Independent Record Labels You Should Know

From independent icons like XL Recordings and Sub Pop to newer teams like 88 Rising and Mind of a Genius, here are some of the essential labels you should know. As always, we encourage you to do your own digging and share your own favorites with us, but as long as you discovered just one new label, artist, or piece of music that you love from this list, then we did our job.

From legendary indies to internet-based upstarts, these labels are all doing something special.

What Songs Will Last A Lifetime To You?

Whether you listen to rap, dance, hip-hop, techno, country, jazz, rock-n-roll, or pop music, the Wrap-Up Magazine would like to know, what song last a lifetime to you?

Nielsen Music, the industry-standard information and sales tracking sector, released a mid-year report highlighting 2020's current most popular genre. Stats reveal hip-hop as America's favorite and most influential genre, so far.

If you’re a songwriter, I would think that longevity is something you strive for when writing a tune. You want your music to live on, especially if your career doesn’t. We love the nineties. The nineties gave us grunge and gangster rap as well as (unfortunately) a cringeworthy combination of the two.

Additionally, the 1990s gave us Nirvana, Beyonce, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Beck, The Fugees, Snoop Dogg, Green Day, and Smashing Pumpkins. The following decade is when pop truly took over, followed closely behind by rap. It’s when rock started to fade a bit despite stellar offerings from Kings of Leon and Green Day.

Key Moments In Hip-Hop History

 

Hip hop is more than music; it’s a cultural movement that incorporates different elements of art. Before there was Lil Yachty, Young M.I.A., or YNW Melly, there was a world of hip hop artist who's name rain supreme even still today.

Back when music was real, artist had the opportunity to shine in their own distinctive way. Rap is one of the most distinctive features of hip-hop. Rappers use rhythm, lyrics, and vocal tone to express themselves. The best rappers are distinguished by their “flow” – the way the words run together without the performer getting tongue-tied.

Inside Kelly Clarkson Multi Million Dollar Tennessee Mansion

 

Kelly Clarkson is an American singer-songwriter, actress, author and television personality. She rose to fame in 2002, after winning the first season of American Idol, which earned her a record deal with RCA Records. Clarkson has sold over 35 million albums and 55 million singles worldwide. She has had 27 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, with three number one songs and eleven in the Top 10. 

Her accolades include three Grammy Awards, three MTV Video Music Awards, four American Music Awards, and two Academy of Country Music Awards. Billboard has hailed Kelly Clarkson as "one of pop music's greatest singers" and honored her with the Powerhouse Award for her vocals. Clarkson became the first artist in history to top each of Billboard's pop, adult contemporary, adult pop, country, and dance charts. She was ranked nineteenth on VH1's list of 100 Greatest Women in Music. Clarkson also ventured into film, television, and writing children's books. She currently serves as a coach on the competition series The Voice and hosts the daytime talk show The Kelly Clarkson Show.

Submit Your Music To Industry Leaders

The Wrap-Up Magazine like to let artist know about opportunities in the music industry as they come up. The Wrap-Up Magazine is a website that list current opportunities and projects for musicians to learn about, and if interested, submit their music to for consideration. 

Top 5 Reasons DJs Make The Best Producers

Those who know their history understand that DJing is the fundamental element of Hip Hop. Before the MPC, SP1200 or FLStudio, Emcees rocked over instrumental beds provided by DJs. The role of today’s hip hop producers is the natural evolution of this relationship, and here are 5 reasons DJs make the best producers.

If you want to be Hip Hop’s next big Producer, don’t purchase Fruityloops or Reason.... BUY SERATO! While that may sound odd, a quick look at some of Hip Hop’s top hit makers will clearly illustrate the strong connection between DJing and great production. Just google the discography of DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, Timbaland or Swizz Beats, all of which cut their teeth as DJs prior to becoming some of the most influential producers in hip hop.

Iggy Azalea or Jennifer Lopez?

 

Jennifer Lopez has been climbing the charts in our Celebrity Match Up's category. This time J.Lo is placed up against Iggy Azalea for fans to choose against.

