Getting a record deal is the musician equivalent of a high school ball player making it pro, only with fewer head injuries and lower odds of an overdose. Two albums into my career as a rapper, I had a hit song, and the recording industry whisked me off to Hollywood. My fairy tale lasted 11 months...

AT&T will offer Beats Music subscriptions with monthly smartphone service and promote the bundle heavily. In addition to the $10 individual plan, AT&T will sell a family plan for $15, giving separate Beats accounts to up to five users — a deal that puts Beats far ahead of its competitors, which have never landed such a far-reaching integration with a major American phone carrier.

The Hollywood Reporter's ranking of the top 10 music schools reveals a unique hierarchy of institutional standing. Based on a survey of academic and entertainment insiders -- including composers, arrangers, music supervisors, editors and engineers from The Society of Composers & Lyricists -- both traditional conservatories and innovative programs that funnel talent to Hollywood resonate among those who have graduated to the professional sphere.

Getting a song on the pop charts takes big money. Def Jam started paying for Rihanna's recent single, "Man Down," more than a year ago. In March of 2010, the label held a writing camp in L.A. to create the songs for Rihanna's album, Loud.