Critic Kelefa Sanneh Charts Music History in ‘Major Labels’
KQED's Forum
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Do We Want to Stick to Making Records That Appeal to Black Listeners?
In the late sixties and early seventies, motown has to pivot. Motown is formed by this desire by barry gordy to make these big cross over records. But America is a country that is currentlyin about 12 % black. If you have a record that's reaching an audience that looks like america, then you're going to be reaching a predominantly white audience. And black listeners are gongto be a small minority. See this push and pull with whitney huston whitney houston comes out at the gate in the 19 eighties and has unexpected, unexpected success at pop radio.
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