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.
