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The
gains we’ve made in mainstream pop culture are easy to see. On
TV we’ve advanced from Jodie Dallas, Billy Crystal’s history-making ’mo
on “Soap,” to “Will & Grace” to three all-gay
networks. At the movies it’s a quantum leap from Sal Mineo’s
you’d-never-know-he-was-gay-if-nobody-told-you turn in “Rebel
Without A Cause,” to “The Boys In The Band” to “Brokeback
Mountain.”
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| Goapele: Relatively new artist, old soul |
Not to be outpaced, the music industry — which has historically been
the best at promoting queer visibility: Sylvester, Melissa Etheridge, Rufus
Wainwright and on and on — has now witnessed the launch of its
first major music label dedicated to signing and promoting LGBT artists.
The imprint, Music With A Twist, is a joint effort between industry giant
Sony Music and LOGO TV founder Matt Farber’s Wilderness Media & Entertainment.
According to a statement, the label’s roster will feature “LGBT
artists who have mass appeal and hit potential across all musical genres.”
Also planned for the imprint is a series of compilation albums geared toward
the LGBT audience. These compilations will feature hit songs by established
artists that have been embraced by LGBT listeners, as well as tracks from
emerging gay artists. The first of these compilations is set for release
in June to coincide with gay Pride month.
To meet its mandate of identifying and developing new artists, Music With
A Twist is assembling a nationwide network of talent scouts to bring LGBT
artists with local buzz or an established queer fanbase to the attention
of the label.
“We are extremely proud to be working on the launch of this important
new label,” said Sony Music Label Group Chief Executive Don Ienner. “[Music
With A Twist] will provide a nurturing and creative environment for a key
group of artists. It’s the right label at the right time and the
perfect vehicle to reach out to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
communities.
“I look forward to working with [Farber] and the entire team as we
identify and develop the best new artists from across the country and
find the broadest audience possible for their music.”
Farber added, “Music With A Twist will be the label where artists
can take pride in their orientation as well as their artistry. The increasing
visibility of Gay America makes this the perfect time for this venture,
which will provide valuable resources to LGBT artists and market their
music to the mainstream as well.”
A crucial component of the marketing plan is Wilderness Media’s syndicated
LGBT radio show — also called Music With A Twist — that launched
mid-January on major FM stations across the U.S. including WPLJ 95.5
(New York), STAR 98.7 (Los Angeles), ALICE 97.3 (San Francisco), Q100.5
(Atlanta) and on the internet everywhere via AOL Radio.
Rhythm, but no blues
For the first few years of this decade R&B female vocalists were lost
in the commercial hinterland. (You could measure the shock on the richter
scale when superstars Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton and Mariah Carey all
fell from favor). But now the tide has turned again — in a big
way.
Drama diva Mary J. Blige’s latest album, “The Breakthrough,” has
been number one or close for weeks and Carey’s comeback collection, “The
Emancipation Of Mimi,” is a sales and airplay juggernaut dating from
last April. Not to be outdone, a handful of talented young ladies including
Alicia Keys, Beyoncé and Joss Stone have ably contributed to the
rally.
This reversal of fortune is good news for the latest wave of female R&B
performers following their gold dust dreams — three of whom have
recently issued new albums.
Twenty-one-year-old Keyshia Cole has already climbed into the Top 20
with her A&M Records debut “The Way It Is,” which features the
Kanye West-produced single “I Changed My Mind.” The song is
about “being focused and dedicated to what you want and what you’re
trying to be,” Cole says.
Goapele (pronounced GWA-pa-lay) easily avoids the sophomore slump on “Change
It All,” her luscious 14-track set on Sony Urban Music. Collaborators
including Linda Perry (Pink, Christina Aguilera), Sa-Ra Creative Partners
(Jill Scott, Bilal) and fellow soulster Dwele help Goapele deliver the
goods.
Vocal powerhouse Heather Headley (who won a Tony Award in 2000 for her
lead role in Elton John’s “Aida”) is back with “In
My Mind.” Headley says the title is fairly literal with many of the
songs’ lyrics coming right out of her journal. Key track “Change” closes
the 12-song set on a soaring gospel high.
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