Originally posted by Cbreezy

Beyonce enjoys a level of respect and status that Rihanna cannot reach while effectively being managed by her comeptition's husband.

Originally posted by giRLbye.

She would be nothing without Jay Z. If she leaves Roc Nation, I see her future album eras being even messier.

Originally posted by swissman

But did you look at the facts?

I'm not saying it's deliberate but I was answering the question, "If they were to ever directly compete with each other, who do you think Jay-z would give the advantage?" Thus the answer is, perhaps that's why the schedules are staggered.

Originally posted by Daydream

Rihanna and Beyoncé are NOT friends.

Originally posted by swissman

At this point, she doesn't need Jay though. She's established enough that she'll always be RIHANNA and she has a lot of fans who would follow her no matter what.

Originally posted by Drayb

Now this I do believe. It would almost put Jay in an uncomfortable situation if he was forced to choose one over the other music wise just because it would wreck havoc personally (Beyonce) as well as professionally (Rihanna). To keep both camps peaceful, avoiding direct competition is smart on his part. Right now, they are in two different lanes, musically, so there's really not much of a big conflict. the only thing really in common is them being two of the more famous, present day, black female stars. Bey is mainly more r-n-b whereas Rih is more pop-rock. What may pose a competitive conflict, in the long term, is if either starts dabbling more in the other's genre.

Originally posted by Cbreezy

As a Hive member who doesn't care for Rih too much/at all, I think she should. Not now to avoid mess. But in the longterm and I'm sure she will.

I love the concept of competition and what many don't get is that as long as Rihanna is part of that camp, she will always play second fiddle to Beyonce. Like stans can back and forth about it as much as they like, but the reality is that Beyonce enjoys a level of respect and status that Rihanna cannot reach while effectively being managed by her comeptition's husband.

The system she's currently in is designed to: at best have her carve out a success narrative that never clashes or conflicts with that of Beyonce (i.e. digital single seller to Bey's album seller status). But at worst, it'll always peg Rih as inferior. Jay doesn't manage Bey, but to think they don't dish on strategy over breakfast is silly IMO. Note how neither Jay or Bey have dropped ANYTHING substantial on TIDAL, but Rih has. Had Rih been on a label unaffiliated with the Roc, they'd have stopped that ish in a hot minute.

Put simply, I don't see Rih reaching her full potential (emphasis on potential, because nothing is a given) under the Roc regime. I also don't see the Bey vs Rih thing ever being laid to rest until they go head to head in some kind of way. Up until now, their paths have been carefully and deliberately manoeuvred in different directions - which can only be down to the Jay factor. On paper, they are on rival labels (Sony vs Universal), so from a corporate standpoint both should and likely would be making a beeline to demolish the other (or at the very least establish their artist's supremacy) but they're not.

They're instead giving a kumbaya tea, which as far as I'm concerned in unrealistic. It's a dog eat dog industry, something they Bey vs Ashanti episode should have shown everyone.

Originally posted by giRLbye.

Why would Jay need to choose one over the other musically?? Beyonce is not his artist...he does not provide her budget or get her deals. Beyonce is a separate brand & entity.

Originally posted by Drayb

I can agree with some of what you're saying BUT not the bolded--No. The thing is Rihanna and Bey have always have very different personas so the GP treated them as expected. When you have a risque, rebel image, especially a female, the GP is not going to be receptive to you. It wants to shut you down because you are everything that you're NOT suppose to be--evil, bad, wrong. Rihanna was the Marilyn Monroe of the music industry. Beyonce, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Her image was that of perfection. It was what you would want your daughter to be--what women should have been, so she was well loved and received. Safe. She was the Liz Taylor of the industry.

Originally posted by swissman

I like these analogies, though I think the word "safe" is strong to use for Beyoncé. I don't think she's safe, but I do think she's smart in when and where she pushes the envelope and in that way is able to be safe with her provocativeness. I also think that it's not just the image (because Madonna is certainly not a "safe" artist and yet is very respected) but the perception of them as an artist.

Originally posted by Drayb

I was a big Madonna fan way back when and Madonna wasn't always loved as she is now. I mean there was a LOT of opposition her way. I can remember Madonna was being compared to a sex-crazed "f*& hag"--sorry to be so blunt BUT as time went on and people realized her genius--she became super respected. They may have hated Madge back them but couldn't help jam to the music she put out. She made you respect her. That is what Rih had to do and is still doing. She has TO MAKE the GP respect her because it will not come naturally or easy because of her image. It's normal to hear someone say, "I hate Rihanna but I love that song."

Originally posted by swissman

I agree for Madonna it took a while, but I also don't think Rihanna is doing anything as revolutionary as Madonna did, so her path won't be the same. Most of what Rihanna can get away with, without being called a "sex-crazed hag" is because Madonna forged that path. So she needs to find a way to be respected that isn't just "I am a headstrong female who doesn't obey your rules".

Originally posted by vuelve88

Roc Nation is very good at securing deals for their artists. But as for marketing music, not so much.

I always thought there could be a conflict of interest with Rihanna and Jay-z's music relationship and Beyonce's own music career. If they were to ever directly compete with each other, who do you think Jay-z would give the advantage?

Originally posted by DG1

What happened to Westburied Road? Why not blame it?

Originally posted by liberalmusiclover