Propaganda In The Music Industry: Is Selling Products Selling Out?
Looking back not even five years from now, one of the best and only ways to get access to an artists music is through buying an album directly from the store. This provided the artists with a good portion of the money they made. Today, however, with all the many forms of free music sharing apps and websites, music is a click away. With musicians no longer receiving financial support from their music production, they've begun to reach out to another source of income: Propaganda. Musicians began featuring products such as Beats in videos and making appearances in ads and commercials for products, whether they use them or not. Media has shunned such negative light on this act
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that it leaves a sour taste in viewers mouths, for its associated with "selling out". When an artist is receiving an unsubstantial pay for their music because their fans aren't supporting it, it only makes sense for an artist to find other sources of income without being thought of as "sellouts". People too often disregard an artist for promoting companies and products; however, they wouldn't go out of their way to purchase the album they've listened to on an infinite loop. It's almost ironic that what they are actually saying is, "You can't get money from anything other than the music we aren't supporting." It isn't fair to expect a musician to be financially supported when their own profession doesn't cover his expenses. Artists are constantly receiving negativity when their reasoning for doing so is to make enough money to continue producing the music. The point isn't whether or not Beyonce actually drinks Coca-Cola; she is only trying to make ends meet for her millions of fans who wait on the edge of their seat for her newest album that she puts on free sharing apps such as Spotify for them. Another concept that is constantly thrown around is "Selling Products = Selling Out".
Just because someone like Nicki Minaj holds up a Beats Pill in hopes to sell it, it in no way means she is selling out of her identity of a rap icon. The music industry is built off selling, whether is a single, an album, merchandise, or little bobble heads. People argue against propaganda, for they don't believe the celebrity is actually using the product. However, it's highly unlikely that Jay-Z owns his own miniature version of himself with an expanded, wobbling head. Fans buy endless amounts of this stuff, yet fail to realize that this too is a form of propaganda. Media needs to step back and look at this through the eyes of all musicians doing this and realize that the music industry is one of the hardest industries to not only make it in, but to stay in.
Part of the reasons why celebrities become so popular is promoting. The average person wouldn’t buy music from an artist they didn’t know; therefore, it becomes the artist's job to become a greatly recognized figure. Not only are musicians selling the products they hold, but they are also selling themselves. The more popular they are in the media, the more fame, the more money. No one handed Nicki Minaj the title she has today, she took it after years of work, dedication, and putting herself out there. Just as many other things in life, there is a
bigger picture. Viewers everywhere should stop focusing so deeply on the bottle of shampoo in the artist's hand and understand the weight they carry on their shoulders. An artist deserves the right to do whatever it takes to stay on top and continue producing music for their fans; just as it’s a fan's duty to support the artist through his struggling times and accept the fact that they will see that artist on tv with some irrelevant product. Media preaches this idea that an artist is now fake for doing so, yet fails to acknowledge why an artist has to do these things. No one is buying records and albums anymore, it's become replaced by a $7.99 subscription to endless music at their very fingertips, giving an artist little to nothing back for all they give. Selling and selling out are in no way similar. No one deserves to be degraded for his efforts to acquire money and support.
Though The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz was written years ago, the idea of materialism, and measuring one's success by their possessions is also a prominent theme in pop culture in the West. Luxurious and excessive lifestyles are in, perpetuated by "blinged out" rap artists and rock stars who own multiple houses, and drive unnecessarily large and expensive sport utility vehicles and sports cars. Pop music has evolved throughout the 20th Century, and has now gotten to a point where it's not just music, but an industry. Singers are actors and vice versa. To make it big in the music industry you not only have to have talent, but a strong business sense, and your own clothing line, of course.
In the past, singers made money through CDs and cassettes. These forms of media have been replaced with digital copies of albums and songs. Even this method of accessing music has begun to fade away with the replacement of streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, or Soundcloud. Artists’ music has also been used in advertisements. This can negatively affect the artist’s career. Music artists shouldn’t have their songs in advertising.
