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Name: Brandon

Comment: I guess I'm missing the point of this article. We all know that R&B artists don't sell as many records as Hip-Hop, Pop, and Country, so what's the point. We can't tell listeners what to like; and we certainly can't make them buy CD's. If Ruben and Fantasia, and even Taylor Hicks, were making music that more people enjoyed -- they'd get more radio and video airplay, and thus sell more CDs. Ruben's music is Urban ADULT... according to retail reports, Adults don't even buy half as many CDs as young people. Fantasia flips between Urban Mainstream and Urban Adult. Wanna sell millions of records? Appeal to the masses. So what's the point of this article??? LOL!

Name: VeeCee

Comment: Okay Brandon - so you're suggesting that Ruben and Fantasia abandon their style of singing and switch to that lame "pop" sound to "appeal to the masses?" That's BS! First of all, R&B is NOT a dying breed of music; if that were the case, then White artists such as Robin Thicke and Teena Marie would not be singing it (and Lady Tee has been doing this for a long time!). They don't do this to "appeal to the masses," they do this because that's the sound that THEY love. Then you have past performers like Lionel Richie and the late Luther Vandross, who tried it both ways. When they finally did the music that "appealed to the masses" (as you call it), they lost their core audiences for awhile (again, the R&B crowd). Luther realized that and was able to flip it so that he could achieve an equal balance. And eventually Lionel made his way back. Whitney Houston was marketed to "sound pop to appeal to White folks" (per Clive Davis), so for years White people were the main ones who supported her career. When she tried the R&B route, what happened? They kicked her to the curb! I could name other examples/artists, but I will take up too much time. So while you're "missing the point of this article," your opinion that R&B singers cannot be as successful unless they are willing to change their sound points out just how fickle the music industry really is. To all artists out there (especially R&B) - STAY TRUE TO WHAT YOU LOVE!

Name: bigfriend

Comment: What is the purpose of this article?

Name: soulmusic101

Comment: The music biz is in a freefall when it comes to sales...don't worry it will catch up to Pop and Country too. If you don't know, you better ask somebody...lol...Fantasia is very smart to branch out into doing projects like "The Color Purple"...get your money.

Name: soulmusic101

Comment: Oh and another point...the days of mega-seller's are over...Thriller will be the all-time best seller for a long, long time.

Name: musbdherbs

Comment: Brandon..I thought the article pointed out the same as you said. Pop artists fare better than R&B. That is what the article said and you repeated. The "masses" means crossing over to pop. It doesn't seem as if you've missed anything here. Not based on what you wrote.

Name: milehighbrotha

Comment: Hmm, I would say this article points out something else that some people are overlooking: It seems like bootlegging is notorious in the black community. If you don’t believe me, go to any black barbershop and you will see all the latest CDs/DVDs. The artists do not receive any of this revenue that that is made by the bootleggers. These sales are not recognized on Sound Scan or Billboard. White artists sell more CDs because their audience go out and BUY their CDs from legitimate sources (i.e. Virgin Megastore, Best Buy, and Circuit City). That is way if I like a certain artist and have had the chance to listen to that artist entire CD through some legal way (i.e. VH1 “Hear it First”, AOL Music), then I’m going to go BUY a legal copy. If Fantasia or Ruben switch up their styles to appeal to a larger audience on their next CDs, we should not chastise them for this move because the only way to SELL CDs these days is to appeal to the wider audience who will actually go BUY your CD from a legitimate source.

Name: soulmusic101

Comment: milehighbrotha...ummm why do u think music sales are in a freefall???? Don't believe the hype that the majority of Caucasians buy their music legally, they just do it in a different way (hint...hint). The days of selling 10 million copy's are over. No more Purple Rain, The Long Run by The Eagles, The Wall by Pink Floyd, N'Sync's No Strings Attached, or countless other examples type sales are a forgotten memory...HaHa

Name: Brandon

Comment: VeeCee> LOL! I didn't suggest Ruben or Fantasia change their style, I merely pointed out what "Musbdherbs" said, Pop artists earn more money and sell more records. You're right, they should stay true to their passion. But at the end of the day, because they don't have the radio and video exposure of Pop artists, coupled with a target demo (adults) who don't purchase as many CDs, ringtones and downloads -- R&B artists will never sell as much.

