XL's Richard Russell blames 'boring, crass and unoriginal' music on industry's over-sexualisation of female artists



A top record executive has launched a damning attack on music industry attitudes, claiming the insistence on over-sexualising female artists has led to "boring, crass and unoriginal" music.

Richard Russell is founder of record label XL Recordings, home to the hugely successful artist Adele, who he said had the potential to change the way women were seen in the industry by focusing on her music rather than her sexuality.

"The whole message with [Adele] is that it's just music, it's just really good music," said Russell. "There is nothing else. There are no gimmicks, no selling of sexuality. I think in the American market, particularly, they have come to the conclusion that is what you have to do."

The singer's record-breaking second album 21, which has spent 15 of the last 17 weeks at No 1, smashing Madonna's record of nine weeks in the top slot, was "almost political and sort of radical", Russell added.

His attack follows recent songs such as S&M by Rihanna, which contains the line "sticks and stones may break my bones but chains and whips excite me". The song was criticised by some for the extensive use of bondage imagery in its video.

The media regulator Ofcom ruled last month that raunchy routines by Rihanna and Christina Aguilera during the December final of the X Factor were "at the limit of acceptability for transmission before the 9pm watershed". Ofcom had 2,868 complaints.

Russell said he was shocked while watching a recent MTV show featuring top 10 hits from female artists, as each video used "faux porn" imagery. "I felt a bit queasy," he said. "But now you see that Adele is No 1. What a great thing, how amazing. Not only are young girls going to see that, but [also] the business people who are behind all those videos. It's going to make them rethink what they should be doing."

Russell dismissed criticism that Adele is too mainstream, saying she was as radical as the Prodigy, who he worked with in the 1990s. "At the level it is at now, it is radical," he said. "It is clearly about the music and the talent and the things it is meant to be about. I think there has been a certain amount of confusion, and it's resulting in garbage being sold and marketing with little real value to it ... Adele is a good thing to be happening."

That a strong female performer could succeed without bowing to pressure to conform to a certain body type or being over-sexualised, was "unbelievable", he said.

"It's just so boring, crass and unoriginal," he said, adding that the problem goes "way beyond" the music industry.

Adele talked openly about her image in an interview with Q magazine, insisting that a sexualised image did not fit her music. "If you've got it, flaunt it, if it works with your music," she said.

"But I can't imagine having guns and whipped cream coming out of my tits. Even if I had Rihanna's body, I'd still be making the music I make and that don't go together."

She was derided for comments she made in the same interview that she resented paying a large tax bill. "[While] I use the NHS, I can't use public transport any more. Trains are always late, most state schools are shit and I've gotta give you, like, four million quid – are you having a laugh? When I got my tax bill in from [the album] 19, I was ready to go and buy a gun and randomly open fire."

The singer added that she would not try to dodge paying tax "and do a Philip Green", but would pay her bills reluctantly.

http://www.guardian.co.uk...c-business

I love Adele but these executives are stupid.

[Edited 6/2/11 21:33pm]

Whatever. Norah Jones, even if you're not a fan, was selling millions as was Alicia Keys a few years ago. Now Adele is that girl, and she can sing!

HAPPYPERSON said:

XL's Richard Russell blames 'boring, crass and unoriginal' music on industry's over-sexualisation of female artists



A top record executive has launched a damning attack on music industry attitudes, claiming the insistence on over-sexualising female artists has led to "boring, crass and unoriginal" music.

Adele:

"I love seeing Lady Gaga's boobs and bum. I love seeing Katy Perry's boobs and bum." Rolling Stone interview

Adele isn't an exception to the rule, there has always been a popular singer who takes a less sexual route.

Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Susan Boyle, Tracy Chapman, Alanis Morrisette, Jewel...

They all had huge success and now people are acting like Adele is the first classy lady to have a hit.

Industry executives are idiots.

There may be a valid point there somewhere but is this guy really in a position to be objective?

I'm not too familiar with Adele's music but the little I've heard puts me right to sleep. I'll stick with Lady Gaga.

RKJCNE said:

HAPPYPERSON said:

XL's Richard Russell blames 'boring, crass and unoriginal' music on industry's over-sexualisation of female artists



A top record executive has launched a damning attack on music industry attitudes, claiming the insistence on over-sexualising female artists has led to "boring, crass and unoriginal" music.

Adele:

"I love seeing Lady Gaga's boobs and bum. I love seeing Katy Perry's boobs and bum." Rolling Stone interview

Adele isn't an exception to the rule, there has always been a popular singer who takes a less sexual route.

Norah Jones, Alicia Keys, Susan Boyle, Tracy Chapman, Alanis Morrisette, Jewel...

They all had huge success and now people are acting like Adele is the first classy lady to have a hit.

Industry executives are idiots.

He has a point.

At the same time, it's silly of him to expect one artist to turn all of that around - it's unfair to heap that much expectation and responsibility on one person's shoulders.

