Week 9~Are Blackness and Whiteness useful concepts in the study of popular music?

Every piece of music has an origin; the music however may be a completely different format to what it originally was perceived as i.e. When people think about rock music the most commonly associated artist is Elvis Presley or Buddy Holly, the truth however is that, as discussed in earlier blogs, rock was actually associated with black artists before this. Does this now mean that rock is a form of black music or do we stick to our own experiences? This is why using blackness and whiteness as concepts for music doesn’t work as these stereotypes are being changed constantly. Eminem has sold the most rap records ever yet he is a white artist in an apparent black music scene, there will always be people who will defy these apparent associations, which is good as it stops racism in music. Anyone can play a music genre they want without being judged which is want the music industry needs.