Being famous is one of those things that can really keep one hooked. The big checks, fancy events, and a loyal fanbase are just some of the pleasures that come with stardom. But every so often, there are stars such as Nicki Minaj who are drunk on the attention and want more of it.
Music reflects the times. In the 60's and 70's, musicians preached peace and empathy towards the human race. In the 80's music was a form of rebellion. Today, music has manifested itself into many different forms, one being "hip hop" more commonly known as "rap". In the early 80's, rap was about break-dancing and graffiti. Now, as we approach the year 2000, hip hop has become the most listened-to form of music nation-wide and many rap artists have adopted the new title of "pop-artists", pop. meaning "popular culture". A hip hop single recently took the number 1 spot on the Billboard charts for most sales recorded. The problem here is the message many rappers are telling the world. From the beginning, rappers have flaunted their money with the expensive cars seen in their videos and the thick gold chains they wear in public, not to mention the numerous references made to wealth in their lyrics. However, many rappers are telling tales of violence and wealth as one. In fact, there are more than 10 hip hop songs actually entitled "Crime Pays". In the chart topping single, "Money, Power, Respect", Yonkers based rapper DMX raps "hit him up/ split him up/ shut him up/ then watch him come/ get him up…CLICK, step back like I did work", portraying a beating, then murder, the "CLICK" being the sound made by the trigger of a gun. The chorus then goes on to proclaim "Money, Power, Respect,...
The fact is that so many artists out there are in the industry simply for the love. These artists are not “sellouts” that are only in the industry for the money and fame. Also, there are many artists out there in the hip hop world that promote positivit
The second article, “Commercialization of the Rap Music Youth Subculture” by M. Elizabeth Blair, expresses the point of the use of rap music to sell a product even though advertisers know nothing of the subculture....
Do you like hip-hop? Do you think hip-hop brings people’s attention to an advertisement or commercial? In “Selling Down: The Marketing of the Hip-op Nation” which was adapted from Other People 's Property: A Shadow History of Hip-Hop in White America” (2007), author and senior editor Jason Tanz argues that hip-hip is a useful source to get the attention of the people; therefore, marketers and salesmen should keep using hip-hop in advertisements and commercials no matter what or who opposes. He also argues the idea that youth see themselves as being members of a higher status by wearing brand name clothing that is advertised by hip-hop.
Since their inception two years ago, the Latin GRAMMY nominated pop phenomenon, CNCO has conquered the music industry as one of the most important hit-making groups today. Comprised of five young Latinos: Christopher (Ecuador), Erick Brian (Cuba), Joel (Mexico), Richard (Dominican Republic) and Zabdiel (Puerto Rico), the group emerged from Univision's musical competition La Banda, which was executive-produced by Simon Cowell's SYCO Entertainment, the global icon Ricky Martin, Univisión Communications Inc., and Haim Saban's Saban Brands.
Pop music has long been defined by “idols” and superstars that are subjects of high levels of adoration from severely devoted fans, whose love of these superstars often blurs the line between fandom and obsession. This love is mainly based off of physical looks and charm more often than actual musical talent, as majority of the songs written by these massive superstars are not written by the artists themselves, instead by people hired to write for these artists in a way that will best connect with a crowd willing to spend their money on these manufactured stars. Therefore, it has become evident that in the world of popular music, image has overtaken talent as the determining factor of success in the industry. Instead of skill and songwriting ability, good looks and the ability to draw large crowds of impressionable people have become the main factors of fame in music.
Music has always been a basic form of expression. From Antonin Dvorak, to Eminem, to even ancient, tribal music, it has been a medium through which individuals convey their thoughts and expressions. Today this medium is under attack. Everywhere we turn, everything we do and say is being scrutinized. We are being told what to say. We are being spoon-fed our emotions. No longer are we allowed to think freely, openly. All the censors out there are on the prowl for another piece to rip to shreds because it doesn't fit their description of what is decent and moral. What they fail to realize is that we don't make the music for them... We do it for release.