I think a lot of this oversexualization would come to an end if people stopped paying attention to and buying records by artists who have no talent but constantly trot around half-naked. If record execs start to see that that shit doesn't turn a profit, they'll stop shoving it down our throats.

I should say also, that not every female musician goes that route. There's a lot of good female artists that manage to stay fully dressed.

Timmy84 said:

I love Adele but these executives are stupid.

[Edited 6/2/11 21:33pm]

Agreed! She isn't the first and won't be the last as others have said.

And it's at least a little insulting to say Adele is JUST music. She has videos (although the videos feature her more as a "co-star"). She does live performances (in fact, both of her albums feature bonus discs with live tracks). She isn't Stars on 45, for example. She's not faceless. She is the performer, and people are getting to know her. I don't think she is sexualized like Rhianna, Christina, and others; however, she is an attractive woman who is not a size 0 (I'm a guy....I think that is a size that very skinny women are, right?).

armpit said:

He has a point.

At the same time, it's silly of him to expect one artist to turn all of that around - it's unfair to heap that much expectation and responsibility on one person's shoulders.

I think a lot of this oversexualization would come to an end if people stopped paying attention to and buying records by artists who have no talent but constantly trot around half-naked. If record execs start to see that that shit doesn't turn a profit, they'll stop shoving it down our throats.

I should say also, that not every female musician goes that route. There's a lot of good female artists that manage to stay fully dressed.

Co SIGN

Adele just cancelled the rest of her US tour due to severe laryngitis although I wouldn't be surprised if it had more to do with her nerves, which she is very open about.

I'm just starting to get nervous over this, I hope its just a roadbump.

armpit said:

He has a point.

At the same time, it's silly of him to expect one artist to turn all of that around - it's unfair to heap that much expectation and responsibility on one person's shoulders.

I think a lot of this oversexualization would come to an end if people stopped paying attention to and buying records by artists who have no talent but constantly trot around half-naked. If record execs start to see that that shit doesn't turn a profit, they'll stop shoving it down our throats.

I should say also, that not every female musician goes that route. There's a lot of good female artists that manage to stay fully dressed.

Totally agree. But the continual oversexualization wouldn't gradually end, it would come to a screeching halt.

Why can't a woman be sexual and talented at the same time? Why is it an either/or?

Glindathegood said:

Why can't a woman be sexual and talented at the same time? Why is it an either/or?

Exactly. I love Adele but she comes off as a bit of a snob and a bit bitter at times. I'm like, bitch please.

Glindathegood said:

Why can't a woman be sexual and talented at the same time? Why is it an either/or?

Well in a man's world a talented woman is either a slut or a bitch.

RKJCNE said:

Glindathegood said:

Why can't a woman be sexual and talented at the same time? Why is it an either/or?

Well in a man's world a talented woman is either a slut or a bitch.

And that's real stupid too and their reasons of how that's actually true when it's not.

Alej said:

Glindathegood said:

Why can't a woman be sexual and talented at the same time? Why is it an either/or?

Exactly. I love Adele but she comes off as a bit of a snob and a bit bitter at times. I'm like, bitch please.

I dont see that. She seems really sweet and mature for her age. She is also very pretty but sells her talent which I appreciate

[Edited 6/4/11 15:18pm]

mjscarousal said:

Alej said:

Exactly. I love Adele but she comes off as a bit of a snob and a bit bitter at times. I'm like, bitch please.

I dont see that. She seems really sweet and mature for her age. She is also very pretty but sells her talent which I appreciate

[Edited 6/4/11 15:18pm]

Yeah I've yet to see her acting ignorant.

Read Adele's own quotes in that article before jumping to conclusions. She directly cotradicts what the exective was trying to say.

Ellie said:

Read Adele's own quotes in that article before jumping to conclusions. She directly cotradicts what the exective was trying to say.

She said "more power" to those who flaunt their T&A. She was real cool for saying that actually IMHO.

God, that XL exec is talking bollocks. Adele as radical as The Prodigy? She's good. Not amazing. That's it. It is pretty much middle of the road stuff that's inoffensive.

Adele's increased popularity really is down to the X Factor using "To Make You Feel My Love" so much in the last UK series. That kept her in the public's minds and served to act much better than any typical promo for the new album. The UK success of 21 also prompted her US label to stump up a lot of bucks for marketing/promo.

Ellie said:

Read Adele's own quotes in that article before jumping to conclusions. She directly cotradicts what the exective was trying to say.

No she doesnt.

She said that she would STILL make the kind of music even if she had Rihannas body. However, she also stated that doesnt go together. Meaning beauty and talent does not go together one or the other has to be exploited and she clearly insinuates she rather give the audience her talent.

She basically understands the market with her comments and accepts her postion in the market and is not willing to change so how is that being arrogant?

She is exactly nicer with her comments than she should be... I prolly would have been like.. these "role models" need to put some clothes on lol

[Edited 6/4/11 15:42pm]