Apologies for Hip Hop Press Service Disruptions

Service disruption due to Founder's ongoing birthday celebration will continue intermittently. Our sincere apologies!

Down For the Count

Hip Hop Press will resume operations on the morrow.

Hip Hop Press: Updated Posting Policies Moving Forward, Emerging Quality Controls

See also:
Promotional Opportunities at ProHipHop & Hip Hop Press

Updated Posting Policies Moving Forward, Emerging Quality Controls

We did a poll regarding posting mixtape announcements here at Hip Hop Press over the last couple of days and the results were decidedly mixed.

Given that the question was somewhat rigged against mixtape announcements, we will continue posting them. However, running the poll helped us think through what we were really after with that question.

In the past, we've run numerous items that weren't necessarily intended as press releases though the folks sending the news seemed happy enough at the additional exposure.

But it's time to start focusing on the actual press releases in the traditional sense with the following components:

a) Headline

b) Text with a newsworthy announcement
[longer than a couple of sentences, not just a bio or dominated by a lengthy about section]

c) Press Contact w/email or phone number

There will still be some flex but we are also considering additional quality controls such as [drumroll please] requiring correct spelling and grammar.

We're going to move slowly on that because it's going to upset people when they're told that they're not spelling well or using grammar correctly.

So be it.

If you have any questions about your release, please write Clyde at:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Promotional Opportunities at ProHipHop & Hip Hop Press

See also:
Hip Hop Press: Updated Posting Policies Moving Forward, Emerging Quality Controls

Promotional Opportunities at ProHipHop & Hip Hop Press

Since the guidelines for submitting materials for ProHipHop and Hip Hop Press have shifted over time and since what we do is somewhat different from what other hip hop blogs and websites do, no matter how similar we may at first appear, we want to clarify the promotional opportunities and how best to take advantage of them.

Core Concept:

All promo materials, press releases, newsletter subscriptions, etc. should go to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Use of any other email related to associated sites, from ProHipHop to netweed, is not a good look at this point in time. If an email address ends in prohiphop.com or in netweed.com that isn't hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com please discontinue use and remove from your mailing lists ASAP unless we're engaged in a personal dialogue at those addresses.

What We Don't Do:

We do not do album reviews, artist interviews or artist features.

We do not post MP3's or mixtape links.

We do not post videos of live concerts, behind the scenes action, interviews, people shouting drunkenly at the camera, trailers for the trailer of the trailer, videos that start out with a big ass shaking in your face or a gun being fondled as if it was your best friend, videos that insult the viewer.

What We Do Post:

Press releases that are timely and primarily filled with news or information that we have not posted before at Hip Hop Press.  Such releases should include a designated press contact with email or phone number.  They can be cut and pasted into the email or attached as a Word .doc or .pdf file and sent to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Album cover art, ideally with a source from which it can be preordered.  We rarely cover albums after the fact and generally prefer albums being released in hard copy via Amazon.

Videos: music videos of completed singles, hip hop ads and viral promotional videos that either involve using hip hop to promote something else or promoting hip hop products and events in a creative manner.

At ProHipHop: hip hop business related stuff including album releases and singles in the form of music videos.

At Hip Hop Press: press releases related to hip hop, R&B, urban arts & fashion and the music industry.  The Urban Arts & Fashion categories covers a rather wide range including fashion, African-American comedians and actors, visual arts, urban models and other topics that, broadly defined, fit under the arts and fashion umbrella.

We do not post releases about jazz, Carribean music including reggae, rock, folk and other genres of music that are neither hip hop nor R&B and do not cover athletes without an additional tie-in to the core categories at Hip Hop Press.

Exceptions and Anomalies:

There are examples of exceptions to all these rules but they typically involve a topic that's hot, a brand that's well known or something that catches Clyde's eye for ProHipHop.

General Rules of Thumb:

Arguing with us about what we cover generally works against you.  Explaining why you believe something fits is a smart thing, especially if you're sending press releases that aren't going up and you want clarification.

