Thank you for proving my point by posting that. It could breakthrough but it's not radio candy (like someone else mentioned).
A male could break through with that kind of song because of their audience but the type of audience most females appeal to don't flock to that type of sound.
Everything isn't so black and white when it comes to why certain acts don't break through.
But they don't? Lean On, Trap Queen, Watch Me, Can't Feel My Face, The Hills, Hotline Bling, etc were some of the biggest hits of the year and they were by black males (well Drake is mixed but still).
Look at the early 1960's and how black music shaped culture.
!!!!!!!! I don't think people realize that the audience does NOT care about skin color when listening to music. Some of the biggest hits of the year have been by black males.
People want what's great. And while what is considered "great" is debatable, people still flock to what they want to hear. Unfortunately R&B isn't popular on the charts right now. It's not as much a color thing as much as it is a sound thing.
That's ignoring a crucial part of what I said: the industry itself is racist, discriminatory, and disadvantages non-white artists. I do think most of the GP would have zero problem with a black artist as long as said artist made great music. On the other hand, I question if the industry would ever give said artist a chance to get that far.
Basically, the discrimination here isn't from the GP or the artists. It's from the industry heads and the media. And these people constantly get off with minimal criticism as they aren't public faces
This proves a point. This song definitely had the potential to go big, but it received minimal effort. Literally never heard of it till now. And most people I know don't know Tinashe exists. The industry shoves her aside, not the listeners
That's ignoring a crucial part of what I said: the industry itself is racist, discriminatory, and disadvantages non-white artists. I do think most of the GP would have zero problem with a black artist as long as said artist made great music. On the other hand, I question if the industry would ever give said artist a chance to get that far.
Basically, the discrimination here isn't from the GP or the artists. It's from the industry heads and the media. And these people constantly get off with minimal criticism as they aren't public faces
No, I know that's what you said. I said the same thing in a thread a few weeks ago when people were bringing up Adele's success (and comparing it to black artists' lack of success) that it's the people within the industry who tend to be racist and not push for certain artists to break through.
But in general listeners are not listening to music based on someone's race. You'll find people who hate rap/urban music but for the most part, people who listen to top 40 don't care.
It still comes down to the material though. You could argue that it's more of a sexism issue than a race issue (though race is still a factor and she seems to recognize that a lot of it is sexism). Females, in general, still don't get as much respect as males in this industry and they are always pitted against each other.
I stopped reading your essay there. Not when FKA twigs and Tinashe have acclaim and Meg Griffin and Areola Venti don't. Not when "2 On" and "Glass & Patron" **** on Mariahna and Smegan Bodyshamor's entire discographies. Check yourself delusional Alecia stan.
It's my personal opinion. I don't listen to or enjoy something simply because the critics tell me to.
Although the movie industry seems to be getting better at that lately.
If only because they were atrocious before music. The music industry at least allowed people like Whitney, Mariah, and MJ to succeed. On the flip side, David Fincher had to recast one of Se7en's leads in the 90s because the move industry REFUSED to let a film feature two black leads.
True to a large extent but no at zendaya inclusion she has not achieve anything on the level of rihanna and beyonce or even jourdan... Tinashe isn't anything special like at all but she would have gotten more exposure if she was white!
If only because they were atrocious before music. The music industry at least allowed people like Whitney, Mariah, and MJ to succeed. On the flip side, David Fincher had to recast one of Se7en's leads in the 90s because the move industry REFUSED to let a film feature two black leads.
Oh yeah the movie industry is still ****** in regards to that. No argument. I remember George Lucas was sad that his Red tails movie flopped because he said it meant they he screwed up for black people and that it would hurt them being cast in other things.
and I'm sorry, but I don't count Mariah. She's black and stuff but...let's be real.
It's funny because 20 years ago you had Toni Braxton, Brandy, TLC, En Vogue, Whitney etc. Sharing the spotlight that's like gone today. It's funny.
