Music

Bollywood culture spread from its native India in the 1980s to capture the imagination of British and European audiences. These days, as world music has become an important part of the folk canon, Bollywood music numbers fans worldwide, both among a transient Indian community and explorative Western ears.

Exotic, but lighthearted, even at its most melodramatic, Bollywood music scores are the Indian equivalent of Broadway musicals in many ways. Vibrant and emotional, with brief tragic and melancholic passages, and usually a happy over-the-top ending, it is light, popular entertainment that merges tradition and religion with modern cultural mores.

A.R. Rahman

Though not a Bollywood film at all, Danny Boyle's 'Slumdog Millionaire' did more to spread Indian culture than the British Empire, and along with it Indian film music. But, then, A.R. Rahman's brilliant score, which included collaborations with British born vocalist M.I.A., was a perfectly pitched display of evocative eastern music, paired with what easily translated as Western pop hits. 'O... Saya,' one of Rahman and MIA's songs, was nominated for an Oscar. It did not win. However, Rahman's 'Slumdog' soundtrack won him two Oscars -- Best Original Score and Best Original...

Most of the time, music soundtracks consist of blasphemous cover songs, B-side disasters, lead singers led astray, or overplayed hits of yesteryear usually performed by Otis Redding. If not, music soundtracks usually come with an original score matched with one or two epic theme songs from the likes of fist-thumper Celine Dion or '80s stalwart Bryan Adams. Throughout the years, however, some soundtracks have really resonated.

Here's a collection of the ten best music soundtracks.

10. '2046'
 
This is the highly atmospheric soundtrack from Wong Kar Wai's 2004 film that features a series of instrumental tracks that tug at your emotional heartstrings, including several from the London Symphony Orchestra.

9. 'The Crow'

Not every track works here, but Nine Inch Nails' excellent cover of Joy Division's 'Dead Souls' and the Cure original 'Burn' make it well worth a listen. The soundtrack broke through thanks to Stone Temple Pilot's 'Big Empty,' but those two aforementioned tracks are as good as it gets.

8. 'Dirty Dancing'

Nobody puts Baby in a corner, and. Choice tracks on this highly successful album include Bill Medley and

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There is a plethora of pop culture blogs on the 'net that cover all walks of entertainment, but only a few focus solely or almost entirely on music. OK, that's not true, but it is rare to find a music site that sticks out like Rick Astley at a clambake. Here are five -- not including our sister site Spinner.com -- that will tickle your fancy. Listen.

Stereogum

One of the best sites on the Internet for indie rock music news, concert coverage, videos, free downloads, and album streams. Whether it's concert photos of a Raveonettes show that happened five minutes ago or a Kanye West mash-up that's available as a free MP3, let your ears and eyes chew on it daily.

Brooklyn Vegan

For up-to-the-minute music info in the New York area (or if you just wish you were in the New York area), this reliable blog is a daily must-visit. Find out tour dates, tips, reviews, MP3s, videos, and occasional free concert scoops.

Nah Right

Find out the latest on Kid Cudi, 50 Cent and more on this one-stop hip hop shop. News, fashion, interviews, and videos are just some of the items covered.

Live Music Blog

True to its

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Concerts and live performances are a staple of the music industry for artists and fans alike, but the question of how to sell concert tickets is one that is often overlooked.

Some concerts offer free admission, but typically tickets are sold to generate revenue for the artists performing as well as the organizers of the event. As music sales continue to struggle and illegal downloading becomes more and more commonplace, ticket sales make up a very significant and crucial portion of the music industry.

Most people are familiar with how to purchase them, but knowing how to sell concert tickets is a whole other discipline, as there are various laws to consider. Here are some options.

Tap Your Friends and Family!
The classic, simple solution. Sell concert tickets at face value directly to friends and family members you know. You might not be able to find a sitter or someone to cover your shift at work, but your next-door neighbor might have a free evening and cash to spare.

StubHub
StubHub is a popular online ticket marketplace that facilitates third party ticket sales. Those looking to sell concert tickets on StubHub are never contacted directly by prospective buyers and can adjust their own ticket prices at any time. As the site does most of the marketing for you, this is an efficient, easy way to sell concert tickets online. Users are expected to follow...

Since the days of Jean-Baptiste Lully and George Bizet, music has always been a crucial part of France's artistic community. Today, the top French music artists represent a wide variety of styles and genres, and have influenced musicians worldwide.

Chanson
Chanson (which means "song" in French) is a traditional style of music that remains popular today. Top French artists in this traditional style include Mireille Mathieu, Édith Piaf and avant-garde singer Brigitte Fontaine. A more commercial, modernized form of 'chanson' is known as 'variété,' made popular by artists like Matthieu Chedid, Francis Cabrel and Alain Souchon, to name a few.

Rock
Some of the top French music artists specialize in rock, a genre which was made popular in the '50s when the Elvis Presley invasion reached France's shores. Today, the country has a unique rock scene with a style all its own. Phoenix achieved...