This is a man’s man’s man’s world. The City, executive salaries, most of the political jobs outside Rwanda. In general, those have their fair share of testosterone.
Not in the charts. Across the Atlantic and here, male butt is being roundly and soundly kicked.
When Jay-Z lands a record in the Billboard Hot 100, many of his 99 problems come from what he doesn’t call the fairer sex. The competition doesn’t just come from his wife.
Seven out of the current Top 10 US artists are female. Our own current top five? 80 per cent women.
Music’s two undeniably biggest pop stars – Lady Gaga’s only serious competition is Rihanna.
The sales phenomenon of 2011, both here and in America – Adele.
The breakthrough artist – Jesse J, fresh from Saturday Night Live in New York.
Donate to us: support independent, intelligent, in-depth Scottish journalism from just 3p a day
Hip hop and R’n’B remain predominantly male, but Nicki Minaj and Janelle Monáe are two of the most talked-about acts to emerge in the past 18 months. The most talked-about rock frontman is not a frontman but Florence Welch. Country music’s brightest young star – Taylor Swift. Beyonce, P!nk and Katy Perry are all still selling records, and so (mysteriously) is Ke$ha. This is before you mention Madonna and Kylie. The main contenders to sit on the judging panel for US and UK versions of The X Factor – like it or not, this seems to be some measure of success in modern music – are Simon Cowell and a selection of female singers. Or female lip-synchers. Male marquee acts, by comparison, are struggling. Eminem can’t seem to manage these days without Rihanna or Skylar Grey. Chris Brown is selling records, but his public image for many has been tainted. Robbie Williams’ last single missed the top 59. Like Ne-Yo, Bruno Mars is a songwriter before he’s a performer, and Cee Lo Green is fantastic but a 35 year-old grandfather makes an unlikely candidate as 2010’s breakthrough artist. Justin Bieber is a boy doing a man’s job, if you have to factor him into this argument. It’s only reasonable to wait to see how he’s doing when he’s 18. Boybands like The Wanted, JLS, Westlife and Take That have an appeal which has so far eluded American record-buyers and rock is waiting for its next blood transfusion. Guitar groups are without a doubt toiling. Rock’s chart record in 2010 can best be described as the good (Florence and the Machine), the bad (Train) and the Glee. Those days of Women In Music features are looking as outdated as campaigns to reduce the price of CDs. At this rate, the magazines will have to do a special, one-off, annual Men In Music feature.Donate to us: support independent, intelligent, in-depth Scottish journalism from just 3p a day
Related posts: