Does audience play an active role in the production of meaning in popular music?

‘Music is a form of communication and popular music, as its very name suggests, always has an audience.’(Shuker, R, Understanding Popular Music, 2001, p36) I think that to some extent audience does play an active role but audiences select their ‘cultural or leisure texts from what is available to them, and the nature of the market is determined by more than the constitutive qualities of its potential audience.’ (Shuker, R, Understanding Popular Music, 2001, p36) The suggestion that the baby boom had a great impact on the success of rock and roll for example doesn’t seem to add up as those born after World War Two would not have been old enough to appreciate rock and roll music – it wouldn’t be till the late 1950’s and early 1960’s that they would be able to enjoy and have an interest on music. I believe that whatever popular music an audience is born in to is what they will enjoy. Just like in the 1950’s the audience was interested in rock and roll music and today a teenage audience wouldn’t be interested in this type of genre and would prefer say r ‘n’ b or rap music for example. Audiences take advantage of the music which is available to them but obviously they are still essential to the success of popular music and still play a slight role in the production of meaning in popular music.

NME magazine...

NME magazine embraces its readers with the latest news, gossip and information on top artists and bands. Featuring popular artists such as the Artic Monkeys, Manic Street Preachers and The Klaxtons and with its catchy headlines and unique opinions NME keeps their readers intrigued. Not only does this magazine offer its opinions but gives readers a chance to write or email in to express their own opinions and views on a range of issues surrounding music which are then featured in the ‘letters page.’ NME’s May 2007 issue has interviews with many stars including the very popular ‘Peep Show’ star David Mitchell and Interpol are interviewed about their latest album. This issue offers readers valuable information including ‘The Greatest Indie Albums Ever and provides the latest single and download charts. NME keeps its readers up to date with the latest concerts – featuring pages and pages of the various events happening up and down the country. NME gives a generally exciting incite into the music which its readers love and enjoy.

Are blackness an whiteness useful concepts in the study of popular music?

I don’t think that you can say that blackness and whiteness are concepts in popular music let alone useful concepts. In today’s music industry within popular music whiteness and blackness essentially don’t matter. In today’s society in regard to different types of genre blackness and whiteness don’t really come in to it. Most people when asked about blackness within popular music would associate it with r n b and hip hop. But there are so many white artists today involved in these types of genres too. For example Eminem is one of the most successful rap artists in the world and is white. He could be said to be one the primary artists which has made rap such the success it is today.
You can’t associate blackness which one particular genre and whiteness with another genre. Both black and white artists contribute to all different genres.