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Poll: Does Race Still Matter In The Pop Industry?
View Poll Results: Does it?
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Yes.
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119 |
62.96% |
No.
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70 |
37.04% |
Member Since: 3/6/2011
Posts: 4,948
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Quote:
Originally posted by KeepingTheFlowers
No race shouldn't matter especially in 2012. We're way past the race issues
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What kind of ignorance?
And yes. Race will always be an issue. Even the "black" stars who have "made it" are light skinned because that is what is perceived as beautiful. I could go on but I'm on mobile. Basically music is a very Eurocentric industry, like the film industry and basically the world.
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Member Since: 1/31/2012
Posts: 19,942
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Thought this was about WW, which Race very much matters; so I voted yes.
In the US, Race does not matter AS MUCH. Mariah Carey has two diamond albums. Whitney Houston has one as well.
For Pop, it's a bit harder for a black artist to smash, because since they're black, people see them as R&B singers, when they aren't. Rihanna can sing a song intended for Katy Perry, and it could find success in Urban.
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Member Since: 1/27/2006
Posts: 51,546
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Reach. Did we miss the part where black artists were ruling singles chart from 2002, only dying out in early 2009? For that time, ringtones was the thing and I assure many of those songs have millions of ringtone downloads. Rihanna and Beyonce not having 5 million selling songs isn't because their black. It's either the timeframe of release hasn't allowed them to pass it ("Single Ladies" -- though it'll pass it soon) or now, when it's big enough to sell that much, Rihanna is fading out as far as selling singles go. That can be attributed to her lack of promotion or people getting tired of her. And Beyonce isn't making music that will sell in droves.
Otherwise Flo Rida, Taio Cruz, Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Cee Lo Green, T.I., etc haven't had an issue reaching that many downloads
It's really just a matter of the times. If hip-hop/R&B and the current pop era had switched, and the former was the more popular at the time, they'd be selling a ton too.
As far as what pop or urban radio plays, I don't think that deals with race either. It deals, again, with what's current. That's just the industry.
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Member Since: 12/16/2008
Posts: 59,380
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Not as before but it kinda still does.
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Member Since: 9/13/2012
Posts: 29,559
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Unfortunately, yes. If Beyonce were really dark, I'm not sure if she would be as loved as she is because people seem to prefer lighter skin :/
Something I've noticed on ATRL actually is how some people seem to completely disregard success in places that aren't the US or UK. Yes they're the big markets, but they're not the entire world. EX: I feel like Shakira gets the short end of the stick on here because she hasn't had success in primarily English markets for a few years, and everyone completely ignores that she's a true queen worldwide. It's ignorant to assume that success outside of English markets isn't as good. People also seem to pay no attention to Asian markets.
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Member Since: 12/9/2007
Posts: 9,007
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Quote:
Originally posted by Rico Shameless v2
Reach. Did we miss the part where black artists were ruling singles chart from 2002, only dying out in early 2009? For that time, ringtones was the thing and I assure many of those songs have millions of ringtone downloads. Rihanna and Beyonce not having 5 million selling songs isn't because their black. It's either the timeframe of release hasn't allowed them to pass it ("Single Ladies" -- though it'll pass it soon) or now, when it's big enough to sell that much, Rihanna is fading out as far as selling singles go. That can be attributed to her lack of promotion or people getting tired of her. And Beyonce isn't making music that will sell in droves.
Otherwise Flo Rida, Taio Cruz, Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Cee Lo Green, T.I., etc haven't had an issue reaching that many downloads
It's really just a matter of the times. If hip-hop/R&B and the current pop era had switched, and the former was the more popular at the time, they'd be selling a ton too.
As far as what pop or urban radio plays, I don't think that deals with race either. It deals, again, with what's current. That's just the industry.
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Pretty much sums up my thinking on the issue. And there is also Usher, Chris Brown, Jason Derulo, B.o.B, Nicki Minaj, etc. who get a lot of play on Top 40 stations. I feel like the people who are saying it matters, are the ones it matters to.
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Banned
Member Since: 12/3/2011
Posts: 19,217
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jessa.
Yep, unfortunately.
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+1
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Member Since: 5/21/2009
Posts: 11,151
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Quote:
Originally posted by Willy.
It's also very interesting that the majority of people voting no just happen to be White.
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Give em' a break. It's difficult to comprehend something you've never experienced.
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Member Since: 7/15/2012
Posts: 5,955
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Quote:
Originally posted by NE.
Give em' a break. It's difficult to comprehend something you've never experienced.
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Tru Tru...
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Member Since: 11/10/2011
Posts: 14,820
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Pop isn't that racist tbh. Infact, it's one of the LEAST racist music communities.
Look at the alternative/rock communities. If Alex Clare was black, we know FULL WELL that he wouldn't be getting attention in those circles.
Likewize, if Justin Bieber was black, he'd be getting a LOT more attention from the rhythmic/urban communities than he is now.
I find urban radio in the US to be extremely racist. It's practically impossible to get played on there if you're white. Pop radio isn't quite as bad.
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Member Since: 12/7/2011
Posts: 21,578
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Quote:
Originally posted by KeepingTheFlowers
No race shouldn't matter especially in 2012. We're way past the race issues
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Oh gurl.............
