‘Are white artists like Eminem, Justin Timberlake and Christiana Aguilera appropriati

[DC]

Press Release :

‘Are white artists like Eminem, Justin Timberlake and Christiana Aguilera appropriating black music?’ Debate Report

The music industry was charged with institutional racism at the Black Music Congress’ debate entitled ‘Are white artists like Eminem, Justin Timberlake and Christiana Aguilera appropriating black music?’ held at City University London on January 31.

The perception was that the industry was keen to promote white artists performing black music, but reluctant to invest commensurate resources in black artists performing black music or specific types of black music. Although participants felt that white artists could participate within black music genres, so long as they acknowledged their sources and influences, there was however a view that there was a deliberate “political” and “racist” policy to sell black music styles with proven commercial potential using “safe” white faces.

Jazz musician Jamie Callum and soul singer Joss Stone were pointed out as examples – the former, a recipient of a reputed £1m record deal and huge marketing by the same company that didn’t offer the same opportunities to the more innovative black jazz musician Courtney Pine, and the latter is currently receiving a major push performing a style that most black artists would not be allowed to perform because the gate-keepers of the industry view it as non-commercial and old-fashioned.

Secondly, it was acknowledged that appropriation has been happening for decades – well before the likes of Elvis Presley, Pat Boone and Bill Haley. However, participants highlighted that an insidious aspect was the process by which copycat white artists over time came to be regarded as the kings and inventors of black music genres. Today’s faces of rock n roll, and the fact that American ska/pop band No Doubt thought ska was invented by the 2-Tone movement in Britain, were cases in point.

Whilst accepting that white artists appropriate black music, panellist Dave Woolf, co-manager of Beverley Knight and head of the DWL promotions company, he felt the debate question would only tie us up in knots, and a more relevant question to address ‘How can we improve the odds that the industry will give black artists the same chances as white artists?”

Fellow panellist Lisa Lindahl, an urban music publicist, put forward the symbiotic advantages of white participation by pointing to the pop, mainstream doors that were open to rapper Redman through his collaboration with Christiana Aguilera in the hit record ‘Dirrty’.

Athough panellist Mykaell Riley, a senior lecturer at Westminster University and founder of the Black Music Education Trust, highlighted the fact that black music participation in Britain has historically been inclusive, he nevertheless added that the industry continues to demonstrate “systematic, and endemic institutional racism.”

Also, whether to define the music as urban music or black music, was another issue which was repeatedly touched upon (it will be the subject of the May 22 debate entitled ‘Is it black music or urban music?’). The general consensus was that the all-embracing ‘urban music’ was another tactic used to appropriate black music without acknowledging its black roots. As one participant, Dean Okai, put it: “Urban is the new jazz, the new rock n roll.” It’s another way in which “ownership is taken away from us.”


Kwaku
BMC founder
editor@britishblackmusic.com
www.bbm-on.net

The Black Music Congress offers a forum for debating issues around black music. Its programmes take place at City University London as part of the Cultural Industries Unit;s outreach programme. Entry is free, and is open to the University students and the general public. The participants are predominantly black, but not exclusively. They are a mixture of people interested, and those actually working, in the music business as artists or industry practitioners.

BMC was founded by Kwaku, a music business lecturer and journalist.

THE BMC PROGRAMME FOR 2004

Are the sisters really doing it for themselves? March 13 . 3-6pm. Oliver Thompson Theatre, City University, Northampton Sq, London EC1. £Free, but it’s advisable to pre-book by emailing editor@britishblackmusic.com subject: gender.

Is it black music or urban music? May 27. 3-6pm. Oliver Thompson Theatre, City University, Northampton Sq, London EC1. £Free, but it’s advisable to pre-book by emailing editor@britishblackmusic.com subject: genre

[Paul Rose]

This is hardly new! Jesus, this has been going on since Elvis!!

[sstutter]

just sounds like $$$$$$$s to me... but people would probably say thats because im white.

with regard joss stone, i heard that she had trouble promoting her album in america due to the fact that she was white.. i read in one of the broadsheets that the stations which break black music were not interested in joss once they found out she was white.

in the same report it was also alledged that one of the reasons craig david had trouble breaking america was due to the fact that the guitarist in his group is white and they didnt want him performing black music.

everybody feel hard done by in this world and it seems like its everybody elses fault... perhaps they didnt like joss stone and i know i dont like craig david. perhaps eninem is better than every rapper at the mo, and people dont like it because he is white.

how is christina's music black? how is justin's music black? have they robbed from black people?

there are loads of black music stars and loads of white music stars aswel... whats wrong with eminem, justin or christina...

are white people to blame for the wrongs of the world?

is it right for industry in britain to shift operations, on every level, to china and india?