We often don't get to great material that we'd like to post.  We're sorry about that but we're doing the best we can.  However, if a press release doesn't go up at Hip Hop Press that you felt fit, write us, don't bombard us with additional copies as if we missed it.

Questions?

Use the comments below or send to: hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Hip Hop Press: AnonymousFeedback.net Mail to be Treated as Spam

Don't use this service to send us publicity announcements.  It's a bad idea for press outreach and all such messages will be treated as spam.

Question? Concerns?

Contact:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Hip Hop Research: Book List Now at 75 Academic Titles

Hip Hop Research, a blog by Clyde Smith devoted to documenting academic books about hip hop, has reached 75 titles.

There are more to come but it's already an impressive overview of the academic study of hip hop.

Big ups to Greg Schick at World Hip Hop Market who sent me a list of hip hop books to check out. Thanks!

Hip Hop Press: Directly Submitted Releases Now Indexed by Google News

Press releases submitted directly to Hip Hop Press are now indexed by Google News.  So if you haven't been submitting releases directly because we pick them up from other newswires, please reconsider.  And if we pick it up first elsewhere and you still send your release directly, we will update the release so it's included in the Google News feed.

Please submit all press releases to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

If you have questions, please hit us up there as well.

Hip Hop Press Will Resume Operations on Sunday

Sorry, gang!

Twitter Everything Feed Missing Headlines

Due to having to post more than 5 releases in a half hour, the Twitter Everything feed will be missing a few of this evening's headlines.

Delay of Game

Posting will resume this evening.

Update: Hip Hop Press Behind Schedule

Twitters:

Some headlines from the last hour of posting at Hip Hop Press may be missing in your feed.

General Update:

Normally Hip Hop Press attempts same day posting Sunday through Friday.

However, due to a field trip by office staff, Hip Hop Press is a bit behind.

We've gotten everything up that was received by noon Wednesday and will start from there on Thursday when we should get all caught up.

Thanks for using Hip Hop Press and, if you're new to our service, you can get free posting of press releases focused on hip hop, R&B, urban arts & fashion (including theater, movies and publishing) plus related music industry topics by sending them to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Directly submitted press releases may soon be included in Google News indexing.  I'll make an announcement if that works out but we've been approved and I'm hoping one thing will follow the other!

Your man on the web, Clyde Smith.

Hip Hop Research: Book List at 51 Academic Titles & Growing!

Hip Hop Research, a new blog from Clyde Smith devoted to documenting academic studies of hip hop, has reached 51 titles with more on the way.

Entries feature the book's cover art, when available, and basic links to WorldCat, a world library search engine, as well as options from Amazon and Google for checking out the book's content.

The long term goal is to use this book list as a basis for an annotated bibligraphy of academic studies of hip hop but it's pretty cool just to see what researchers have already accomplished in this area of study.

Please pass this news on to students, educators, researchers and folks who like to know what's up!

Twitter for Hip Hop Press Everything Feed May Be Missing Items

Today's Hip Hop Press Everything Feed for Twitter may be missing some items.

Subscribe to Hip Hop Press Everything Feed via:

twitter.com/hiphopprwire

RSS Newsfeed

Email/IM/Skype

Mobile Access:

prohiphop.mobi

rap1.mobi

Twitter Feed Options for Hip Hop, R&B, Urban Arts & Fashion and Music Industry Press Releases

Here are the updated Twitter feeds for all channels at Hip Hop Press except for the combined Everything Feed that would overload Twitterfeed service. The Hip Hop, R&B and Urban Arts & Fashion options are the same as before.

Hip Hop Press Releases

R&B Press Releases

Urban Arts & Fashion Press Releases

Music Industry Press Releases

Bonus:
Follow ProHipHop via Twitter.

Email/IM/Skype Sub Options for Hip Hop, R&B, Urban Arts & Fashion, Music Industry and Everything Feed Press Releases

Here are the updated Email/IM/Skype subscription options for all channels at Hip Hop Press including the combined Everything Feed. The Hip Hop, R&B and Urban Arts & Fashion options are the same as before.

Hip Hop Press Everything Feed

Hip Hop Press Releases

R&B Press Releases

Urban Arts & Fashion Press Releases

Music Industry Press Releases

Bonus:
Follow ProHipHop via Email/IM/Skype.

Hip Hop Press Reboots: Updated Feeds for Hip Hop, R&B, Urban Arts & Fashion and Music Industry Press Releases

Hip Hop Press is coming together quite nicely. I've now updated the newsfeeds for the site as a whole and for the subsections.

The feeds and subscription options for the old Hip Hop Press, RnB Press and Urban Arts & Fashion Press sites have been switched over to the new channel feeds. Plus, a Hip Hop Press Everything Feed and Music Industry Feed have been created with additional subscription options to follow.

Updated Newsfeeds:

Hip Hop Press Everything Feed

Hip Hop Press Releases Feed

R&B Press Releases Feed

Urban Arts & Fashion Press Releases Feed

Music Industry Press Releases Feed

Typepad has been acting up the last couple of days but I'm experimenting with a "post them as soon as possible" approach and it's already affecting Google placement and site traffic.

I'm going to be adding advertising options so, if you're interested in advertising on the site by CPM with traditional leaderboard, tower and box ads (on individual posts before the comments), drop me a line and I'll let you know as soon as the ad server's up and running.

Contact me and send all press releases and publicity material to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Hip Hop PR Wire is Closed Till Further Notice

Hip Hop PR Wire is down for the count and may or may not return at a future date.

You can blame The Recession, whoever he is.  I can feel his presence lurking but I've yet to see his face.

Please send all publicity materials to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Hip Hop Press Launching Music Industry Press Release Channel

As Hip Hop Press sorts out the merger with RnB Press and Urban Arts & Fashion Press, we're adding a Music Industry Press Release channel for cross-genre announcements from companies providing services on and offline to the music industry, though web platforms and services will get a special look.

Feeds/etc. to follow by Sunday.

RnB Press and Urban Arts & Fashion Press Moving to Hip Hop Press Site

I'm in the process of reorganizing things and have decided to merge RnB Press and Urban Arts & Fashion Press with Hip Hop Press.

Feedburner feeds, subscription options and Twitter feeds will remain the same though there may be a bit of bumpiness over the next couple of days.

The merger will create a Hip Hop Press home page and dated archives that will display press releases from all three previously separate blogs while topical themes will be found under the categories:
Hip Hop Press Releases
RnB Press Releases
Urban Arts and Fashion Press Releases

I'm also going to become more selective about which releases I run. Although I now occasionally reject releases for glaring spelling and grammar errors, moving forward correct spelling and grammar will generally be a prerequisite for inclusion, though slang and other nonstandard approaches will be honored as an element of these interconnected subcultures.

I apologize for the confusion around the different sites and related developments and I'm hoping this will not only clear up some of the confusion but also lead to a better look for the RnB and Urban Arts & Fashion press releases.

Questions, comments and publicity materials can be sent to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Clyde

Note:
Ads will be getting a little junkier and more annoying.  I guess that's the cost of free in a deepening recessions.  Though I'll probably pull that fat naked belly ad pretty soon cause it's getting on my nerves too!

All Press Release Submissions Now Go Through Hip Hop PR Wire

Hip Hop PR Wire is now in business with free posting and basic distribution of Hip Hop, RnB and Urban Arts & Fashion press releases.

Press releases for Hip Hop Press, RnB Press, Urban Arts & Fashion Press and Hip Hop PR Wire should be submitted here:
Hip Hop PR Wire: Submit

All other pr, newsletter subs, mp3's, news items, pitches, etc. can continue to go to:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Only press releases submitted via Hip Hop PR Wire will be considered for posting.  All relevant submissions will be considered for ProHipHop.

