At the risk of sounding negative (which I promised my loyal readers I would not do in the ‘09), I have good news and bad news related to the music industry.
The good news is: Sony/BMG has just signed a promising new singer/songwriter. The bad news is: she fits the standard cookie cutter image established by the other females of color already on Sony’s roster — including Leona Lewis, Jordin Sparks, Alicia Keys, and the standard bearer, Beyonce.
When I finally publish my last post ever on Sandrarose.com (in a decade or so), I want to be remembered as the blogger who coined the term “Beyoncification” to describe the music industry’s current obsession with female artists of color who posses decidedly European features.
I spotted this video on AtlantaUrbanMix last week. It’s a video blog by Sony’s newly signed artist who goes by the name of Nikki Jean. You can feel Nikki’s excitement as she video blogs while giddily signing every page of her bulky recording contract with Sony BMG/ Columbia Records.
I went to Nikki’s Myspace page hoping to hear some of her work in order to dismiss my nagging suspicion that Nikki was signed based on physical appearance only.
Again, so as not to come off as negative, I will reserve my opinion on her musical talent. Apparently, Nikki’s claim to fame is singing the hook on Lupe Fiasco’s 2007 track “Hip Hop saved My Life” which she also co-wrote.
On a positive note, what Nikki lacks in melanin and soul, she more than makes up for with her bubbly personality — a quality that her label mate Beyonce does not possess.
The Beyoncification of the music industry continues.
This entry was posted on Monday, January 5th, 2009 at 10:33 am and filed under Blog/blogging, Business, Music News, New Artist, Video . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed or Trackback from your own site. This site is Gravatar enabled. Sign up to upload your own avatar.
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Yeah that Lupe “Hip-Hop Saved my life is my joint well the whole album, well anywayz back on the topic. I heard some of her music when Lupe was down here in dallas about four mos ago and its okay its not nothing I would break my neck and go buy…
i am too lazy to go to the myspace page. can she sing? i could care less how she looks as long as she has some talent. although i am avid beyonce disliker( is that even a word? lol), i can say at least she’s got some singing talent.
Did you ever stop to think that the reason Leona, Jordin & Alicia “posses decidedly European features” is because they ARE HALF EUROPEAN/WHITE!?! I don’t know what Beyonces excuse is though…
Well, not all singers can be dark skinned. It takes all kinds. I just hope the girl can sing. I don’t feel like going to her MySpace to find out.
Man…
When I think of the singers from back in the day…and I’m sorry, I gotta go SO FAR BACK…
Regina Belle, Anita Baker, Melba Moore, Stephanie Mills, Whitney, etc….
Then in the 90s, you have your Mary J., Faith Evans, and Angie Stone and Mariah…a mix
In the 2000s…
Well Auntie…you penned it…
And everyone gets to suffer from the vacant, gaping (non) black hole that is female driven R&B music today…
SIGH!!!
Good Morning, Sandra.
I appreciate the fact that you are going to try and remain “positive” on your posts. But, as I read the post above, it really does affect how you want to say things, like you have to hold back. I say, “just say it”..
I don’t see any reason to try and remain neutral and positive on every single post. That’s impossible, especially this particular headline.
If you can’t speak your opinion (positive or negative) the way you want, then what’s the point of posting.
@Bird no everybody can’t be dark but must they all for the most part be light? I know talent comes in all shades and sizes but sandra is right on this one we rarely see it in the Industry anymore. I stan for Akeys all day so I know talent comes in all shades. Its all about the look and I guess thats the way the cookie crumbles these days in the Industry.
@Licia I am not sure that was a word but I thought I was the only one on here who didnt bow down to B..lol Glad to know im not alone..lol
Good Luck Nikki!
umm auntie SOro i am sorry i don’t like this “new” you girl keep talking ish that is the one thing i love about this blog…. that and the lovely commentary from the loyal “rosebuds” like myself i can’t click on the myspace thank goodness what is myspace the new record label/talent finder now i am lost anyhoo HAPPY NEW YEARS peeps did anybody hear keyco mammmy frankie is getting a show please tell me if this is true MAN DOWWNNNN!!! code 10
people cant choose their color and if they happened to be the most talented and of fair skinned so be it.
being obsessed with the color of someone skin isnt going to change things when you disregard their talents and accomplishment because of pigmentation.
nope daisy you aren’t the only one.lol i like to give her props when due though.
@Tee we will always think light=talent if thats all we say (some will who dont know betta) Light skinned artist get more of a chance cause they have the “look” companies are looking for doesnt mean they have more talent.
@Lex I have heard that as well and I hope its true. I love to laugh at Frankie and Neffe.
I meant see not say in my earlier post to Teece.
Why are BW of all people acting like there is no colorism in the music industry. Light skin ain’t even good enough anymore, you gotta be mixed and with a white mother. None of these color struck industry folks are gonna get 9.99 from me!
@licia I will as well my props to her is being a great entertainer and thats pretty much where it ends for me. I don’t see what the hype is about after that. I must admit that I did love me some DC.
@Namia way to keep it all the way real and A 100..lol
Although I don’t hold it against Akeys, MC and Halle whom I all love. I believe Faith is bi racial/mixed as well. I would like to see some brown skinned sisters in the mix.
i kind of get what teecee is saying though. it’s unfair to disregard or not give a person a chance because of their skin color.
good morning everyone!
