Why no Hype for the young Brothers?

[Billy Low]

No - unintentional or otherwise - if people want to change it, they should actually take some ACTION outside just talking about it.

Write the editors, boycott the magazine, contact the advertisers, organize a protest... do something that actually has some remote possibility of actually achieving something.

A call to action is useless if the caller whispers. How can you have action without raising attention to the issue? How can you have impact without numbers? How can you mobilize if you don't first organize? Had I not raised this issue on this open forum how would I have known that there are others that feel the same that I do? I am certain if I sat in my house, said nothing and privately boycotted BP and other publications I am sure they would not have noticed my actions. Whose to say that this was not the first step toward a larger movement?

Take note that this discussion has caught the attention of the EIC of one publication. Something has been accomplished my friend; whether or not it produces a valid, immediate, or desired effect is yet to be seen. My few words also caught your attention as well as others. I am sure the impact will be felt the next time anyone who has participated in this discussion looks at a bass related publication or comes acros a name mentioned in this thread. A seed has been planted. Some of those whom have never paid attention to what I have raised will knowingly seek to find validity in the question I have posed. Regardless if they agree or dissagree, they will take note.

That in itself is indeed an acomplishment.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Please, stop with the rhetorical question arguing already. It's giving me (and probably others) a headache (hard to follow for my simple mind )

I don't think the way people should criticize BP mag is simple...

don't like, don't buy...

I don't believe BP is racist. Nor do I believe they are slighting anyone intentionally.

I do believe that they are leaning towards the metal market more heavily these days and that's unfortunate, as I am not a fan...

but I believe that they are motivated by marketing, pure and simple...and metal, unfortunately, is a more thriving market vs. jazz and urban...

BIlly Low really answered your sort of criticism quite well already, but I add my own 2 cents. As Billy said, simply silently boycotting a magazine or writing a solo letter means nothing, raising an issue among people of like interest is much likely to have an affect.

I still am struck by how many people are annoyed that the topic is even being discussed. I still cannot imagine why on a discussion board, people resent a discussion being held?

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Interesting thread, and I'm in very late.

I guess I'll just add one thing. It's just an 'impression' versus anything I've really thought through in detail at this point, but it seems to me that the music being played by primarily white artists (for lack of a better term) still has, for the most part, the classic 'bass/drums/guitar/keys' format (i.e., bands!), while much of the music I see and hear from predominately black artists seems to be more synth and track based (i.e., solo artists). This is primarily based on watching MTV/VH1 to try to keep up with what is happening in commercial music as I get older and more out of touch!

In other words, there are more young, white bassists getting airplay (radio and video) in the pop world due to the above. There just seems to be more white bands with bass players on the air today, versus the more 'solo' format in the more black oriented hip hop/rap/and even soul and r&B category at this point.

I know this is an oversimplification, but it seems that BP's mix of younger bassists (which does seem to be slanted toward white artists) reflects that mix in the current market place (at least with regards to contemporary pop/funk/R&B/rock/soul music).

With more established artists, I see no color bias at all in that magazine.

Just another idea and interpretation... be gentle

I agree that among established artists there is no discriminiation I can detect. The fact that younger bassists are mainly session or touring musicians instead of band members does lower their profile. Still, I think the magazine should make the extra effort to seek out these artists, and those artists need to take the step of getting their press kits together to generate interest, if they are not already doing just that.

 

[aborgman]

Given that you think their policy is purely about money, and given that the editor of BP plainly stated that the staff reads TB for ideas, why do you think posters criticizing BP here is a waste of time? If they read TB for ideas about content, why are the ideas in this thread any less valuable than ideas on content in any other thread on TB?

IMO it isn't any less valuable - it's equally unvaluable... but we'll see how much affect it has on the racial makeup of stories going forward.

I've been wrong a million times before, and I'll be wrong a million more - and this has as much chance as anything else of being one of those times.

 

[aborgman]

A call to action is useless if the caller whispers.

A call to action involves - surprisingly enough - ACTION. This wasn't a call to action, it was just complaining.

Saying "I believe bass player isn't diverse enough, and here is what we should do about it" is a call to action.

Saying "I believe bass player isn't diverse enough" isn't.

Something has been accomplished my friend;

Not that I can see... unless you set the bar for accomplishment rather low.

whether or not it produces a valid, immediate, or desired effect is yet to be seen.

Personally I don't think it'll produce anything at all up to the point that they think they'll start losing money over it - and I don't think that point has been shown to be even semi-likely.

...but maybe I'm wrong. Maybe BP has done horrible market research, has less knowledge of their business than the folks here at TB, and will change (and make more money from the change) to this allegedly more profitable model.

My few words also caught your attention

Now that is the soft bigotry of low expectations... shiny things catch my attention. Catching my attention is about as difficult as catching a slug trying to run away from you.

That in itself is indeed an acomplishment.

I suppose - I guess I just have a lot less faith in achievements on the internet. If we went by th accomplishments of the internet Ron Paul would be president right now, and weed would be legal.

