Black Music Month 2010

Part I: A Different Reality

As we enter into June – Black Music Month 2010, we find ourselves in the midst of another four-week period during which we attempt to seize the opportunity to raise the level of consciousness regarding the many contributions that African-Americans have made to the music business and to society. What is interesting is that we seem to be the only trade publication to recognize the need to set aside these four weeks and examine the growth and progress that are the focus of this month. Perhaps it is too much to expect other trade publications that claim to serve and derive support from the same community we serve to coalesce rather than divide over this issue. Perhaps they justify their actions, or the lack thereof, by saying it is too much trouble or too formulaic. Maybe it's a societal problem. Still. that is not justification to ignore signs of progress. And we've made some.

Speaking of society, every generation comes along and brings with it its culture, its music and its controversy. It is a simple truth but one that is regularly overlooked -- especially in the matter of growth within the music business, which directly affects the radio business.

As we reflect the state of black music and radio today, we find the conditions of African-Americans overall constantly reflected in our music. The music and America both evolved together. The last two decades were ones of rebellion and change, growth and development. Black music and radio mirrored that effort. Obviously, the two are intertwined. The music came first, but once the music found its way to the radio, the whole picture changed. For Black radio, there was always a wide gap between rhetoric and reality.

Music And Wealth

Let's look at that reality. After decades of tracking income disparities between black and white families, a new study reveals that income equality does not always lead to wealth equality when it comes to race. A recent report released by the Institute on Assets and Social Policy at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts found the wealth gap between black and white families and individuals being tracked in the study more than quadruples over the course of a generation and that the middle-income white families in the study accumulated a higher net worth than high-income African-Americans.

The escalating gap, according to the study, was largely caused by assets being passed down within families and the fact that white families have historically had more wealth to pass down. No surprise here, right? But if we dig a little deeper we find that about one in every four white families in America inherits money and the average inheritance is around $10,000. Even by today's standards and adjusted for inflation, that can provide a nice head start. Less than eight percent of African-American families inherit wealth, and when they do the average inheritance is around $900.

The project defined wealth, or net worth, as the amount of assets a person had, such as cash, stock and bonds, minus liabilities, obligations such as credit card debts, car loans and student loans. Home equity was not considered because researchers said families who sold their homes would most likely need to replace them.

So why is this data important or significant as we celebrate Black Music Month? It's important because all many black families had to pass on to their children was an appreciation for things such as music. And even though some would make it, they weren't trained in how to build or hold onto that wealth. It was all “new money.” When and if they were lucky enough or worked hard enough to get some; it often got away from them. Wealth can make a difference in families helping their children with down payments on homes and paying for college. It can also provide a financial cushion when these kids fail and need a second chance. Fortunately, through music some of these kids would make it.

Some who left the projects and the ghetto headed back. A few had “found” themselves. And a lot who claimed they had were still looking. Ghetto issues found their way into the songs and rhymes that wound up on the radio and downloaded onto iPods.

Fast forward to 2010. Even with consolidation, the disappearance of neighborhood record stores, syndication, voicetracking, Arbitron's PPM, HD radio, iPads and satellite radio forever changing the landscape and wreaking havoc with our lives, there is hope. Now there is a new buzz that is attracting attention and spreading rumors which will soon become a part of our history.

This time it's not just music, but music technology .We're a part of it. Despite setbacks and economic stagnation, industry demand for technologists is stronger than ever. Demand from companies for students to sponsor still exists. And as the economy improves the mastery of technology will become even more critical to black advancement in music.

Fortunately, we recognize that we are part of a different reality. As we look forward to a future filled with hope and glance back to a past pumped full of pride, we find another reason for a new generation of African-American musical technocrats to keep the struggle alive. For many talented African-Americans, music will allow them to aspire to become successful – not just as artists and musicians, but hopefully eventually as owners and employers as well. They will find they are part of a new America where they know they have an open door to economic opportunity once they have learned how to get their foot inside it.