[saz]

black? white? who cares... can't everyone just enjoy the music? There are loads of black and white artists out there who are making some heavy tunes at the moment and such a hybrid of different music genres... this is something that should be celebrated. Shouldn't we all have the freedom to choose what music we perform or listen to no matter what our colour and without be criticised for it?

We live in a commercial world and the music industry will back what will sell the most records. But to say that the industry is reluctant to invest in black artists performing black music" seems like a bit of a sweeping statement to me. What about artists like Missy Elliott and 50 Cent?

[sstutter]

your argument sounds better than mine... good points.

i just went of on one... get a bit pissed when people put problems they are facing down to the prejudice of others.

[Black Ronnie]

"How can we improve the odds that the industry will give black artists the same chances as white artists?"

This bloke is a $$$$, GIVE BLACK PEOPLE A CHANCE!! 'yea mate, because there are no black music artists about are there?'

I'll be honest, some of my slaves can SING! but im still not gonna let them go free.

[mad cow]

maybe consider that these artists make 'black' music viable to the masses. The majority of producers of such artists are black so they are clearly advocating it.....

[DustySkidz]

To be in honest, in this day in age it shouldn't matter what colour you are. Just because you're white, it doesn't mean you're limited to rock, and if you're black, it doesn't mean that you are limited to Hip Hop. The fact of the matter is that Hip Hop appeals a lot more to white people than rock appeals to black people.

[PuertoRico]

To be in honest, in this day in age it shouldn't matter what colour you are. Just because you're white, it doesn't mean you're limited to rock, and if you're black, it doesn't mean that you are limited to Hip Hop. The fact of the matter is that Hip Hop appeals a lot more to white people than rock appeals to black people.

Okay look sorry for my unappropiate responce. I wanted to inform people the Christina is hispanic, she is not white. Well she is half hispanic and half white. Does that mean she is white? Yes, she is part white, but she is also part hispanic. So, I guess Mariah Carey is white too becuase she is half white. I mean my dad is half balck and half white too, so I guess he is classified as being white, instead of being mixed racial decent. People, who ever made the article is ignorant, because if they classify somone by one particular race, especially if they are mixed racial decent, are uneducated. I mean her last name is Aguilera, I mean come on, she looks hispnaic too. Other than that the two white artisits Emineum and Justin, make good music and rap is not made excusivley for blacks its for eveyone.

[DustySkidz]

I agree with that 100% mate. There's too much emphasis put on it being 'Black' music. It was, but now it's universal. Think back to the old school, who were one of the first Hip Hop groups? The Beastie Boys. That is an indication of how long it has been listened to by all races. The only people who moan about this are the bigots, black and white. I rap, and I get stick from a load of people because I'm a white person rapping. They wanna call me '$$$$$' and stuff like that. But guaranteed, if a Black person want's to sing a rock song, nothings said. We are in the 2000's now, does it really matter what race started the music? In a word, no, because that's the past, things change, and this is the present.

[donnol]

but u don't hear anyone describing any form of music white - why the need for reference of colour? my feeling is this causes encouraged segregation

Yeah, I find the very term BLACK MUSIC racist. How comes black people have a right to call the music theres when most of there songs come from REMIXES of white peoples music anyways. If a white person called there music white music then the would be classed racist. AND SO WHAT IF WHITE PEOPLE WANT TO DO FASIONABLE MUSIC? IS IT ONLY BLACK PEOPLE THAT ARE ALOWED TO BE COOL? JUSTIN TIMBERLAKES MUSIC IS WELL DIFFERENT FROM MOST OTHER HIPHOP ANYWAYS, FOR A START HES NOT RAPPING BOUT KILLIN PEOPLE. BLACK MUSIC, whatever... Why are black people always tryin to take things and make it there own. Hip Hip is American music yeah, African music is african music yeah. even jamaican and african music is different. If a white musician is more talented than a black musician what do you want him to do? just give up cos he's white. Are you saying he dont deserve the fame, but a black guy does? dont be mad cos a white man sells so many records. all black people are not talented musicians, same for white people innit.. black music? anyways I feel white people bring there own flavour to hip hop which is a cool, modern genre of music aimed at the society we live in today.

[mc_p]

wat a pointless subject i h8 ppl who say this jsut lay off y r u implying that only black ppl can b rappers n be in da music industry and y bring thiss thread up

[mikey_b]

i agree with the people who are saying that music is for everyone and can be made for everyone - saying that a music is only meant for black or white people is just seperating us instead of making us all together!

[soulchild100]

On the one hand it can often be difficult for white people to make an impression in black music.

There are genuinely amazing artists such as Robin Thicke and Marcus Smith that deserve their place amoung the Brian McKnights & Joe's of this world