I can see you feel pretty strongly about it. But all races and all genders have the same potential for bias, prejudice and the promotion of radio-friendly nonsense.

Look at it this way - with most adults trying to keep up with the expensive modern realities and spending most of their entertainment dollars on HDTV and the Internet (Cable seriously killed a lot of what was happening as far back as The 70's!), to the suits that want it big, the only monetary voice left is that of the kids with the expendable money who listen to this and have no time for anything really serious or thought provoking.


After a time finding out that the industry lost money big time in giving videos to MTV for free (yes, those mega-budget three minute clips) and even more money trying to ride on a standard that has died as the record chains went into their death scenes while the rest of the world went to the Internet, the answer to them was not to get into anything too risky and rely on an Idol based system mixed in with some controversy and of the tired and tested Rock and Roll Hollywood Babylon-style meltdowns so that the celebrity-obsessed culture can look and look for ages (I still think that all of the recent Pop Idol breakdowns are staged - you know you're supposed to listen to what they tell you not to, right?) all sold by the bucket load at Wal Mart.


They know they will not get their target goal of money from the niche audiences or the Indie kids who have already pledged their allegiances away from the mainstream.

It's like the movie industry and finding out that giving the Directors major leeway that can result in things like Heaven's Gate, a move that can cost a studio a lot of money and a lot of trouble to recoup forcing them to get back to the old strategy. Cue the Epic Mentality which led to people like Michael Bay.

One bad move, and you have to Keep It Simple Stupid (I guess that most of the future record executives of America in The 70's were Kiss fans!). No time to wonder if this, that, or the other will work, just go with the right formula and it will work for itself. So now we have a High School Musical Disco McDonald's with condoms on the side.

You are right ....but most of the people calling the shots behind the scenes ARE middle age/old white men.

That is what the statistics state. These are the facts


I wonder if they had a African American or Latina woman making the serious moves and running the show would this "hypersexual" female image even exist.

I highly doubt it.

It makes complete sense monetarily to go with a tried and true formula. The only time they will take a risk on an artist is if they already have their own built in fan base that they got from the internet.

They won't invest completely either, just a little bit of money to test the waters and if the artist can back up the claim that they already have a built in fan base then they invest more.

If they want to make money they would let it continue to exist. Debra Lee at BET is a good example of that.

I love me some pop, but other than a few select cases, like Britney or Kylie Minogue, I don't actually care about it for longer than it takes to actually listen to a radio single.

Great Post!!!!


I agree with all of this I guess I am a bit confused as to why the industry contradicts itself. There are artists that have the same it factors that they have pledged by for decades but for some reason they will not market them.

Why do you think despite an artist having it qualities and catchy music they still are overlooked?

Why can't a beautiful talented singer like Janelle,who also makes catchy music sell out an arena or get a number one album?

The industry won't allow it.... why?

I can't stand Debra Lee but Debra answers to someone at the end of the day. She is not answering to another African American woman.

She is following the orders of a white man.

She chooses to for money.

The BET creators sold BET to Viacom and that was the WORST mistake they could have possibly done to the channel. It is appalling the way BET portrays black people, APPALLING


Why do you think they took a risk with Adele instead of maybe...Jennifer Hudson?

Because these "it" qualities to you are different than "it" qualities for someone else.

Janelle Monae has no "it" qualities to me. Whatever. Move on.

You can't just make a statement like this to a Janelle Monae fan and then say

"Whatever. Move On" LOL

No, I want you to explain why you think this, since you came in here and boldly stated it.

You were the one that bolded it, not me.

Her music just doesnt do anything for me. I don't hate it, i dont like it; her music is just there. If you want me to write an essay on why, i am not going to.

If you want to focus on me no liking her, then idk, but my main point was that people like different things. I dont know why she has to be a "superstar" to justify anything to you. Just like what you like and dont worry so much about what others listen to (or arent listening to, evidently).