has already been giving DRM-free music through iTunes– thanks!).  They felt that the 99-cent song price was too low to allow folks to just be copying all willy-nilly.  And there’s your compromise…

In exchange for the other three major labels (Sony, Universal and Warner) providing DRM-free music, iTunes agreed to change its pricing structure.  Starting in April, the majority of songs will be only 69 cents, while the biggest hits and newest songs will be $1.29.  Tracks that are moderately popular are still 99 cents.  Labels will have control over that.

This, I think, is good.  The music biz has been floundering for years.  In 2008, CD sales were 20% less than what they were in 2007, so you KNOW the labels were mad.  Meanwhile, iTunes was doing alright, boasting 2.4 billion songs downloaded in 2008 alone!  Now, labels will have more leverage in pricing their songs (for example, they can release popular tracks at $1.29, and keep the song’s life cycle going by decreasing the price later… like they used to do with CDs).  And, iTunes is happy cuz more consumers will buy from them instead of other music sites (I, for one, started going to Amazon.com where I was able to get .mp3′s for the same price, without DRM restrictions on ‘em).  Win-win situation.  And who knows how this will help the music industry as a whole?!  Nowhere to go, but UP.

What do y’all think???