Jozui states, ¨The audience is expected to transfer approval of the celebrity to approval of the product.¨ Famous people can afford top quality retail and have the ability to ruin a company's reputation if it is unsuccessful. The consumer should look upon many previous views of products and how they are being sold. The author also claims that, ¨ This kind of marketing is misleading and insults the intelligence of the audience.¨ It is the businesses job to make the viewers interested in what they are selling, it should not matter if they use someone who is famous to do so as long as it brings in customers. Celebrities have many people who look up to them all over the world, therefore advertising a product that doesn't show guaranteed results could also be the company's fault and not the
However, in “The Illusion of Literacy” Chris Hedges states that as a culture, society is “chained to the flickering shadows of celebrity culture, the spectacle of the arena and the airwaves, the lies of advertising, the endless personal dramas, many of them completely fictional, that have become the staple of news, celebrity gossip” (Hedges 15). This shows that today’s society is obsessed with celebrities and very popular musicians are celebrities. Since most popular musicians are celebrities, they have a signature look where they can easily be identified. Those who manipulate how society views celebrities “that dominate our lives are the agents, publicists, marketing departments, promoters, script writers, television and movie producers, advertisers, video technicians, photographers, bodyguards, wardrobe consultants, fitness trainers, pollsters, public announcers, and television new personalities who create the vast stage for illusion” (Hedges 15). “Celebrities are portrayed as idealized forms of ourselves” (Hedges 20). This causes society to become obsessed with their images, so people know exactly how each popular musician looks. Since society has become obsessed with their image, this teaches society that “no one has any worth beyond his or her appearance, usefulness, or ability to ‘succeed’” (Hedges 32). When a musician changes their appearance, society notices and may criticize. Becoming more popular can be stressful since they need to keep up appearances, but in compensation, they tend to earn more money. Musicians can also do good through sponsoring charity works or fundraising for good causes, such as helping raise money for medical research. The importance of musicians, in today’s age, is their ability to promote humanity and treating other
This is exactly what the media does to celebrities. Most celebrities that we have become to know have all changed in a lot of way from before they started their career and when they actually became famous. There are many artists, actors, musicians that were once people you would not even believe. A story that really inspires me is the musical journey of Stefani Germanotta. A small recording artist, not very well know, that is why I choose to discuss her because she has been through this with the media. She went to a small all girls catholic school in New York City. Paris Hilton was in her school. Look where she got, where did she go. She was made fun of everyday for her appearance. She was musically inclined to no extent, she had the talent. She knew how to play the piano by herself by the age of four years old (4).By 13 she wrote her first ballad; by 19 she was writing songs for the Pussycat Dolls and Britney Spears. Obviously she had the talent so when she went to go get a record deal, she went to...
Starting from the previous couple decades, labels such as ‘Parental Discretion’ and ‘PG Ratings’ have emerged. All of this is an effort to challenge the content that roams free in the media around us. Music is a universal ‘language’ that has spread and mostly effects each and everybody’s life simultaneously. Artists create music for their listeners but it goes through all the censorship regulations implied to ‘protect our society’. Is it really working? I don’t think so. Today, people themselves choose to be offended as artists and performers have worked their way around saying what cannot be said.
Popular music is readily available everywhere, such as on the radio, the media, and online. Artists often make use of their creativity by adding in some unique and creative lyrics that contain words that we haven’t heard often or even before. As a result, popular music affects our everyday speech; certain words and phrases from its lyrics integrating themselves into our language. Bryson says that some of the ways we adopt and make up new words is by “adding to them, by subtracting from them, by making them up, and by doing nothing to them” (811) as well as by “borrowing them from other languages and creating them by mistake” (811). Popular music follows the same pathway that Bryson presented into our ears and out of our mouths. Popular music