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Member Since: 11/10/2011
Posts: 14,820
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Quote:
Originally posted by rihannabiggestfan
And if Rihanna wasn't black, urban wouldn't spin her and she wouldn't be nominated for certain categories like Best R&B/Soul Album
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I agree with this. If Rihanna had released E.T. (which I think it reasonable tbh), then I'm sure it would've been a top 5 hit on urban radio. But Katy Perry released it, and it charted at like #85 or something pathetic.
The urban community are way more racist than the pop community imo. At least black people have a chance at getting a hit on top 40.
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Member Since: 7/13/2010
Posts: 4,992
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I wont go into specifics because my brain isnt here for that this morning but YES!! Race will always have an impact on what people listen to, just not as much as the 80s or 90s.
HOWEVER, can you really expect anything else?? General speaking, the American music buyers on iTunes are caucasian women...wouldn't they relate more to Katy Perry than Beyonce??? I dont think people sit up and say "I'm not buying her music because she's black", at least not the average person. Most caucasian women(and men) can relate more to The One That Got Away than Single Ladies...now with Rihanna, its literally just the color of her skin, Jennifer Lopez is more urban than her musically.
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Member Since: 5/13/2012
Posts: 21,615
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I suppose race does matter, I had a look at my last.fm and everyone in my top 25 is white with the exception of Nicki and 2NE1
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Member Since: 11/10/2011
Posts: 14,820
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^ I don't think race matters that much with iTunes downloaders.
Yes, the iTunes chart is dominated by white people now (recently Flo Rida was the only black artist in the top 20), but in the mid-00s, there were a lot of black artists doing well in downloads. It's not like that anymore, because less black artists get played on pop radio now, simply (and that's because of the decrease in popularity of urban music, and the fact that black artists can only get hits with dance songs now). And with alternative music starting to slowly dominate, that's not going to change for another 5+ years.
Most of the white people I know listen mainly to urban music tbh.
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Member Since: 11/6/2010
Posts: 27,791
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Quote:
Originally posted by Rico Shameless v2
Reach. Did we miss the part where black artists were ruling singles chart from 2002, only dying out in early 2009? For that time, ringtones was the thing and I assure many of those songs have millions of ringtone downloads. Rihanna and Beyonce not having 5 million selling songs isn't because their black. It's either the timeframe of release hasn't allowed them to pass it ("Single Ladies" -- though it'll pass it soon) or now, when it's big enough to sell that much, Rihanna is fading out as far as selling singles go. That can be attributed to her lack of promotion or people getting tired of her. And Beyonce isn't making music that will sell in droves.
Otherwise Flo Rida, Taio Cruz, Black Eyed Peas, Jay-Z, Cee Lo Green, T.I., etc haven't had an issue reaching that many downloads
It's really just a matter of the times. If hip-hop/R&B and the current pop era had switched, and the former was the more popular at the time, they'd be selling a ton too.
As far as what pop or urban radio plays, I don't think that deals with race either. It deals, again, with what's current. That's just the industry.
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This basically sums up my thoughts.
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Member Since: 8/1/2012
Posts: 8,763
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Race shouldnt matter anywhere.
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Member Since: 1/27/2006
Posts: 51,546
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sound Check
Pretty much sums up my thinking on the issue. And there is also Usher, Chris Brown, Jason Derulo, B.o.B, Nicki Minaj, etc. who get a lot of play on Top 40 stations. I feel like the people who are saying it matters, are the ones it matters to.
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Oh yes. And they had to adapt with the current trends, so that's the case here not race. Good point.
Quote:
Originally posted by Tsuko
Pop isn't that racist tbh. Infact, it's one of the LEAST racist music communities.
Look at the alternative/rock communities. If Alex Clare was black, we know FULL WELL that he wouldn't be getting attention in those circles.
Likewize, if Justin Bieber was black, he'd be getting a LOT more attention from the rhythmic/urban communities than he is now.
I find urban radio in the US to be extremely racist. It's practically impossible to get played on there if you're white. Pop radio isn't quite as bad.
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But none of it is about race. I would not call urban radio "racist," that's just what their format is intended to play (hip-hop and R&B songs). They're catering to an audience. To think Hot 97 or Atlanta's v103 would spin Katy Perry isn't because she's white, she's a pop artist and their listeners wouldn't be attracted.
I don't agree about Alex Clare, either. See Darius Rucker. Black country artist with a few #1s on the country chart. One would generalize and say Country would not play a black artist. And when he was with Hootie & the Blowfish, they were hugely popular on the Alternative chart. And that was early-mid 90s, when race would be a possible conversation. Today? Not so much. Not in something like popular music at least.
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Member Since: 12/10/2011
Posts: 12,699
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Quote:
Originally posted by liferekindled
Please continue with your ETC ETC ETC. Keep naming those names boo. And if this was the slaves days, Mariah would be with her white half while sipping ice tea while her black daddy worked the field.
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You just reminded me of those old time movies where a white woman claims she was raped by a black slave and ends up pregnant & her family becomes distraught
I do agree with you though. One thing that have NEVER, EVER, given Mariah credit for is breaking down racial barriers for black people. Even if I prefer her to Whitney or Janet, I KNOW they were the ones to do that. Mariah, for a long time, went along with Tommy Motola + the press branding her as the "white Whitney", even though she's my fave, it's hard to look past that sometimes. I KNOW she got signed because of Whitney and I KNOW she got to where she did (in the beginning) because of racism.
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Member Since: 5/5/2011
Posts: 16,846
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I blame the magazines and the music industry vision of a perfect pop artist.
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