@licia I agree that is wrong as well, which is why I said I dont hold it against them. I just wish the industry would stop being color struck. We come in many shades and they are all beauitful.
she is cute. i hope she can sing.
Damn, I wonder if she got an attorney to look that contract over.
i agree about the industry. it sucks because we have alot of non singing bimbos making millions and people like india arie, deborah cox, kelly price, debelah morgan, tamia, shanice , and a bunch of others who are so underrated and unappreciated in this industry. i could go on and on with my list of light and dark skinned singers who are getting no love.
@daisy & licia
Nope ya’ll are NOT alone I give her props much she is much over-hyped & over-rated and fake…..
The industry dont care about Light skin chicks they want mix chicks now regardless of your talent. Dark skin, brown skin non-light skin chicks talent is look over b/c they dont fit the description of what the industry calls “Beautiful” which is sad because our community has different shades of black with lots of talent.
@dave
Yeah instead singing about the darn contract her azz need to be up in somebodys office before she start singing about being broke standing on the corner begging for money…
@mizzdallas
Can you say Chapter 7? Thats the next documents homiegirls gonna be singing in about 2 years. I wonder if she will youtube that singing as well
@Dave very good point.
Lil Mo is on my list of underated singers. Yes, she may be a lil g fab and hood but that heifer can SANG..lol Love her voice.
You have to have a yt mother, the industry has thrown shade at Faith and Tamia both are mixed but both have black moms
Why does it have to be “beyoncefication”? There are other light skinned singers…but anyway not every singer is light skinned with long hair i.e. (jazmine sullivan, estelle, kelly rowland) and etc… i dont think skin color should matter because if she was dark skinned would you then see no problem with her getting signed?
Kellys career has gone nowhere fast, I love Jasmine she is a cute plus sized girl and Estelle has a HAWT cd but she just isnt cute.
alrighty. it is a slow news day i see. yall play nice…i might stop through later.
lslh (smdh).
Light skinned is considered pretty and marketable.
Is anyone on here fans of American Idol?
Does anyone remember the thick chick Keisha from a couple of years ago? She has a tremendous talent. Does anyone see here walking red carpets all over Hollywierd like no talented Cassie and Christina Millan who aren’t hitmakers.
Why doesn’t Jazmine Sullivan get the endorsments and commercials that Leona Lewis get?
^^^light skinned is considered pretty and marketable…
According to the industry. Those are not my personal opinion.
^^ sorry for all the typos. I’ve been away for a few days and fingers are stiff.
Mernin eerybody! Anyway, my thing is for the women that are naturally LSLH, werent they born they way? And why do we keep blaming them for it? Thats just as bad as back in the day when being dark skin was so called taboo. Im just saying.
Nikki is an extraordinary talent and seems to be a very nice person. I don’t know her, but i would like to meet her.
Daisy Says:
@Tee we will always think light=talent if thats all we see (some will who dont know betta) Light skinned artist get more of a chance cause they have the “look” companies are looking for doesnt mean they have more talent.
==================================================
maybe for girls but i think its diffrent for men.
if you dont like their talent dont buy the cd. there are tons of indy artist out here who would love to have your support.
@ Keely…
I don’t think Sandra is calling out the individuals for having LHLS.
I think she’s calling out the industry for trying to make most(all) of the singers look just alike. No one is judging the singers.
Sandra there is nothing wrong with stating your opinion but I think what your readers was asking you 2 do is to find a medium…if you dont like someone you go out of your way to bring them down and a lot of times it goes so far that your opinion and statements aren’t even related to the post anymore. If you don’t like a song then girl you don’t like it! lol, but when you start posting opinions that are not the facts then that’s when people get annoyed.
@Miss:
I know what her point was/is, I am speaking about “us”. Everytime these posts come up we get to bashing LSLH, I just want to know what are people buying/supporting that doesnt contribute to this gap? We are the consumers and apparently are in some way contributing to the gap in Hollywood. If it aint selling, its not a hit………
@Tee I guess you missed me say I stan for Akeys and I dont hold race against anybody. For your info I do support indie artist as well. I will continue to say I wish we had more mainstream singers, actresses etc that were brown and dark skinned. I have a long list of artist I love whom are LSLH if you have talent hell even if you dont and I like your music then its all good to me..lol
HELLO ERYBODY!!
Sandra I think you should keep the blog as is. This is what keeps us coming back several times daily.
Oh…please,please,please leave the community open for those that are employed. I really enjoy talking with everyone here and reading the comments. I think you should offer some kind of gift like a gas card or Visa gift card to the member that keeps us all laughing. That would be Kym and Goat!! Oh, don’t let me forget Kwallace!
By the way where is Hermosa, she keeps it real too!
Happy New Year to all of you!!
Now when is the next time we’re off work for a holiday?
I don’t care what an individual looks like, it’s down to the talent they possess is the deal maker or breaker.
Damn her parents for having a lightskinned child!
I personally think that Nikki Jean is truly talented though. No matter of her pigment. I first saw her live in Philly two years ago, when she opened for John Legend, then I saw her last year during Lupe Fiasco set of Kanye West’s tour. She did great both times and she has great stage presence. I wish her the best in her career.
NIKKI JEANS IS GARBAGE. I had the DISPLEASURE of seeing her perform in Philly at a John Legend event….WHY OH WHY OH WHY?! I couldn’t wait for her to get OFF the stage, she was horrible. The only thing that I will give that chick is that she is really pretty…and I’m sure that’s what hooked the MEN that got her signed.