why do minority artists have to "cross over" to white radio but not vice-versa?

Question

I've notice that minority / urban artists make it a goal to have a "cross over" hit on white radio stations but white artists don't try to appeal to urban radio.

and I always hear older soul/hip-hop hits played on white radio MONTHS after its worn out on urban stations. why don't white stations debut urban artist's new songs (not a major artist like Michael Jackson) new song as soon as its released? do they need to see approval (lots of spinplay) from minorities to know that its a hot record?

bottom line: I don't understand why radio stations segregate their playlists based on skin color and urban artists get delayed exposure on white stations.

I think I'm more perplexed by who's choosing what type of "sounds" appeal to the "pop" audience, which happens to be majority white.

its the program directors that choose the playlists. they eventually play the minority hit, but for some reason they won't debut the song on their stations.

Answer 1

How about, stop trying to read racism into everything you encounter?

Top 40 stations (or white radio as you so eloquently refer to them) play a selection of music which is very likely to appeal to the broadest spectrum of people. This excludes such genres as Rap and Heavy Metal, which *tend* to appeal to specific audiences. When a song in one of those niche markets starts getting more and more popular, the top 40 stations take notice and start playing them (assuming the song doens't violate their decency standards).

Answer 2

As a women of a 'minority' group, I didn't at all understand the comparison of black candidates being unpopular with hispanics, is that a fact? I'd think more of us would want to see a black win it because then we'd feel a victory that a 'minority' had won? I don't know of anyone who isn't white who'd rather see someone white win just so a black didn't solely because he's not their own particular race...it may be true, but I'd find it really hard to believe. Anyhow, I feel for visible minorities because there's no hiding it. Day in and day out ever single person you're in physical contact with can see you, if you have an accent every person you have even a phone conversation with knows you're not white, it's still a huge issue even though race issues have come such a long way. As for women, I feel a stronger connection to women's issues because I am a woman, just as I feel a stronger connection to issues of my own race. That doesn't mean I'd rally to have special advantages for "us", it just means all his equal, someone of my own race impacts me slightly more than someone of other races. That said, I care very deeply about all living beings (men, women, animals) and everything touches me deeply, regardless of gender, race or even species. Ever living being has emotions, and I feel a connection to every other living being. Personal experience makes me feel I can relate better to women, or those of my own race, and other visible minorities, because we've lived the same experiences, yanno? Someone not of a visible minority can't understand day to day life being one as I do and all visible minorities do, men can't truly know what it's like to live as a woman, I can't truly know life as a man...yaddayadda. Doesn't mean I value the individuals less, I just relate and can feel a bit more of an impact from those I'm more like than others.

Answer 3

there are no white/black stations. It's really about what is popular. These so-called white stations that you speak of are what mainstream audiences would listen to. When the general public turns on the radio they most likely don't want to hear gangsta rap...If a rap song is slightly "pop-like" they will try it out. I really don't think it has to do with the race of the artist, it is just more likely that a black/urban artist will produce the type of music that is not mainstream.

Answer 4

You gotta remember, white people outnumber black people about 7 to 1, and their economic power is even more disproportionate. It's about music that appeals to a (much) larger audience, which in turn produces more income to the artist.

I agree that playlists should be based on artistic merit. I'd like to see radio stations play a much broader mix of music than they do now.

Answer 5

White artists who "crossover" have been called unmentionable names in the past for things like that . I can't say why stations might "segregate' the playlist - other than to appeal to a specific audience , if that's their thing .

Answer 6

The answer to your question is already there in your question. Its in the word 'minority'. I suppose that you could turn this into a racial debate, but why? Radio is a business and as a business, they try to appeal to the majority, pure and simple. If Sri Lankans were the majority in the US then Sri Lankan music would dominate the airwaves.

Answer 7

They also call it crossing over with Country.

I don't think it's simply a white bias, I think it's a general pop-music bias.

They also call it crossing over when country artists have mainstream pop hits. I'm sure you're aware that almost all country artists in the United States are white. But they still have to "cross over" from country to mainstream pop.

Answer 8

pop music that is the key words u r looking for. its always been that way and always will.they do not want to cross over but sometimes they do i wish hip hop never would have cross over then it will be still raw. and its not about black and white its about what the young people want so be it

Answer 9

Thank God (although after all that preaching of the first respondent, perhaps I shouldn't) I have satellite radio!

Answer 10

What are you talking about? If it wasnt rich suburban white kids listening to and buying rap, they wouldnt make a red cent.