Once again, the website Wrap Up Magazine are asking fans to engage in this topic. Who do you think is the better performer out of Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Lopez? Do you think one look better than the other? Or maybe one has a better sound of music you prefer.

Understand Whitney Houston And Dolly Parton Hit Song "I Will Always Love You"

Most fans of Whitney Houston today never knew she was connected to country music singer Dolly Parton. Dolly Parton and Whitney Houston will undoubtedly remain connected through their smash hit song “I Will Always Love You.”

"I Will Always Love You" was the second of five consecutive #1 Country hits that Parton had after establishing herself as a solo artist. Parton later recorded a second version of this song for the 1982 film The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, which she starred in along with Burt Reynolds. The second version not only became a #1 Country hit (like the first version), but also became a crossover hit, reaching #53 on the Hot 100.

When this song was chosen for the 1992 film The Bodyguard, it proved to be a huge benefit for both Parton and Whitney Houston. For Houston, it provided her signature song, showcasing her otherworldly talents as a singer. Her version became a worldwide success in pop music, earning huge royalties for both artists. Dolly Parton's country ballad was now familiar to audiences of pop, soul, and adult contemporary.

Michael Jackson Top 5 Music Videos

Members of the Wrap-Up Magazine pledges to never cut Michael Jackson from any of our playlist. This time Michael has been entered into our Top 5 section for our music readers.

After Michael Jackson was released into our Fans Favorite catalog, fans of MJ agree that the article was on point. With many responses to the blog, the Wrap-Up Magazine has decided to releases the Top Five music videos of Michael Jackson.

Promoting Your Music To The World

Promote Your Music Worldwide. Get Heard by Millions! If there is any way that we can help, we would be happy to. Promoting your music can be tricky when there are so many other talented artist in the world.

The ability to self promote your music can make the difference between playing to a packed house or just being a local star. Music blogs long ago surpassed magazines like Rolling Stone as the authorities on the best of what’s next in the music world.

We make it easy to promote your songs, collaborate with other musicians, and encourage fan feedback on social networks. We are an Ohio based multimedia entertainment company that delivers up to date Pop, Urban and world news to a constantly growing multi diversified audience of young people.

Gain relationships with fans from all over the world. TWUM has multiple ways for artists to promote their music!

Download Your Copy Of The Album Today

College DJ Mixtape Submissions

Celestine Chukumba is the host of the hottest college music mixtape on the planet. Want to get your music on it?  They feature all genres of music Hip Hop, R&B, Rock, Alternative, Pop, Reggae, and Dance music.

What If Michael Jackson Was Alive, What Would You Want To Ask Him

What would you do or say if Michael Jackson was still alive today? If Michael Jackson was alive today, would he still be making music, and still be the king of pop?

At the time of his death, Jackson was still a huge draw, particularly in Europe. He was still an active performer, and his last album, Invincible, had been put out in 2001, eight years before he died. It was a huge seller around the world at the time.

And his health was not good-had he not died, he in all likelihood might have been too ill to continue to be an active touring, working musician. Touring and public appearances are a lot of work, and Jackson just wasn’t well. And as we now know, his This is It tour was controversial because the sponsors of that tour basically put pressure on Jackson to commit to a heavy schedule while knowing he wasn’t in very good health.

OZOMATLI Releases #NewMusic “Fellas” Ft #SpecialGuests J.J. Fad @ozomatli

 

Two-time Grammy award-winning band, OZOMATLI, are releasing new music today, “Fellas,” featuring special guests J.J. Fad (“Supersonic”) and Lisa Lisa of Cult Jam fame (“I Wonder If I Take You Home”, Can You Feel The Beat”, “Head to Toe”), iconic hip hop pioneers and R&B queen of the 80’s pop music scene. Freestyle fanatics can listen to the track, here.

Has Rock-N-Roll Always Been Apart Of Hip-Hop Culture?

