Are blackness and whiteness useful concepts in the study of pop music?

To understand where music has come from, studying it's ethnic origins can be useful. For example, rock n roll, although dominated in todays world by white artists, original started with the blues scene.; originated by black artists.

However to judge, or analyse pop music today as white or black is wrong. The great thing about music today, is that there is so much dillution in regards to ethnic origin. Not only do we have bands fusing different genres and ethnic backgrounds, we also have artists tackling music of other ethnicities.

Hatch and Milward: "pop music has always depended upon the interaction between white and black".

Music has evolved to a point where labels of white or black cant exist.

Eminem is white. Rap is black?

Phil Lynott is black. Rock is white?

How can we make such assumptions when there constantly proven wrong?

Can popular music achieve genuine political change?

Rock and pop are usually politically anti establishment. As John Street explains, "Pop becomes the expression of it's political and socoal context".

Songs themselves rarely achieve political change. For example Eminems 2004 anti establishment song "mosh" failed to prevent George Bush winning a consecutive term in office.

It would seem the artists themselves have more power due to their high profile status'. Artists like Bono and Bob Geldoff have helped raise millions for charity and have thus increased political awareness. However despite the aid, no actual political changes have been made.

Political change doesn't necessarily have to be positive. In the early 90's the associations of drug culture with rave music forced a new criminal justice act. Banning large scale raves, proving music can force political change.

If a band sings songs slating the government, causing a young fan not to vote. Is that not a political change?

Does the emergence of the digital download signal the end of the music industry?

Piracy in music is nothing new. Generations have found ways of enjoying music without paying for it for years. In the 70s and 80s children recorded songs off the radio, rather then paying for the singles or albums. At the time it was seen as the biggest threat to the music industry, much like illegal downloads today. But does the fact the industry recovered once before, mean that are concerns over downloads are pointless?

Illegal downloads pose a much greater threat as its choice is both vast and of good quality. However it is wrong to say that the music industry will end. itunes reached its 10 billionth sale in february 2010, proving that people still want to buy music.

However what is clear is that the quality of music will suffer. Emerging bands and artists will inevitably find it harder to support themselves through live sets alone. Causing good quality music to die.