THE LEGACY OF CROSS RACIAL COVERS

Abstract

It is now well known that over the course of the 20th century, low cover licensing fees and greater access to media enabled many white-presenting musicians to achieve success simply by recording cover versions of songs originally by Black artists. A question few have asked, however, is how many cover versions that achieved success in large part due to an artist’s privileged access to media (pop radio and non-racialized Billboard charts) remain well-remembered today. This chapter begins with a study of 20 different “Greatest Covers” lists published since 2010, followed by an analysis of the factors that contributed to certain cover versions being included on multiple lists. Lastly, this chapter explores how many cover versions that achieved success in least in part due to an artist’s societal advantages remain well-enough known that authors continue to include them on their lists of “great” cover versions.

Publication Title

Routledge Handbook to the Popular Music Cover Song Vivid Versions and Musical Subjectivities

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