Analysis Of Michael Jackson's Cultural Appropriation Of The Music Industry

Prior to this class I never thought about how the music industry was shaped and transformed through cultural change. The industry in the 1920s had many divisions and popular genres (Fry, 2015). Yet, although it may not have been considered culturally acceptable, children and adults of all genders, ages, ethnicities, and races found a way to listen to all types of music (Roy, 266). Different artists helped influence and pave the way for innovation of new music and to cross-racial lines. The music industry was shaped through racial categories with the recording industry that started the Race label in 1922 that eventually evolved to hillbilly music and now into country and western (Fry, 2015). The first country song was on the Minstrel stage

The white-faced appropriation of blackness was still going on when Jackson produced his music. Although more people were starting to challenge and cross the racial lines, Jackson had to challenge traditional minstrelsy with his creativity during the time when he first started his career (Manning, 48). Jackson’s songs brought together people of different races and helped unite people through the music industry. There were racial stereotypes and the appropriation of black song and dance when Jackson first started. Yet cultural appropriation has now grown and Jackson’s legacy has evolved and is borrowed by many artists today. Michael Jackson’s hard work and dedication left a legacy for breaking racial barriers, unbelievable performances, and for ultimately named the King of Pop. Although pop was his main style, he had a varied collection of musical genres including soul, rhythm and blues, funk, rock, and

An interesting connection was made asking if Swift is the next Michael Jackson in terms of their impact on pop culture. As Bream (2015) explains, ‘Both were savvy enough to pull in unexpected collaborators — rock guitar god Eddie Van Halen on Jackson’s “Beat It” and hip rapper Kendrick Lamar on Swift’s “Bad Blood” — to help cross over to different audiences.’ Also interestingly, country sensation Taylor Swift played a rendition of Michael Jackson’s song during one of her concerts and then eventually turned from a country singer to a focusing on pop. The cultural appropriation from one genre to another over time is still in the music industry. Although both Swift, who dominates in today’s generation, and Michael Jackson, who left a lasting legacy resonating with many people, differ on many levels, they both have made cultural milestones and will be used in models for cultural appropriation for years to