Are blackness and whiteness useful cncepts in the study of popular music

Russell A. Potter suggests in his book ‘Spectacular Vernaculars: Hip Hop and the politics of Post-modernism, that race is one of the most difficult and much debated subject when it comes to the concept of popular music. Music is a form of expression, through voice, movement, rhythm, beats and notes, which brings people together. This can be through subcultures, for example bringing ‘Grungers’ together through their love of rock and ‘Goths’ through their love of metal. This concept also works with cultures and race. Race and ethnicity are very useful in the study of music as everyone is different. We come from different backgrounds, different up bringings and grow to have different views and beliefs. Cultural music directs its voice mainly at specific audience, usually at people of the same race, this being as someone of the same ethnicity would be more likely to take a further understanding of the messages within the music For example, someone black singing a reggae song about their struggles and fighting for freedom, would maybe have a stronger influence with someone of the same race. Not to say that ‘only’ someone black can understand and listen to black music. This concept also works for Hip Hop, Bhangra and Rap.However, culture and race within music has also helped music evolve over the years. Hip Hops authenticity has gained a large amount of commercial value and has grown in importance as the music has gained a valuable market share of commercial radio and stations such as kiss and smooth are well known for playing this type of music. Artists today challenge authenticity and make money from a type of music. For example, Eminem within Hip Hop and Rap, Amy Winehouse and Soul. And also, in the 1960s black artists would produce rock ‘n’ roll songs, but white artistes would cover the song and get the credit. Produces saw the market for how well ‘black’ music would sell, it opened peoples eyes. And culture within music, white, black, asian or other, may not be as influencial today as it it was 50, 60 years ago, but society has changed andmusic continue to also.