NEW YORK, Dec. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Most companies realize that lowering prices is their only ploy to stay in business. Some companies are unaware, or simply don't care - that financial times are tough. As an example, Apple Inc. has recently increased the cost of music downloads on their iTunes music site from $0.99 to a staggering $1.29.

Some critics have suggested the price increase is due to updating custom DRM protection best known for lowering the quality of sound delivered to consumers while others attribute the 29% price increase to pure corporate greed.

One thing is for sure, the artists aren't making more money. "Artists receive fixed residuals for music sales based on individual contracts via their respective record companies," says Max Clingerman, a music executive for MixJam Records who explains "the staggering price increases are not for the artist interest, rather intended for executive pockets."

A recent "online behaviour trend" survey of 10,000 university students conducted at the University of Arizona concluded that paying $1.29/song has lowered 63% of the student faculty's desire to purchase music online.

Read more: Are Music Artists Profiting From iTunes' Price Increases?

NEW YORK, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cuban music group TIEMPO LIBRE has received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Tropical Latin Album for its latest CD BACH IN HAVANA on Sony Masterworks. Bach in Havana has enjoyed 18 weeks in the Top 20 on Billboard's "Classical Crossover" chart. In October, Tiempo Libre brought Cuban music to the national stage by performing on "The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" with violinist Joshua Bell; and on ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" performing the Bach in Havana single "Tu Conga Bach." It's the group's third consecutive Grammy nomination, the musicians were previously were nominated for the timba albums Arroz Con Mango and Lo Que Esperabas.

Bach in Havana includes guest performances by the Cuban legend Paquito D'Rivera and the Cuban born sax player Yosvany Terry. The CD is produced by multi-Grammy winner Steve Epstein (Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, Placido Domingo) who is also nominated this year for a Grammy in the Best Producer, Classical category. Jorge Gomez is the co-producer.

Read more: NEW YORK, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Cuban music group TIEMPO LIBRE has received a Grammy Award nomination in the category of Best Tropical Latin Album for its latest CD BACH IN HAVANA on Sony Masterworks. Bach in Havana has enjoyed 18 weeks in the Top 2

DALLAS, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- This holiday season, millions of people will stand in lines to purchase shoes that will only be worn a few times. Unfortunately, over 1.5 billion people worldwide do not own one pair of shoes. YUMS Shoes is dedicated to changing that.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091210/NY24101 )

Lifestyle footwear and apparel company donates shoes to those in need

YUMS has partnered with Soles4Souls to make a difference in the lives of those in need of shoes. YUMS will introduce "The B.A.Y. Series", a fashion forward, innovative approach to sneakers. For every 3 pairs of The B.A.Y. Series sold from www.Yumsshop.com, YUMS will donate a new pair of shoes to Soles4Souls. The B.A.Y. Series defines affordable luxury and offers a clean, sleek, full grain leather sneaker with denim accents and a custom sole cleverly embedded with the YUMS Logo. In addition, the company will rally support from the local community and their loyal customer base to gather additional shoes to donate.

"Being familiar with Soles4Souls's great work through my church, I feel blessed to partner with them to help the less fortunate," said Howard "Tex" Moton, Designer of YUMS.

Read more: YUMS Shoes Introduces The B.A.Y. Series and Announces Partnership With Soles4Souls(R), Inc The Shoe Charity