In the new iTunes store by Apple, where users can purchase tracks one at a time or entire albums for $9.99, there are a few different areas of the store (i.e. classical, rock, country, etc.).

In the R&B section, they list the top 10 downloads. They are:

1. I Feel For You (Chaka Khan)
10. Let's Go Crazy (Prince)

They also list the top album downloads. Of note:

2. Songs in A Minor (Alicia Keys)
4. Prince: The Hits 1 (Prince)

since when is LGC an rnb track?

Joshy84au said:

I think they've just categorized all P's music into R&B...just like every wrecka stow I've ever been in.

Joshy84au said:

It's an American racist thing: any music by black artists is segregated into an RnB category. I found it really confusing when I first went there: it was 1985, and u had 2 go 2 the RnB section 2 look 4 Prince, or even MJ (not that I did )

Yes you did!! You were a Thriller loving, red and black pleather wearing MJ lovin FREAK!!!

Nothinbutjoy said:

How dare u!!! I never! No really!! Nooo, REALLY!!!

wasitgood4u said:

Where in Tel Aviv music stores would you find Prince's CDs, then? Do they not have categories?

I really don't think there's anything "racist" about putting P's music in the R&B section -- it's just that most music stores in America have their standard categories (rock, R&B, country, musicals, classical, rap, etc.), and in that type of system, it's impossible to find a completely perfect home for Prince's music.

I think a better point to make would be to argue that the system of categorizing music in stores is flawed overall because it pigeonholes every artist in the store. An alternative would be to list albums alphabetically by artist/group without categories.

Doozer said:

I agree with that approach, but I, for one, do believe that race has played a factor in it. Wow, first time I believe I ever played a race card...interesting.

xpsiter said:

I just don't see it...sorry.

Libraries categorize books into genres that can arguably pigeonhole authors...is that racist?

Eminem can be found in the "rap" section at music stores...is that racist? Or reverse racism?

Doozer said:

It is most definitely a race thing. Me'Shell NdegeOcello's music, for example, can't be categorized as R&B, but since she's black, her CDs are in the R&B section. Same goes for Lenny Kravitz. His music is pop rock, for chrissakes. There are countless other examples. Anyone who claims race isn't a factor in the categorization of American music is in denial.

As far as Eminem goes, yeah, his music is in the rap section because it's straight-up rap. But he's also played on rock stations. Why? Because he's white.

FunkMistress said:

Okay...amazon.com lists its top-selling "R&B/Soul" CDs. Christina Aguilera (not African-American) is #3 -- Pink (not African-American) is #11...

Anyway, I'm not defending the categorization of music in stores (and care a lot less than one might think by the amount of times I've posted about the topic in a completely unrelated thread that I started myself) -- just from my standpoint it is not "racist." If all CDs by musicians of "color" were put in a different room at the back of the store, that would be a different story.