Name: Mas90

Comment: Music period doesn't sell because of the internet and CD burning. Before this Bobby Brown "Bobby" sold like 6 million. R&B can so sell. Learn your history.

Name: MOTHERSHIP

Comment: Also, we are the culture that everybody tries to emulate. Also, what goes is a buncha screechin' and hollerin' and lack of real talent and substance thereof. But I feel a change comin' on.

Name: Brandon

Comment: ha ha ha ha ha. Mas90> I'm really not trying to argue with you. It doesn't have anything to do with knowing my history -- I thought we were talking about record sales. Plain and simple! People walking into record stores or record aisles at large chains and buying CDs -- that's it! R&B artists who target adults will never sell as much as artists who target young people, because adults don't purchase as many CDs. That's not speculation - that's fact, and it doesn't involve artists of the past. Perhaps you're involved emotionally, so you're not grasping the reality of what I'm saying -- it dollars in exchange for merchandise -- that's a record sale.

Name: milehighbrotha

Comment: soulmusic101 - yes, they use the illegal stuff too but a lot of them will still go buy the CDs as well more so than we will. Our artists are still selling CDs - just look at the latest Billboard chart (Ne Yo's CD, "Because of U" is still in the top 10 on the Billboard 200....Tank's CD is at 12, Akon is number 15, Bobby Valentino is number 26, Beyonce is number 37 (certified 3X platinum), Musiq Soulchild is at number 46, Corinne Bailey Rae is at number 49 and Lloyd is at number 50) but just not in the large quanities as other artists. But these other artists are not selling as many as they would have sold 10 years ago because the game has changed for everyone. The days of a recording artist selling 10X plus are gone IMO. But I still think in our community, we cut into the number of CDs some of our artists sell because of bootlegging.

Name: soulmusic101

Comment: milehighbrotha...ummm Justin Timberlake's CD (Modern R&B Pop/Dance) was on fire in their community and other's but is having trouble reaching 4 million...i wonder why..lol...All the major labels from Warner Bro's to Universal are cutting staff with a quickness and as downloading/ bootlegging/iTunes grab more of their share it will only get worse. Wait until (slow and expensive high-speed))America truely goes high-speed and catches up with South Korea's ultra high speed and inexpensive, than it will really explode..ya'll ain't seen nothing yet...lol...The only ones in the way are Comcast, AT&T and the usual suspect's...Will be interesting 2 see if Usher's new project will go Diamond (10 Mil) like Confession's...good luck you're gonna need it, Usher may have to release two Special Editon's 2 acheive that past glory...lol

Name: soulmusic101

Comment: another point...why do peep's think that Tower Record's went under..u can thank MP3's, Best Buy, Wally Mart, and Circuit S.hitty...I guess the Record Companies are reaping what they sow by price gouging Consumer's for so long...the game has changed and it ain't going back..viva the digital revolution...HaHa

Name: MOTHERSHIP

Comment: Big Ru ain't gotta worry, he'll be hangin' with MOTHERSHIP and my brother's homeboys at Black and Gold Productions: Two Nights • Three Days featuring Three of NYC's Top DJ's DJ Chris Love • DJ Hollywood • DJ E-Kim Guest Artist: Ruben Studdard Talent He goes by the unorthodox, but very appropriate name of Talent, a brilliant comedian whose fine tuned, reality based, universal humor was developed in clubs and other major comedy outlets nationwide. His awesome timing, skilled storytelling, improvisation, and sharp wit are down right FUNNY!

Name: Closet_Nerd_Girl

Comment: Well, whatEVAH... Just because an artist (and a TRUE artist with TALENT) doesn't sell a mega-amount of records does not mean they are not successful. Some people still enjoy doing what they love, and that may be what success is to them. I'm sure that Jordin Sparks will sell many more records than Melinda Doolittle would have if she had won, but I think Melinda will be successful in her own right. I, for one, am eagerly awaiting her CD.

Name: bigchassie

Comment: well you know i really don't care who is doing what in the record industry right now. i'm deep old school and i will go to Amazon.com to get my collection of the best of the Dells, Delphonics, Temprees, four tops, Tempations, EWF and AWB. if i want it, i'll go there and buy.

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