They all had something unique and different about them though. Whether it was their voice, their edginess, or their controversial lyrics. We lack a lot of that today in general. The problem is people are always quick to compare blonde bombshells to blonde bombshells, males to males, pop artists to pop artists, and black women to black women. It's how the industry has always worked. It's ridiculous, but it's what they do. The problem is TLC, Whitney, Toni, etc., they were all very original at the time. They stood out and weren't comparable to very many other artists at the time. Why do you think when Rihanna finally distanced herself from the Beyonce comparisons, people all of sudden were like "black Madonna". It's what the industry does. They will compare you to someone else. It's up to you o make yourself different, stand out, and not be just "another Beyonce" or "another Britney" or whatever. How many white blonde girls failed after Britney blew up? The only one that lasted was Christina. Because she was different. She had a voice and a dirty edge to her that Britney didn't have. My point is that in order for an artist like Tinashe to get noticed and get on the level of Rihanna or Beyonce, she has to separate herself somehow. Maybe tackle some controversial themes lyrically? Make some bold fashion statements? She can't just sing run of the mill R&B, look like every other pop star, and expect to break through. We don't have a bunch of black women in mainstream like TLC, Toni, Whitney, etc, because we don't really have any artists like them right now. They made a statement and they stood out. Now I do think Tinashe could do it. Her music may not thrill or excite me, but she isn't terrible, and there is some talent in there. She's capable of doing something that turns people's heads.
Let's not forget how many albums and hits it took Rihanna to be more than just some "new pop girl". Everyone thought she would be a 1 hit wonder, and everyone was waiting for her 15 mins to be up. It wasn't until halfway through the GGGB era that people realized there might be something there. But it wasn't until Rated R (funny enough the "flop" era) that people realized she was more than just someone who could churn out hits. It took Rihanna a while to be taken seriously. Not because she's black, but because there wasn't anything that seperated her from her peers or made her unique. There wasn't anything about her music that made you say "no one else could do this song but Rihanna". Not until Rated R at least. That's when she carved out that edge, and that personality. That's when people started taking serious notice of her as an artist. Tinashe will have to do more than just make some cute songs and put out an album to be noticed and be on the level of Bey or Rihanna.
Oh yeah the movie industry is still ****** in regards to that. No argument. I remember George Lucas was sad that his Red tails movie flopped because he said it meant they he screwed up for black people and that it would hurt them being cast in other things.
and I'm sorry, but I don't count Mariah. She's black and stuff but...let's be real.
He's pretty accurate. People still look at me like I'm insane for saying Catwoman and Elektra killed the entire female superhero genre, but... well... guys, have you seen a single female superhero film since then? I'm not saying I agree with the choice, but.... There's a grand total of zero female super hero movies in the Marvel or DC lineup.
Black is black. Though I think news media actually called her Caucasian for awhile (Which she played along with, for obvious reasons), so you might have a point Still, Whitney, MJ, Bey, Brandy.... there were some. And I KNOW I have forgotten a fair amount. You could say Janet too, but she was more privileged than most white artists, so (Nepotism > Race in the industry. Period.)
Ciara can lol
Body Party & I'm Out??
And Tinashe: Party Favours (guaranteed if ****ing Selena Gomez sang that it would've been a minor hit), Bet, All Hands On Deck, Feels Like Vegas can EASILY be a hit
And Mike91, you telling me if Adele was a black woman, she would be this successful? Since you claim the audience doesn't care about colour when it comes to music?
Pop radio is fickle and it has nothing to do with race. They've shunned white artists before because they "weren't in right now". Ciara might make music that's pop friendly, but she lost pop radio after a couple "disastrous" eras. We all know that it's more politics and management deals than anything when it comes to getting a hit on pop radio. So many artists get shunned or flop even when they have a good song, simply because someone said "they're not in right now" or because their label isn't pushing them.
I'm not saying being a person of color doesn't affect you, because it does. I just wish people would realize that there's a lot more at hand than that. Someone may be flopping simply because they're not managed right, or because their songs aren't well received by the general public. Just because a person of color is flopping, it doesn't mean it's because they're a person of color. White people flop too. Lol
Mess at people referring to black women in this industry as a 'Beyoncé or Rihanna'.
You're contradicting yourselves. What do you call white women in this industry as? Katy Perry or Lady Gagas? Taylor Swifts or Britney Spears? Avril Lavignes or Jessica Simpsons? Chers or Madonnas? P!nks or Kelly Clarksons? Adeles or Carrie Underwoods? Miley Cyrus' or Lordes? Must be nice having a variety, right?
Mess at people referring to black women in this industry as a 'Beyoncé or Rihanna'.
Mariah, Tinashe, Zendaya, Whitney, Janet (those two more in the past, but), Jennifr Hudson, Aaliyah (again, past, but), Nicki Minaj, Azealia Banks
It's not quite as disastrous as you say. But yes, the labels are obviously run by racists. Why are you blaming the audience who has no control over that instead of the executives who do, tho?