The Music Industry {CASE STUDY}

The Truth About Racism In The Music Industry

Marie Claire
Tuesday 2nd February 2016

On Tuesday 21st July, the VMA 2015 nominations were announced. Female Rap artist 'Nicki Minaj' was nominated for two awards for her music video 'Anaconda' - Best Female Video and Best Hip Hop Video. The video itself achieved 19.6 million views in under 24 hours when it was first released, it had broke the VEVO record for most views in 24 hours. For this reason, I believe many wondered as to why it had missed out on the category for Best Music Video of the Year. 

The rapper took to social media to express her feelings about her nominations and forwarding her say on MTV's judging process saying: 

‘Hey guys @MTV thank you for my nominations. Did Feeling Myself miss the deadline or…?,’ she tweeted, before adding: ‘If I was a different “kind” of artist, Anaconda would be nominated for best choreo and vid of the year as well…If your video celebrates women with very slim bodies, you will be nominated for vid of the year.’

In previous VMAs, Britney Spears' Toxic was nominated for Best Music Video of the Year (in the video she was naked and covered in sequins). Emily Ratajkowski got naked next to singer Robin Thicke in Blurred Lines which was nominated for Best Music Video whilst on the other hand, Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball was nominated and won Best Music Video of the Year. 

Blurred Lines, Toxic and Wrecking Ball are all labelled as controversial videos and were noticed by the music industry for the impact they created. 

However, when Nicki Minaj is expressing her culture and is dancing in a provocative fashion similar to the previously mentioned videos, it is degraded to 'female' and 'hip hop'.  

In my opinion

ARTIST: Nicki Minaj

SONG: Anaconda

RELEASED: 4th August 2014

GENRE: Rap, Hip-Hop

LABEL(S): Republic Records and Young Money

PRODUCER(S): Jamal Jones and Da Internz 

WRITER(S): Onika (Nicki Minaj) and Jamal Jones


ARTIST(S): Robin Thicke, T.I. & Pharrell
SONG: Blurred Lines
RELEASED: 26th March 2013
GENRE: Pop
LABEL(S): Interscope Records and Star Trak
PRODUCER(S): Pharrell Williams 
WRITER(S): Robin Thicke, Pharrell, T.I. and Marvin Gaye