Is it to do with the stereotyping, which in turn makes those in the music industry reluctant to invest in Asian artists. The only Asian songs that manage to reach the charts of those of a comedic value... . There is subtle racism when it comes to how Asians are depicted in the media.... Nerds, or jokes (Gangnam Style)

Asian music on the other hand not reaching the mainstream is more to do with America and Britain having the monopoly over the music industry. Just like how America manage to spread their food franchises worldwide (Mcdonalds)

No, it's to do with the fact most of them are crap.

I've always thought there is room for an Asian megastar at some point (an Asian version of what Michael Jackson or Prince did in the 80's). However the music has to be top quality (hence the post by shackfan above), the right image and the right timing. Oh yes and there does need to be real talent too...

So out of the millions of Asians, they all happen to be "crap"?

The simple answer is, systematic racism... The only time Asians are depicted in movies is when its a stereotypical, cultural or nerd/joke role.

Even movies that were supposed to depict real life events of an Asian character hire a white actor and make them look Asian.

So you have heard most Asian singers for you to form this opinion? You're clearly one of the racists I was talking about

Asians are paid dust in the music business. The only Asians that make it are those that are half white or black.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?featur...&v=CKPA8L5ZpqU

What exactly makes this song any different than other songs that are released? Again, she was paid dust.

Didn't Jay Sean do well in America?

More like a one hit wonder

No point ranting! Asian artists have to gear their music to global audiences. Doing what you normally do for your home audience and hoping westerners will like it isn't probably going to work.

Theres plenty of song geared towards a "global" audience... the one I posted for example.

However, how do you get promo spots and a budget when people aren't interested in you? You can try as hard as you want, but there has to be an audience that connects to you and that inability is the problem with Asians. Most people just ignore Asian acts.

On top of that, that does not explain the lack of Asian representation in media.

To put it bluntly, the industry is RACIST.

What happened when an Indian model won Miss America, she was bombarded with racist comments. Thats how uncommon it is to see Asians in the media.

The Korean PSY's Gangnam Style for example is no more catchy than other Korean pop songs. He had mass appeal because western people were making of a mockery of East Asian men. It was funny to see this short, fat, stocky Korean man doing some ridiculous dance routine.

PSY being a joke was the reason he did well. That's the only way Asian men get jobs in the western entertainment industry. Have you seen most Asian male roles on TV (the Japanese guy on Heroes and the Indian guy on Community)?

That isn't a "simple answer" in any sense - it's totally biased and more than a bit silly.

Asian children are strongly encouraged to go into medicine or pursue a STEM subject. Some things are more important than pop music believe it or not.

There's no point starting a thread if you just want to rant and won't listen to other people - go and write a blog.

Its not just pop music. Its the entertainment industry... Yes, they are encouraged to pursue other careers, but the representation is still terrible.

Look at Hollywood, Asians are depicted as complete jokes, karate fighters, or villains

- Remember the movie "21"? A movie based on a real story about Asians, casted by white guys.
- Firefly - an Asian influenced movie, with endless Asian references, but no Asian cast
- So many more Asian influenced movies with Asians as mere extras (The Lost Empire, Seven Years in Tibet, Come see the Paradise etc).

Dont get me started on Indiana Jones - Temple of Doom.

Well yes you have a point. The industry reacts to what the market wants and the fact is in western market, the audience are drawn to western acts. There is a psychology behind this, people are drawn to those most like them because they want to put themselves in that place.

Thing is that similar argument can be applied as to why the are little to no white, black or south asian in the massive j-pop and k-pop market and why there are a a lack of white bollywood stars.

That is something that needs to change. People have been conditioned to be drawn to black pop acts now, and the same can be done with any other race.

Yes, Asia may not represent white or black people (largely due to them being less than 0.1% of the population. However, they do not depict white or black people negatively in their media either, if we are to refer to Hollywood

This is nonsense. To say that People have been conditioned to be drawn to black pop acts is almost a racist statement in itself.

African American music culture underwrites almost all of North American and European pop music. Jazz, Blues, R n'B, Gospel, Rock n'Roll Soul, Reggae, Hip Hop, House etc all emerge out African American culture and influence the development of pop music and culture in the US, U.K. and beyond. There has been a cultural interaction between the musics of West Africa and White Immgrants In the US that just didn't happen with the Asian immigrants in the same way. It's a matter of history, location and experience.

You also seem to be missing the huge number of Asian musicians who interact with and play Western Classical music. There are crossovers between Western Classical and World music, there are Asian influences in the works of Stockhausen, Messaien and Steve Reich for example.

There are also Asian influences in the Uk, in the pop music of The Beatles, The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Japan etc...I have a CompilAsian album from the 80s featuring Monsoon and then there was Cornershop and Raga Rock. It's just never taken off the way West Indian music did through reggae and Ska in the 60s and 70s.

This is pretty much spot on, though of course there should be a hint at more traditional Asian music too. BTW I think this is a great thread by the OP and something I discussed with an Asian friend of mine a while back.

A big indie/rock band in US and have had minor hits in UK are Young The Giant and they are mostly Asian, it hasnt affected their success in US one bit but yes they are an exception I guess.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQYpF2pCkLI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DO6LJUyNA0M

Marvellous. Now the music industry is racist.

When the Asian equivalent of Deep Purple, The Who, The Beatles or Pink Floyd are producing the same quality I'll be happy to listen to them.

If Asian people like the music Asian artists produce, then what's the problem? You cant force people to like music because of the ethnicity of the artist. You either like it or you don't.

If you mean Abed in Community he is a socially awkward character with Asbergers who watches loads of tv. But seeing as Community is a comedy I don't think any of the characters are meant to be taken that seriously

But I'm getting off topic

By your logic, One Direction is also equivalent to The Beatles, since they are listened to by the mainstream etc.... Is Justin Biebers music similar quality to the The Who? I think not.... Is Kesha as good as Kate Bush? There have been many quality pieces of Music by American Asian artists at a higher level than current chart music, they were just never given the time of day. Its too risky to invest in Asians

To deny there isnt some form of racism in this industry plain ignorance. No-one has managed to tackle my point on blatant lack of representation in Hollywood, and stereotypical, joke-like roles given to Asians in those movies.

Are we talking about south Asians, east Asians, British Asians or all three?

All Asians

How many non Asians are there currently on the Indian music chart?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/e...1&periodtype=4

None!

omg everyone in India must be racist!

Quite a few non-Asian artists actually.

http://snkhan.co.uk/stuff/iTunes.php?chart=IN

Lets not forget that India and China probably have less than 0.01% non-Asian demographics, where as America has around 4-5% Asians, and UK has over 7% Asians. Also, I dont usually see those countries negatively stereotyping non-Asians in their media, movies etc...

Well one of the greatest singers of all time was of Asian decent. Farrokh Bulsara, though he did not really acknowlege his heratige apart from a few times in some of his songs.

When he came to England though he used to say that's where his life began. Though he soon started going by the name of Freddie instead of Farrokh, when he came here. It wasn't until he changed his surname to Mercury that he became the superstar that he was.