 

[aborgman]

I still am struck by how many people are annoyed that the topic is even being discussed. I still cannot imagine why on a discussion board, people resent a discussion being held?

Just because I think the discussion has the intellectual level of a first grade class, has evidence quality worse than the re-telling of a story told to one crackhead by another crackhead, and is as likely to achieve something as peeing in the wind - I'm not annoyed by the topic - nor do I resent it being discussed.

I'm amused by it. It's hilariously entertaining. Not quite as entertaining as tinfoil hat conspiracies like the US govt. blowing up the WTC - but close.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Just because I think the discussion has the intellectual level of a first grade class, has evidence quality worse than the re-telling of a story told to one crackhead by another crackhead, and is as likely to achieve something as peeing in the wind - I'm not annoyed by the topic - nor do I resent it being discussed.

I'm amused by it. It's hilariously entertaining. Not quite as entertaining as tinfoil hat conspiracies like the US govt. blowing up the WTC - but close.

I am a Michigan State graduate, and I used to go through Ypsilanti all the time. The Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area always struck me as a nice area in which to live, and definitely a place with nice things to do. Since you think this is such a dumb thread, get out and enjoy your surroundings, and leave us underdeveloped complainers alone.

 

[aborgman]

I am a Michigan State graduate,

I'm sorry. We all have our crosses to bear.

and I used to go through Ypsilanti all the time. The Ypsilanti/Ann Arbor area always struck me as a nice area in which to live,

I have to question how much time one has actually spent in Ypsitucky if they start equating Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor as a "nice places".

Ypsilanti - the only place I've ever seen crack pipes, confederate flag bumper stickers, and Black Panther t-shirts for sale in the same convenience store display case.

Since you think this is such a dumb thread, get out and enjoy your surroundings, and leave us underdeveloped complainers alone.

Why would I do that? I'm entertained, and I'm having fun. I like to argue, play devil's advocate, and point out absurd claims with no backing in evidence.

...and I don't think it's a dumb thread, just a pointless and hilarious one. My raison d'etre is being amused, and this thread amuses me.

 

[nortonrider]

Still complaining about the same thing I see!

15 pages and going strong.....gotta give it up for the endurance factor alone.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

It's interesting how some posters in this thread feel some what offended that some have expressed an observation and take it for something that it's not.


Sounds to me like the classic case of. Black people shut up and stop your silly complaining. We let yall have a black president,What more do yall want?

 

[nortonrider]

Jauqo.........That's all you got? Really?

 

[Dave Bassincus]

I'm not offended, but there are a lot of areas in life where prejudice occurs, and people are excluded for their background. Bass Player is not one of them. If anything, I am heartened when GK features 4 (previously unknown) black R&B/Hip-Hop bassists on a BP back page cover.

 

[Dr_Funkdamental]

Jauqo.........That's all you got? Really?

He doesnt need anymore. Most of the replies have made that evident(including your assumption that its a complaint). And the period on the sentence is aborgman saying this is unvaluable and amusing. Sounds just like every other break through in America for blacks. First its seen as complaining, then some ppl actually get a clue, then yrs down the road ppl finally see the substance. This could actually be a very effective, powerful thread that helps to change some views either way. Its unfortunate that most dont see the bigger picture. Its also unfortunate that the OP never said anything about BP being racist, however soo many posters took it that way. Why? Because race was brought up by a black person? Lets call it for what it is. THATS the issue. Its a shame how many ppl have generalized and stuck it all in one bowl. Funny thing is, its not surprising.

 

[nortonrider]

Yeah Dude, Jauqos comment is a lame attempt at shutting me up with a backhand accusation that I have some sort of racist agenda here.

None of you here knows me or my attitudes towards others, and I don't really care to explain my views on race.

However, on the topic of this thread, It has just been a Big old Pity Party about some perceived injustice. 15 pages of some complaining and others saying: "If it's really that big of a problem, do something about it".

How long you gonna keep playing the "Squeaky Wheel" card? You ain't going to get any grease here, you're preaching to the choir. The Boo Hoo game isn't working.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

Yeah Dude, Jauqos comment is a lame attempt at shutting me up with a backhand accusation that I have some sort of racist agenda here.

My comment was clearly based off of the comments and attitude of some of the posters in this thread.

Your comments and attitude on the subject tells me that you may not necessarily have a racist agenda but there's is strong evidence that you do take a insensitive one.

None of you here knows me or my attitudes towards others, and I don't really care to explain my views on race.

But you wanted a thorough explanation in regards to my posts in this thread.

How long you gonna keep playing the "Squeaky Wheel" card? You ain't going to get any grease here, you're preaching to the choir. The Boo Hoo game isn't working.

I don't think it's a Boo Hoo party at all.

Please don't cry victim when you were part of the lynch mob(pretty much leading it).

 

[nortonrider]

Please don't cry victim when you were part of the lynch mob(pretty much leading it).

 

[j-raj]

wow this is going in a great direction.