Releases by 50 Cent
and Mariah Carey helped Universal Music Group earn the title of bestselling label
for 2005. Mariah Carey’s The Emancipation of Mimi and 50 Cent’s
The Massacre sold almost 10 million copies. According to the Hollywood
Reporter, the albums helped UMG snag a 31.7% percent market share. Sony BMG ranked
#2 with 25.6% percent based on Kelly Clarkson’s#### album Breakaway,
which sold over 4 million copies. Warner Music Group landed in third place with
a 15% market share, while EMI ranked last with a little over 9%.
Miami, Florida
based label Southbeat Records has signed rising producer Jim Jonsin as an equity
partner and executive with the label. Jonsin’s is currently riding at
the top of the charts as producer of Jamie Foxx’s#### single “Unpredictiable.”
Jonsin has also produced hits for Pretty Ricky, Twista, Trick Daddy and Pitbull.
“In a long tough career, it’s very refreshing to come across people
who share my vision, passion and ethics,” Jonsin said. “These are
some real people here at SouthBeat and I am in it for the long haul.”
Southbeat will rely on Jonsin’s skills to produce albums for their current
roster, which includes former Slip-n-Slide singer J-Shin, Wrekonize, Rayito
and Mayday! J-Shin’s new Jim Jonsin produced single “If I Fall In
Love” is going for radio adds this month.
D4L’s success
continues as their hit single “Laffy Taffy” set a new one week record
for sales of a single download. The single, dubbed “Snap” music,
sold more than 175,000 downloads last week, thanks to the sale of various digital
music players during the Christmas holidays. D4L topped Kayne West, the previous
record holder. West’s single “Gold Digger” set the previous
record when his single moved over 80,000 downloads in September of 2005.
