Why does the mainstream industry only want a select few to be popular?

**Janszoon** · 09-23-2014, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soulflower

I think it is obviously a business but the business is also perpetuating images and stereotypes as well. It is really absurd to ignore that point whether it is a small point or not.

I'm not saying the issue of perpetuating stereotypes should be ignored. I'm saying the motivation behind the things record labels do is profit, just like any business. Society buys into crappy stereotypes, therefore businesses sell that to us.

DwnWthVwls · 09-23-2014, 11:47 PM

Do you ever consider that sex has always been at the forefront of sales and as the country gets less prude marketing gets increasingly provocative? Videos being made now are pushing the limits the same as they did in the 70s/80s/90s, it's just that the bar has been raised.

We've gone from not showing the bathroom to almost softcore porn on popular stations. You like to use this phrase "hyper-sexual" which I think is a gross exaggeration.

~~Soulflower~~ · 09-24-2014, 12:17 AM

That is the only term that I can really use to describe what is going on in today's mainstream industry.

Sex has of course always been prevalent in commercial music. However, it was used artistically more than how it is being used currently. I think in the past it was used to challenge listeners to think in an abstract or creatively. It wasn't just a "look at my ass and buy my records." I know a lot of people like to criticize Madonna but when Madonna did it she tried to challenge her listeners and used it creatively to express some type of message which engaged a lot of the gay movements and woman rights issues in the early 90's.

I just think it is sad that this is turning into something that we should just accept as "normal" when it is not.

It is very evident that the industry only wants to market hyper sexual acts (whether it is because it wants to profit or not) and there is an agenda behind it. You can still capitalize off the sex market with out being hyper or overly sexual but the nonsense that I see in today's industry is just plain over the top.

**Frownland** · 09-24-2014, 10:04 AM

So artistic.

Sequoioideae · 09-24-2014, 10:22 AM

Reading through this thread made me want to bang my head against a wall. I hope you all are happy that I now have brain damage.

DwnWthVwls · 09-24-2014, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

So artistic.

Perfect example of the point I was getting at. I get the feeling Soulflower is a bit prude compared to modern socially accepted sexuality. However, I am comfortable if two or more people **** right in front of me so I am probably biased sitting here at the opposite end of the spectrum.

@Soulflower - I hope you do not take the term prude the wrong way. I am not meaning to insult you.

Pet_Sounds · 09-24-2014, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sequoioideae

Reading through this thread made me want to bang my head against a wall. I hope you all are happy that I now have brain damage.

My master plan has begun.

~~Soulflower~~ · 09-24-2014, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

Perfect example of the point I was getting at. I get the feeling Soulflower is a bit prude compared to modern socially accepted sexuality. However, I am comfortable if two or more people **** right in front of me so I am probably biased sitting here at the opposite end of the spectrum.

@Soulflower - I hope you do not take the term prude the wrong way. I am not meaning to insult you.

I don't find it insulting. However, I think it is overly judgmental.... especially since mostly everyone in here has even agreed that the music is overly sexual in order to make a profit.

It is not a argument about being comfortable or uncomfortable. The issue is what is being presented is to us not creative or artistic.

DwnWthVwls · 09-24-2014, 07:12 PM

I think everyone agrees sex is used to make a profit. I don't recall everyone saying it's excessive or "hyper-sexual" as you would say. Also, just because something is based entirely around sex and there isn't supposed to be some sort of social critique attached doesn't take away from the creative process. I feel like you are just taking credit away from the artists and video directors because they aren't using sex appeal in the way you feel it should be used.

Similar to how I used to say Lil Wayne and Drake aren't real rappers just because I hate everything about them. They are rappers, they are creators, I just happen to disagree with the overall message of their songs and hate the art they create. That doesn't make them more or less creative than another artist.

Dylstew · 09-25-2014, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DwnWthVwls

Do you ever consider that sex has always been at the forefront of sales and as the country gets less prude marketing gets increasingly provocative? Videos being made now are pushing the limits the same as they did in the 70s/80s/90s, it's just that the bar has been raised.

We've gone from not showing the bathroom to almost softcore porn on popular stations. You like to use this phrase "hyper-sexual" which I think is a gross exaggeration.

My mother was zapping on the TV, there was nothing to watch, so then she watched part of some new video clip of Shakira, featuring Rihanna.

I was seriously wondering wether this was supposed to be a music video, or Softcore Porn. Which I think is just, well, stupid. Why do people look up to this ****, yet hate on strippers, prostitutes and pornstars as if they're not even human?

09-24-2014, 10:04 AM	#264 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	So artistic. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

09-24-2014, 12:17 AM	#263 (permalink)
~~Soulflower~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 2,304	That is the only term that I can really use to describe what is going on in today's mainstream industry. Sex has of course always been prevalent in commercial music. However, it was used artistically more than how it is being used currently. I think in the past it was used to challenge listeners to think in an abstract or creatively. It wasn't just a "look at my ass and buy my records." I know a lot of people like to criticize Madonna but when Madonna did it she tried to challenge her listeners and used it creatively to express some type of message which engaged a lot of the gay movements and woman rights issues in the early 90's. I just think it is sad that this is turning into something that we should just accept as "normal" when it is not. It is very evident that the industry only wants to market hyper sexual acts (whether it is because it wants to profit or not) and there is an agenda behind it. You can still capitalize off the sex market with out being hyper or overly sexual but the nonsense that I see in today's industry is just plain over the top.