Yes Hip Hop has always been apart of the Rock culture! Rock and Rap song were some of the best ever made still today! For an institution that is dedicated to immortalizing rock and roll’s greatest heroes, there are many inductees in there who are not quite typically thought of as rock artists.

You’ve got Grandmaster Flash, Run-DMC, Miles Davis, Madonna, and Tupac in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The confusion behind these inductees lies not with the quality of their work, but rather the categorization of it.

There are four other artists who have been nominated but have yet to be inducted—Afrika Bambaataa, LL Cool J, Eric B. and Rakim, N.W.A—and four more groups who have been considered for the ballot but who have not yet been nominated—Boogie Down Productions, De La Soul, the Sugarhill Gang, and the Treacherous Three.

Is Beyonce Right About Racism in Country Music?

 

Beyoncé recently took to Instagram to announce that her ‘Act II: Cowboy Carter’ album was arriving in 10 days. Along with that, the pop star vocalist spoke candidly on her experiences with creating country music within the last few years, alluding to racist experiences she encountered along the way. 

Top 5 Stores To Buy Britney Spears Perfume

Spears is regarded as a pop icon and is credited with influencing the revival of teen pop during the late 1990s and early 2000s. She has also been named the princess of pop music.

The Wrap-Up Magazine has released the best stores to shop for Britney Spears fragrances online.

Spears' personal struggles led her to be placed on a still ongoing conservatorship. Britney Spears is one of the most successful pop stars ever, with an estimated US$59 million net worth.

Britney Spears has 22 perfumes and a lot of the time she'll put them in her videos; the 'Perfume' video has her 'Fantasy' perfume, which is sort of a winter scent. Spears released her first fragrance, Curious, in 2004, followed by Fantasy in 2005. She earned a reported $12 million for Curious.

Rihanna Says She Just Wants to 'Have Fun With Music'

It’s been four years since Rihanna released an album but the singer is working hard on recording new music. The pop star, 32, told The Associated Press for her new album she’s already held “tons of writing camps” — where songwriters are put into groups to create original tracks for artists. Now, she said she’s asked herself the questions: “What do I feel personally? What do I want to put out, and as an artist, how do I want to play it with my art? How do I want to interpret that?”

“How do I want to reimagine it because it’s been so structured before,” Rihanna continued in a recent interview. The multi-genre artist who has won Grammys in the R&B, dance and rap categories added: “You do pop, you did this genre, you do that, you do radio, but now it’s just like, what makes me happy? I just want to have fun with music. Everything is so heavy. The world that we live in is a lot. It’s overwhelming every single day. And with the music, I’m using that as my outlet.”

What's Your #FavoriteSong From Christina Aguilera?

 

Referred to as the "Voice of a Generation", Christina Aguilera is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and television personality. She is credited as one of the artists responsible for reviving teen pop in the late 1990s. Aguilera has used her vocal ability to address such topics as sexuality, feminism, and domestic violence.

INgrooves Music Seeking Artist For Label Deal

(The Wrap-Up Magazine) INgrooves Music Group is seeking emerging Urban & Pop acts for label deal within our INresidence program. They take talented, high-potential acts into our organization with full label, promotions, marketing, and project-management services from one of the premiere distributors of independent music in the world.

Please submit if you can show:
- recent sales history or streaming success (if available)
- consumer demand for your music - strong social media and music following (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Soundcloud, YouTube, etc.)
- touring base/fan support - good marketing plan and rollout - solid label infrastructure and team support.

CLICK HERE To Submit To This Listing HERE

Mariah Carey Top 5 Music Videos

Mariah Carey

Mariah Carey has been touching heart with her music for years. With that being said, TWUM has put together one of the best presentation of music videos by Mariah Carey you have ever seen.

Mariah Carey is an American singer and songwriter. Referred to as the "Songbird Supreme" by the Guinness World Records, she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, vocal power, melismatic style, and signature use of the whistle register.

Take a look at her Top 5 music videos of all time below. We encourage you to leave a comment if you feel there should have been other videos selected.