What cause the disappearance of black female singing superstars?

[Wear My Dawg's Hat]

It has nothing to do wth Beyonce or Rihanna.

The music industry has been radically disrupted by technology. Free music started with Napster,
and carpet-bombed with YouTube's debut in 2005.

Beyonce was already heavily established by 2005 (just like her husband was). Rihanna just sneaks in
at the deadline with Pon De Replay in 2005 as YouTube is just getting started and totally free music streaming doesn't
become a factor for a couple more years.

In the past, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole and Toni Braxton counted on all those black female corporate workers purchasing their albums
after work at Best Buy, Coconuts, Strawberries, Sam Goody, Camelot's, Tower Records. That world is gone forever.

OK, black female r&b singers are now extinct.

But where is the latest version of U2, Green Day, Led Zepplin, the Rolling Stones or Metallica? They ain't coming back either.

Pop has hung on because of the 12-24 white female, who had the music pipeline of Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and iHeart stations to feed them. And they still bought CDs and legal downloads from Apple. But that is beginning to fall off now, too.

 

[alpo]

Adele is arguably the greatest singer to ever live. Her voice is otherworldly good.

the disrespect

 

[TNOT]

It has nothing to do wth Beyonce or Rihanna.

The music industry has been radically disrupted by technology. Free music started with Napster,
and carpet-bombed with YouTube's debut in 2005.

Beyonce was already heavily established by 2005 (just like her husband was). Rihanna just sneaks in
at the deadline with Pon De Replay in 2005 as YouTube is just getting started and totally free music streaming doesn't
become a factor for a couple more years.

In the past, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole and Toni Braxton counted on all those black female corporate workers purchasing their albums
after work at Best Buy, Coconuts, Strawberries, Sam Goody, Camelot's, Tower Records. That world is gone forever.

OK, black female r&b singers are now extinct.

But where is the latest version of U2, Green Day, Led Zepplin, the Rolling Stones or Metallica? They ain't coming back either.

Pop has hung on because of the 12-24 white female, who had the music pipeline of Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and
iHeart stations to feed them. And they still bought CDs and legal downloads from Apple. But that is beginning to all off
now, too.

Good post.

Streaming services are the new radio . For young kids it's the way they listen to their music .

 

[satam55]

I think it's a good question, but it's too limiting. When I was growing up you had sister sister, my wife and kids, fresh prince of bel air, thats so raven, one on one etc. Tons of black shows aimed aat black people. Where has that all gone?

We have Empire, Power, Blackish, Carmicheal Show, ATL, Luke Cage, Survivors Remorse, Awkward Black Girl
The Get Down and more shows in the pipeline...

All that friendly sitcom 90s sh!t has been swapped for variety in our content

This. It's clear that @Roadside & everyone who dapped his post don't actually watch or keep up with Television. There's so many black TV shows & TV shows with black leads/co-lead/major characters currently on TV & counting that it almost seems like an agenda to keep black folks distracted.

 

[Weaver31]

One thing i have notice is that the difference of support that past black women singers had as compared to now when it comes to the black community. What cause the shift?

This is part of it. I think its a combination of factors....which involve lack of support black artists as a whole especially black R&B singers, technology and people not buying CDs/singles, cost of living which forces folks to download instead of buy because they lack disposable income when costs are increasing and pay isn't increasing proportionately to the increase in costs, and that our artists don't get enough support from our own people as well as other races. Artists like Adele and Sam Smith (supposedly soul singing white artists) get support from all races and the mainstream fans eat white artists like the 2 aforementioned and Justin Timberlake up....but with other good artists like Jazmine Sullivan, Chrisette Michelle, Ledisi, Marsha Ambrosia, Miguel, Tank, etc. don't get near the support. Yes I know those black artists aren't mainstream but still...it makes it hard for R&B singers to really push albums. Plus the industry don't give them the platform and marketing.

Its a combination of issues as to why we don't see R&B singing superstars like we did back in the day.

 

[Wear My Dawg's Hat]

Sadly R&B isn't as mainstream anymore, which is a genre black women excel in. What's in is mumble rap and pop.

R&B was a "romance" music. Whitney, Anita, Luther, Freddie Jackson sung romance r&b.

Nobody wants to hear World Star versions of female r&b. That is what Hip Hop is for. "Freak Like Me" did not begin the revolution.

Two opposite forces cannot exists in the same place at the same time.

"A House Is Not A Home" music could survive the occasional "Let's Get It Ons" or "Sexual Healings." But when the
entire black music culture is dominated by "Birthday Sex" and "Mask Off" then there is no place for romance r&b.

 

[Wear My Dawg's Hat]

Good post.

Streaming services are the new radio . For young kids it's the way they listen to their music .

Thanks.

Steaming absolutely is today's "radio."

