With US acts getting major airplay in the UK but not vice versa and the need for diversity on American radio, what could be done to bridge that gap?
[Edited 2/13/09 23:56pm]

no

bboy87 said:

why?

errant said:

I think it would be cool to see UK R&B and hip hop acts get more coverage in the States

bboy87 said:

sure, that would be nice. but why should effort be put into it? and by whom?

errant said:

That's the thing, who would? Radio stations, TV channels like BET, TVOne....

Record labels rarely push acts from overseas when it comes to R&B and hip hop. Back in 2000-2002 when UK Garage had gotten real big, you saw Craig David, Ms. Dynamite, and others get some recognition but the labels dropped the ball soon after

I'm listening to BBC 1xtra and it's crazy how this one station plays R&B, hip hop, drum and bass, reggae, house, garage, and documentaries

bboy87 said:

Also grime which is the new garage which mix rap with garage ...cool

I think it would be great for the quality of US music in areas like rap ...Kanye is the leader he takes alot from the UK scene and European sounds that's what makes him so hot he's open ...

LondonStyle said:

I agree. Estelle is doing pretty well here but I would love to see more UK acts come over here

And I do wish the MOBO Awards would air in the states too

I also think the late Lynden David Hall would've been successful in the states

I've always wondered the same thing. They do need to start being more international with other artists....tours, radio play, etc. Other countries always get U.S artists over there, but we never get theirs.

AnckSuNamun said:

Exactly!

bboy87 said:

I don't think the MOBO has reached the standard needed for US TV yet it really could do with a brush up from a US TV producer ..it lacks fun it is too focused on US Acts and should focus on British act's from all music backgrounds not just R&B or Hip-Hop ..

LondonStyle said:

I agree. I was looking at last years nominees and was thinking with so many acts you guys have, most of the winners were from the states.

And let me tell you, it's more sophisicated than the BET Awards

I would love to see a show similar to both that celebrated R&B, hip hop, reggae, and dance music

bboy87 said:

1. Kylie Minogue & Girls Aloud could finally tour the USA for once.

2. Bring back the productions of Stock Aitken Waterman!

3. Ban Radiohead, Amy Winehouse, & Oasis!

4. Ban the gangsta style of rap (especially 50 Cent) in the both countries during the transition.

5. The Jacksons Reunion Tour is very needed.

6. Bring back French House AND Chicago House.


I'll posts later if I think of anything else.

EDIT: Oops, you said black music. If that's the case, do #2, 4, 5, & 6.
[Edited 2/16/09 13:41pm]

MOBO awards are rubbish. I mean seriously embarrassingly bad.

I think back when Beverley Knight was first making it big in the mid 90s if she'd been given more of a push she could have been big in the US. Mind you it took her the best part of a decade to even get a Top 10 hit in her own country. Great voice, world class performer but average songs.

And my poor man Roachford is one of my all time favourite artists but isn't getting any attention anywhere.

With lots of UK acts finally making it big in the States now though, I was surprised the Dizzee Rascal/Calvin Harris collaboration 'Dance Wiv Me' never made it over there.

bboy87 said:

That boy was BAD.

TonyVanDam said:

Kylie not bringing her tours to the US is VERY annoying. I mean I reckon she'd have done better than Janet just did with her attempt last year. Even if she only goes to a few big cities.

These days I swear a bunch of UK/European acts should have a big enough long term internet followings to play one off semi-big dates, especially the "gay icons". It shouldn't be a case of having to go to America for months to tour the clubs and start from scratch like we're always led to believe.

Seriously I love this. One of the better #1 singles last year

Ellie said:

Dizzee's single "Where Da G's" did okay here

bboy87 said:

He would have tanked here. I mean, he's singing, there's an actual melody and he isn't using the Cher "I believe in life after love" voice effect

I can't believe the state of black music in this country right now. Horrifying. I would love the see the UK invade. Perhaps it would reinspire folks here to get the fuck off the crack and back to real fuckin music.

[Edited 2/16/09 14:21pm]

Oh yeah, and if this little tosser would get off his high horse and tour more often, I'd be happy enough. It's throwback music but I love it.


[Edited 2/16/09 14:34pm]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

When I see 1xtra's playlist and content, it makes US radio stations look primitive. A station here would play R&B and hip hop and MAYBE some reggaeton..maybe


they'll play Dancehall, Garage, Drum and Bass, R&B, hip hop, and house!

1xtra is really cool I used to listen to it a lot. Lynden David Hall was on the same musical level as D and Maxwell and miles ahead as an instrumentalist. Damn I missed that dude. He was the truth!

bboy87 said:

I am really shocked at that...i mean Radio 1 xtra is not as good as it should be but it has got better over the years..I can't understand why the US is so backwards in radio airplay? ... and the BET awards is not as good as the MOBO i find that a shock as well as the MOBO's are done on a shoe string budget...really they don't spend any money on it...and the reason I dislike it is that it does not focus on the really talent ...Rochford etc.. Noel McKoy..etc..we have artist over hear like Bev Knight that just need the right marketing and the MOBO's should be a platform for this but it just does not happen...? instead of Breaking New Acts and Showing off our past glory... Soul 2 Soul, Loose Ends etc... it goes all kiddy pop..waste.. and presenters that are bigger than the acts on stage that's wrong ..

LondonStyle said:

I will never forget the 1998 MOBO awards, when Beverley Knight absolutely brought the house down with an amazing live performance of 'Made It Back'. I knew of her from her 1994 debut but had never heard much of her since then - then she came out with THAT voice and I was stunned. But oh no, the big hyped up highlight of the year was getting Faith Evans to close the show.

Then there was some after show discussion programme and all they could talk about was fucking Faith Evans who wasn't even that good by anyone's standards. No mention of Beverley Knight. THEN Roachford came on to the show to do some acoustic set in the studio, and it was better than anything that had won an award that night. I really wish I had recorded it.

LondonStyle said:

I'm going to see a full show of the Mobo Awards because the clips I've seen are pretty good.

the BET Awards have the potential to be good, but not always. The Lifetime award recipient USUALLY is better than the rest of the show



Damn it, I can't find Al Green's performance!

Not one of his best songs, but his voice is like silk. I'd swear he was related to Stevie Wonder


[Edited 2/17/09 13:23pm]