It's hilariously maddening that people are actually trying to pretend that there isn't a blatant element of racism involved in how black music (yes I said 'black music,' it is what it is...let's not be fake) has been handled/treated in the mainstream over the past few years. Since about 2010, there has literally been a black-out that in some ways is more extreme than the way black artists were treated in the 1950s.
On one hand, I'm glad that veteran and respected white artists like Justin and Eminem have come back making music that didn't stray from the urban (i.e. 'black') style of music they did pre-Gaga/Katy, because they're big enough to force more white-washed radio stations and the general public to have to acknowledge it...on the other hand, it's infuriating knowing that if Usher released "Suit and Tie," if Ludacris released "Rap God" or if Kelly Rowland recorded one of those silly Miley Cyrus songs, they would have been lucky to crack the top 40.
The restructuring of the music business over the past 6-7 years has been detrimental to black music, because it's made the playing field so uneven that its artists can't compete. And with the way that the music business is dying overall (thank you iTunes, YouTube, Spotify and all you Clinton-era born dorks who think that a single MP3 on an iPhone is as good as CD quality played on stereo), record labels are clinging harder than ever to what they think will be a sure bet for making money, and are too scared to stray from the formula. And unfortunately cheesy dance and pop music just happened to be in the right place at the right time when this chaos started. In a healthier music scene, this pop phase would have ended two years ago. But thanks to iTunes and Spotify, we're living in an era where acts that SHOULD have been one-hit wonders are giving more chances than they deserve.
Anyway, Black women aren't charting because they can't easily play up to the dorky hipster crowd that has more video games than friends and lovers. Another reason is that black artists in general don't have aggressive and ruthless enough managers and teams to barter, manipulate or threaten on their behalf the way CBS/Sony did for Michael Jackson when they threatened to pull all their music videos from MTV if the channel continued to snub him.
Yea we know her, but She haven't sold over 35 million WW in total albums sales, won 14 grammys, have a song that is bigger than the R&B classic #1 hit No One and she never will. Nicki is doing her thing right now but Alicia already achieved an amazing music career and she did it being an R&B artist.
This thread is about this decade though. Nicki sold more albums and singles than Alicia this decade. We all know Urban music used to be big last decade.
Because America doesn't care about music, they just want songs they can sing along with. And most Black Females sing with passion, which most Americans lack.
The fact that you clocked the entire NATION I feel the same way about Americans
Because America doesn't care about music, they just want songs they can sing along with. And most Black Females sing with passion, which most Americans lack.
Rihanna had to do 2 Pop centered albums, GGGB and LOUD, just to get America to listen to her albums. Those two albums are her most successful while she's churned out 3 other absolutely amazing albums, the only songs that did well were her pop centered Rude Boy, We Found Love, and Where Have You Been. Diamonds was the first time a non pop Rihanna song with her at the lead did well IMO.
But look at Gaga, She did Pop centered albums TF/M then did BTW and even she lost the GP as soon as she started showcasing good material with meaning.
Because America doesn't care about music, they just want songs they can sing along with. And most Black Females sing with passion, which most Americans lack.
It's sad, but now you have to do Pop music and be accepted by Pop radios to have success.
To emphasize the downfall, the Hot 100 has existed since the 1950's and this will be the first year in history where no black artist went #1 as a Lead Artist.
Sorry if this sounds ignorant, because I only know his music, not his history, but is Bruno Mars not considered black???
there are a few successful black females from this decade like rihanna, nicki minaj, emeli sande, sade, alicia keys.... most of them are r&b artists and this genre isn't relevant as it used to be :/, also females in general are not highly successful anymore, there are still plenty of successful black male artists nowadays
and it only looks like Candice Glover is going to join the list 