And unlike with radio in the old days, after hearing your favorite tune you don't run out to the store to buy the "clean" copy that
the radio announcer isn't talking over. So the cash flow from record store purchases that financed Motown, Stax Records and Philadelphia
International Records has disappeared.

 

[Weaver31]

Beyoncé ain't do a damn thing to Keisha Cole. She was in her prime during beyonce's prime and by the time that Super Bowl shyt happened, Keisha was past her prime

I would say K Michelle may have "replaced" Keyshia Cole or may have made more of an impact than Bey.

 

[Standing on business]

Beyoncé ain't do a damn thing to Keisha Cole. She was in her prime during beyonce's prime and by the time that Super Bowl shyt happened, Keisha was past her prime

shyt happens behind the scenes. This is just one example. Keyshia definitely fukked up a lot of connections with those pointless tweets against beyonce.

 

[satam55]

It has nothing to do wth Beyonce or Rihanna.

The music industry has been radically disrupted by technology. Free music started with Napster,
and carpet-bombed with YouTube's debut in 2005.

Beyonce was already heavily established by 2005 (just like her husband was). Rihanna just sneaks in
at the deadline with Pon De Replay in 2005 as YouTube is just getting started and totally free music streaming doesn't
become a factor for a couple more years.

In the past, Anita Baker, Natalie Cole and Toni Braxton counted on all those black female corporate workers purchasing their albums
after work at Best Buy, Coconuts, Strawberries, Sam Goody, Camelot's, Tower Records. That world is gone forever.

OK, black female r&b singers are now extinct.

But where is the latest version of U2, Green Day, Led Zepplin, the Rolling Stones or Metallica? They ain't coming back either.

Pop has hung on because of the 12-24 white female, who had the music pipeline of Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and iHeart stations to feed them. And they still bought CDs and legal downloads from Apple. But that is beginning to fall off
now, too.

Good point. We don't talk enough about how Rock is even more dead than R&B.

 

[NormanConnors]

besides Keri hilson who else did she black ball?

Amerie

 

[Jordan>>LeFrozen]

shyt happens behind the scenes. This is just one example. Keyshia definitely fukked up a lot of connections with those pointless tweets against beyonce.

How is that beyonce fault? Keisha been done by that time.

 

[TNOT]

Thanks.

Steaming absolutely is today's "radio."

And unlike with radio in the old days, after hearing your favorite tune you don't run out to the store to buy the "clean" copy that
the radio announcer isn't talking over. So the cash flow from record store purchases that financed Motown, Stax Records and Philadelphia
International Records has disappeared.

I'm older but I absolutely love streaming services. I use Tidal, people my age ask me why I pay for music I'll never own? , I ask themvhow else would I be able to listen to the music I like .

It's also the only real way to discover new artist, and new music.

 

[NormanConnors]

The problem is the lack of talented Black female AND male singers getting recognized, signed and promoted. There's talent out here, but these labels rather settle for some marginal and no talent having ass motherfukers.

I look around and female singers like Teedra Moses and Goapele should be BIG household names w/ their talent. It's a damn shame.

This, the bold is Gospel.

I know a couple chicks personally that can sing, they've been trying for years to get on but can't find that mix/plug to get a foot in.

shyt even on Instagram you can find talent on there.

 

[satam55]

The same reason why biracial and non black Women have taken over radio.


You ever notice ALL the radio shows web series stuff about hip hop always features two noticeably black men, and a non black or biracial woman?


The Breakfast Club
Hot 97 w/ Ebro
Big Boy
Everyday Struggle


I can go on & on...


They always feature TWO or more obviously black men, and non black Women or biracial women.


"Free" was the last noticeably black host of 106 n Park. They replaced her with Latinas.


This is all because of the demonization of of black women. There is this belief that people don't want to see black women. A black Woman being present means low quality and low ratings.

Same reason they have clubs that won't allow black Women in, because they don't want the club to look "too black", BUT they will let black men in non stop all night.


The media (and black men) have done a successful job of demonizing us, and making us seen as undesirable. So we are no longer required in our own spaces. In fact, they prefer everyone BUT us! It always starts with black women.



This is what black women always complain about. And black men just tell us to shut up, were insecure and jealous. We been seen this, and we know where it's heading. Erasing US from our art form. Black men don't care, because it isn't happening to them, YET.


Black men are next... then all the rappers & rnb singers (male) will be non black.

Until it's happened to them they won't care. Imagine a Beyoncé video with a whole bunch of Brad Pitts and Cristiano Ronaldo's. They'd have a fit not knowing that's pretty much the standard nowadays for black men to be black but black Women to be anything but.

Aren't you biracial yourself? Man, Black feminism really got y'all fukked up where you got lightskin & biracial females hating on other lightskin & biracial females just to fit in.