My assistant producer and I are working on scheduling a series of Friday night shows on SistersTalk Radio. The Friday shows are designed to highlight independent musicians in the LGBTQ community. We’re interested in presenting a diverse group of musicians who create dynamic music in all genres. We’re facing a few challenges:
#1. Finding out and ethnically diverse musicians who can bring something different to each show.
#2. Finding members of the LGBTQ community who represent the L, G, B, T and Q segments of our population.
# Finding enough out members of the LGBTQ community to represent all genres of music (jazz, blues, country, rock, punk, folk, gospel, R&B, hi-hop, etc)
We’ve received inquiries from lots of white lesbian and bisexual folk singers. Hey, that’s great! But, I need to be very honest here: we don’t want the show to be all about white folk musicians. Other members of the LGBTQ press/media have done a very, very, very good job at that for years and years.
In addition to the diversity requirement, we decided we didn’t want to interview cover musicians. To me, a cover musician is someone whose entire career has been built on performing someone else’s hit music. A cover musician does not write her own original music; she records her version of someone else’s very familiar hit song.
A few questions came up after meeting with my assistant producer:
#A. Do we sacrifice the main goal of the show and present the musicians we can find – even if they don’t meet the diversity requirement we’ve established?
#B. Do we present a cover musician who meets the diversity requirement just for the sake of being able to say we’re being inclusive – even though we originally didn’t want to interview cover musicians?
#C. Does a cover musician deserve the same kind of recognition as a struggling indie musician who is writing her own music?
My assistant producer and I debated item #C using the song Feeling Good as an example. Nina Simone performed the original version of Feeling Good. Michael Buble did an amazing and unique cover of the same song. Both the Simone and Buble versions are happy feel-good songs, but in comes Muse with a very tortured and painful version. Three different artists presented three different sounds – all performing the same song.
What’s your opinion? Does a cover artist deserve the same recognition as someone who writes and performs her own original work?
Jean: That's what my AP and I were talking about. If the cover artist has his/her own original work, then we would consider having her/him on the show. I don't want to say a cover artist isn't a real musician, it's just not what we want for the show.
If you're talking about diversity, how could they NOT meet the requirement? I understand the concern about maybe not presenting as broad a range as individuals, as you'd like but it's discouraging to think that musical artists would not be considered eligible because the pool of available musicians is "too white" etc. Maybe the focus shouldn't be some much on the color of their skin – as it should on the many variegations of micro-cultures and social backgrounds and musical styles that are out there…?
That's just one person's opinion though and I don't exactly expect it to be the popular one…
Tonya:
Ideally, a disabled bisexual jewish Black man who sings heavy metal would be the perfectly diverse candidate we're looking for, but that would be pushin' the diversity envelope just a tad.
Our goal is to make sure we're presenting a little of everything. BUT, I'm honestly torn about presenting a Black cover musician (for example) simply because he or she is not a white lesbian folk singer.
In my opinion, as both an original songwriter and as a "covers" entertainer, that 'covers' are a sure-fire way to attract attention…. Easy peasy!! The audience is already familiar with the material no matter what new and interesting angle one might bring to it…..
In my experience of doing both for many years, I feel you are trying to answer a question that I have struggled with for my entire career!!!! Good luck!!
All I know is it is the difference between audience arms folded ( originals ) and arms aloft and money in the pocket ( covering the hits!!!)……..
Cheers!!
Dawn: My AP and I completely understand the reasons why so many unsigned artists do cover music. It's about demand. Some audiences are only interested in something they're very familiar with. That's why bands at local festivals around here seem to cover a lot of old 80s rock music. Doing cover music pays the bills. We get that.
BUT, doesn't that mean we (the LGBT media) should put more effort into promoting unknown musicians doing unknown music?
P.S. Either has no preference of skin colour/ethnic background…… It's just the music !! Anyone disagree???? I dare ya!!
Maybe……. For these purposes … We need to think of whom the artist prefers in DA BEDROOM!!! LOL!!!!!! Is the artist straight???? Then the answer is a "NO" …….. But , how can we prove that????
Enough from me…..