We will be rolling out Premium Services and a related Affiliate Program once we get the basics down.  You can sign up for a one-time only email announcement when they are available:
Premium Services

If you have questions or comments, please hit me back at:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

I updated a related post at ProHipHop and think it's worth adding here since it also applies to this post.

ProHipHop Update:
I pulled some fairly negative statements that I made from this info post. On the one hand, I hate the time I waste dealing with email sp@m and comment sp@m. But I know a lot of people in hip hop just think they're legitimately promoting themselves when they sp@m or are just trying to do too much and aren't thinking things through. It makes me sad that they waste their time and mine in the process

And, sometimes, it makes me angry that I can't get to other work cause I'm dealing with that or trying to find the best way to present what I have to say on the matter without alienating people.

It's unfortunate that some people persist in sending promotional email to my prohiphop.com address and, rather than embracing the fact that such contact is welcomed at hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com, they'd rather butt heads with a blogger than thank me and send it to the right place.

But that makes me really appreciate the pros at every level who see what I'm doing and recognize that I'm not like so many bloggers who don't say anything to you but just delete your blasts and so forth without a second glance. Which is their absolute right given the amount of material most active bloggers receive.

Adam Bernard has a very useful post related to this topic titled Major Self-Marketing Missteps that is useful to anyone doing web marketing. If his advice seems excessive, then it may be time to reevaluate your approach because what may appear to be restrictions are all intended to save you time, keep your brand clean and reach those folks who are receptive.

And why would anybody hate on that?

All Press Release Submissions Shifting to Hip Hop PR Wire

I've already gone informally to checking the hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com address every other day so now I'm making it official.  Anything submitted there since I last checked sometime yesterday evening will not be checked again till tomorrow evening.

No press releases will be accepted for distribution via that email address after February 1.  However, please continue to send all other publicity materials to that address.

For folks who want to take advantage of free press release posting at Hip Hop PR Wire with additional distribution to Hip Hop Press, RnB Press and Urban Arts & Fashion Press, all press release submissions should be Submitted at Hip Hop PR Wire.

Twitter Reboot: Pingvine FAIL, Back to Twitterfeed

Pingvine: not ready for primetime.

twitterfeed: limited, max 5 headlines per half hour, but trustworthy to date.

ProHipHop Debuts The Arabic Names Project

New Series by Adisa Banjoko Joins Adam's World Artist of the Week and Hypebot Music Industry News as Weekly Features

ProHipHop is delighted to announced the debut of The Arabic Names Project, written by Adisa Banjoko, as a regular series intended to "spread knowledge of the stories behind Arabic names and, in our own small way, help lessen uninformed prejudice against people with such names."

In honor of our new President, Barack Hussein Obama, the series begins with a brief discussion of Hussein/Husayn, a "common Arabic name, meaning "good looking boy".

The Arabic Names Project joins Adam's World Artist of the Week, a series by Adam Bernard featuring up and coming artists that launched in December, and Hypebot Music Industry News, a weekly news roundup by Bruce Houghton.

Check ProHipHop for these three weekly features as well as daily hip hop marketing and business news by Clyde Smith.

Looking for More Barack Obama/Presidential Inauguration News?

We've got relevant press releases appearing on all three press release sites:

Hip Hop Press: Releases

RnB Press: Releases

Urban Arts & Fashion Press: Releases

These three sites also include all press releases submitted via Hip Hop PR Wire which is technically a separate company from the ProHipHop family but we're all tight like that!

Have a Question About Your Release?

Hey, I accidentally deleted an email asking about the submission process.  Please resend if you notice this.

I know this changing process has been a bit confusing and some of it I've been figuring out as I go so that hasn't helped.

In any case, please always feel free to check in and see what's up if you have questions:
hiphoppress(at)netweed(dot)com

Clyde