According to a list compiled by Billboard magazine, black musicians are not being supported on tours like their white counterparts. Out of the top 20 earners of 2010, the Black Eyed Peas (No. 5) were the only black group on the list.
However, the group had to perform 82 times to earn $81,579,114 while more established acts such as U2 and AC/DC performed 22 and 28 times and earned $131,502,369 and $122,633,027 respectively.
Those numbers are peculiar when considering that black artists such Usher, Rihanna, Drake, Sade, and Kanye West all finished in the top 40 of album sales in 2010.
Older black artists were also absent from the list. Although top selling black artists such as Prince, Stevie Wonder and Earth, Wind and Fire all performed live in 2010, they could not crack the top 20. White bands that were prominent in the 1960s, 70s and 80s such as Bon Jovi, U2, AC/DC, James Taylor & Carole King, Eagles, Metallica, and Paul McCartney were all in the top 10 and earned more than $60 million.
So why is there such a disparity? Are black fans not supporting black artists when they perform live, or do black artists find it difficult to obtain sponsors and large venues for national tours? –a.r.
