What has happened to Black Music? Am I the only one that thinks that it's not in a healthy state at the moment? Oh, so you want evidence? Well, I'll give you my first reference point as evidence: The Major labels. They stand accused of not harboring/developing artist signed to their label. There was a time, way back, when, once an artist was signed, they were given time to develop. So no pressure was made to bear on their first CD release, they were given time to develop a live stage act, and limited freedom (which would increase, once sales, or a critical response was forth coming) Look at Ray Charles, for example. Watching his film 'RAY (or reading his biography) you notice, that his early releases did not do too well, but he was given time to find his identity. Not now, Don-e, Omar, Silent Eclipse, London Posse, Demon Boyz, Derek B & Donnie, to name just a few artists that have felt the sting of major label rejection.
Secondly, please stand up: Radio. Playing the same 20 songs, on the hour, every hour for weeks on end. New artists NEED exposure, and we the public have to hear their product to be able to purchase it. The Major labels have a part to play in this, as they will pay stations to put their artist on to the coveted play lists.
Lastly, I & you are to blame. We're lazy. If we took the time to search out the underground scene, we would find vibrant fresh talent, across all musical boundaries, waiting for an audience. Thank good ness for the Internet, which has the Majors running scare, and for downloads, which has given power to the consumer.
What is required are Berry Gordon's of the 00's, who will run, and promote new talent, and not sell out for the quick buck.
3 comments:
I was watching a documentary about black music in the UK on BBC2 the other night. "Soul Britannia", I think it was called. Anyway, Trevor Nelson made a very good point which I think we all need to take heed of: He pointed out that none of the people in positions of power (and thus control the money and make all the major decisions) in the major record labels are black. "Urban music" as it is called nowadays, is usually at the end of the corridor, in some little broom cupboard-like room where hardly anyone of any significance goes.
It's the same with radio and music television. No one black at the helm. Maybe I'm paranoid but I strongly believe this has something to do with the state of black music today. White artistes - even white artistes that want to sound black - are given carte blanche to develop their sound and image as they see fit and can be as creative and wide-ranging as they want but black artistes (if they want to get any exposure or promotion) are all seemingly being shunted into this very tiny, very stereotypical (and even, in some minds, very racist) pigeonholes. Tune into MTV Base or KISS on cable TV or listen to any radio station that caters to the "Urban" market and the general impression one gets is that black people are only about a narrow number of things: sex, partying and (especially in hip-hop), drugs or crime. You fit into these moulds and you'll be promoted sky high. Fall outside of this, try to be creative, thoughtful or educational and you'll be left on your own. Personally, I smell a conspiracy.
Sadly though, while I do agree with more or less everything you said, I don't know what the answers are. Some Berry Gordys for the 21st century would be nice but I don't see any coming along any time soon. Black people back in the 50s and 60s had a very different mindset to what exists today. I don't mean to sound pessimistic but I doubt a solution will ever be found. Not in our lifetime anyway.
Thanks for the post. I think even if a Black person was in a position of power, how much power would they weld? If I remember rightly, Trevor Nelson was A7R at cooltempo, and was responsible for signing, among others, the late Lynden David Hall, who was dropped after 2 CDs. Now I'm not blaming Mr Nelson for this, but I wonder how much support he offered in defence of LDH?
Commenting on hip hop only, I think the reason artists like that were given time to grow was because it wasn't making any money. Now that it is, artists are chasing rappers' ankles.
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