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Its not a ridiculous take at all. Morals aside, the progression is absolutely intentional and the go to playbook. Have first hand industry experience and heard the discussions. I've also seen what happens to those who push back against it and I know of one major label who regularly goes beyond career-ending levels of framing/retaliation.

inpc 2mo ago 💬 1

Yeah I’m inclined to agree, whilst I don’t work in the pop world, it’s pretty well known what goes on.

A couple of friends have been through that cycle and even as men they were expected to wear certain clothes and do what they were told by the execs. You’re very much a performing clothes horse (or lack of) at that level.

Some people are very happy in that world, others not. You could argue that people are free to choose but the industry is often putting a lot of pressure on teenagers with all their hopes and dreams on the line, it’s coercive at best. And those who push back are very much labelled and are exiled (and can still do very cool shit as indie artists) but the ‘industry’ will completely ignore them.

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Discussion

Ava 2mo ago 💬 2

Cardi B was a stripper before she ever got into music. This whole narrative is far too black and white. A woman embracing her sexuality as she gets older doesn't automatically mean she's been coerced. Yes, the industry absolutely exploits artists, but this take misses the nuance entirely. It's moral panic dressed up as insight.

inpc 2mo ago

I think both things can be true at once.

Ava 2mo ago 💬 3

Now THAT is a nuanced take.

Rand 2mo ago

#sexsellz /*

inpc 2mo ago 💬 1

There’s levels to it for sure. Ced Gee from Ultramagnetic MCs has some very interesting info about Sony and the situations that ultimately lead to the rise of Biggie Smalls etc. all. On the flip side, I’ve also been to talks with the exec from Sony who made an absolute shit tonne of money buying up rap labels in that era.

Long and short is some people became extremely wealthy and some talented kids end up dead.

Currently the most amplified voices are some of the lesser talented ones. Probably it’s always been so.

I’m not going to chat anyone’s business that isn’t in the public domain but there’s some first hand accounts I’ve heard that are very interesting.

I’ve huge respect for those leaving that world and doing things on their own terms. They may not have the same bank balance but they define entire genres of music.

Interesting times ahead as the industry no longer requires the front person to sell product (bands and session musicians mostly been cut out already).

BITwise 🐳 >>= RIGHTish 2mo ago 💬 2

Funny you shld say that name. I happen to know someone who was framed by them.

inpc 2mo ago 💬 1

Some very interesting stuff was happening around those people and a fair bit of it tragic.

BITwise 🐳 >>= RIGHTish 2mo ago

Extremely tragic. Its all about control. Because they knew if they could consolidate and build a music empire where they controlled the full stack, they could simply will hits into existance. If their songs were the only hits, they were the only ones making money. And look where we are today.

Part of why music is so diluted is because the top talent will recognize theire being forced to create art that isn't what THEY want to be creating. Its easier to prey on the aspirations of the middle curve and bend then the way you want. You give them wardrobe, you give them songwriters, you give them gear, money, and fame. All you ask for is their soul. Literally the devil's playbook.

BITwise 🐳 >>= RIGHTish 2mo ago

The top talent that push back is often blacklisted and relegated to the indie corners of the world, like DeMu. There's a reason we have a disproportionate amount of good music across all genres here.

BITwise 🐳 >>= RIGHTish 2mo ago 💬 1

The cardi b situation is different and I dont entirely disagree with you on that. Certainly the scenarios are not mutually exclusive.

But just so we are crystal clear... it needs to be stated in no uncertain terms, coerced sexual exploitation is happening in the music industry today.

Again, I have first hand experience on this topic. The careers of many popular artists today have been shaped over the years very intentionally by their managers and label reps to progressively ramp up the sexuality over time. This is not a female only issue. If not the sexuality, its almost always written into contract terms that management or the label have full control over their entire look/persona in any public setting. Most artists do not like this (creatives tend to want to walk their own path) but most will see $$$ and compromise their own personal morals to achieve their "dreams". The industry preys on this.

It is not a question of projecting morals or anything else like that. Its quite literally the total control of a person's public persona at any cost, for the sake of $$$. And most the time that coercion comes at the compromise of the coerced own person set of morals or conviction, wherever on the scale it lays, because the sharks can always swim lower.

inpc 2mo ago

Sometimes with guys it’s more they ‘act gangsta’ whilst actually being pretty compliant to the business. It’s quite a journey from Public Enemy to incoherent mumbling through autotune but here we are.

BITwise 🐳 >>= RIGHTish 2mo ago

You're certainly not entirely wrong and on surface I agree with you. And there are certainly degrees in which this is happening.

For most artists it doesnt happen all at once, its usually ramped in parallel with their success. They erode the artists personal identity over time to shape it to their vision. Most the time it isn't someone embracing their sexuality in the way they deem fit. Its almost always forced on them in the way deemed to make most $.

And to your point, yes this video is taking the extreme cases. But it happens in all shades of grey, pretty much throughout the industry but this toxic culture stems from the majors. The video may have an alarmist taste to it but the evil is very real right now.