Soulflower

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.

Screen13

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.

Soulflower

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?

Ninetales

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.

Soulflower

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.

Screen13

Connections, connections, connections. It was always that way through the ages. Seriously, there's nothing wrong with it, as it always works when you play the card right, but sadly the number of the more daring connections have been less in number. Also, in my opinion, those who push the buttons have been a little bland and calculated in the music taste department Stateside. I have to admit elsewhere around the world, the Pop scenes have a little more flavor to my taste.

Sometimes it works with the public, other times it does not.

The Industry changes with the "changing of the guard" - one series of people deposing another, and the usual tale if that when someone takes charge, the goal is to discredit what happened before or at least knock the rising stars and keep the established ones. A chess game - Machiavelli style with Beat.

Soulflower

Absolutely!

Its just that these pop singers are just so bland and boring. For some reason the general music listener eats them up and doesn't seem care. It would be one thing if they were at least somewhat "interesting." Todays pop singers have to rely on things non related to music to stay relevant like movies, tv shows, clothing line, perfume line, commercials, etc.

djchameleon

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.

__________________

Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

Soulflower

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?

Ninetales

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).