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MOBO awards- should it be renamed?
Ryclops
21-01-2016
In light of the recent Oscars news regarding racial diversity, it got me wondering about the MOBO awards. Personally, I think it is great to celebrate a whole range of musical genres, I'm just not so sure how appropriate the name is.

Loads of people always moan on social media about what would happen if people were to introduce a MOWO awards. I know it's a bit of a controversial subject, but it has always been something I have thought about.

I've written an article about it on my blog: http://mrmusicuniverse.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/should-mobo-awards-be-renamed.html?m=1

What does everyone think? Should it be renamed?
Ryclops
21-01-2016
http://mrmusicuniverse.blogspot.co.uk
Last edited by Ryclops : 21-01-2016 at 08:09
Hollie_Louise
21-01-2016
No.. It shouldn't have been renamed the first 6 million times it was asked and shouldn't be the next 6 million times its asked
ScottishWoody
21-01-2016
Yes.

It should be called the "f**K all you white people awards".

It's music of black origin, meaning urban, rap, R&B etc, these days plenty of white artists fill these genres and are rightfully nominated and even win, like Ella Ayre who won best female last year.
Brummy Girl
21-01-2016
Originally Posted by ScottishWoody:
“Yes.

It should be called the "f**K all you white people awards".

It's music of black origin, meaning urban, rap, R&B etc, these days plenty of white artists fill these genres and are rightfully nominated and even win, like Ella Ayre who won best female last year.”

Ella Eyre is mixed-race.

But I agree on the whole that white people have been nominated and won in the past so it's not an exclusive Black people only award as some misguided people seem to think
JohnnyForget
21-01-2016
Go back far enough and you'll find that even a genre as white as Rock is music of black origin.
kirbyreed
21-01-2016
Originally Posted by JohnnyForget:
“Go back far enough and you'll find that even a genre as white as Rock is music of black origin.”

i think only classical and country are the only genres that aren't of black origin.
dearmrman
21-01-2016
Originally Posted by Brummy Girl:
“Ella Eyre is mixed-race.

But I agree on the whole that white people have been nominated and won in the past so it's not an exclusive Black people only award as some misguided people seem to think”

I think this stems from the Oscars, which isn't exclusive white people winning or getting nominated for awards either. I am hazarding a guess here, so could be wrong, but I bet the majority of nominees, winners at the Mobo's are not white.
r1ver
21-01-2016
Absolutely - it's actually insulting to black culture in my opinion; All forms of pop music from Bowie to Madonna to Justin Bieber to the Rolling Stones to Aviccii to Adele to the 1975 have their roots firmly in black history; even country which is as influenced by blues as it is by folk music. Why should black history be shoe-horned into one narrow pigeonhole?
scrilla
21-01-2016
Originally Posted by dearmrman:
“I bet the majority of nominees, winners at the Mobo's are not white.”

Indeed not and it would be preposterous and insulting if most people being awarded 'best' in black music genres were not of black origin themselves.
scrilla
21-01-2016
"Should the MOBO Awards be renamed?"
No.

"We are all human; we all live on this planet. Yes, I am fully aware of the history of racism. I am fully aware that the slavery of black people happened. I am fully aware that racism is wrong, yet it is still happening today, all around the world. But should we not all be trying to look to the future, trying to create a land of integration, not segregation?

This is why I have never been really able to comprehend that every year, Britain hosts the MOBO awards- the Music Of Black Origin awards, to be exact. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to abolish the awards- not at all."

"I am simply putting forward the argument that the MOBO awards might be a bit of an inappropriate name; that is if everybody agrees that races shouldn't be segregated."
People are not being segregated. Black music genres are being recognised by an awards ceremony. Much as Pop and Rock and mostly white artists are recognised by The Brit Awards.

"The idea and system of the awards itself is by no means racist. It is simply a night where lots of producers, artists, fans and writers get together to celebrate genres of music, whether that be R&B, hip-hop, jazz or rock 'n' roll. To be perfectly honest, many of these genres were influenced by black people, but there were also significant Jewish influences in the latter two genres."
If anything, the idea behind the awards is to recognise music that is often side-lined by mainstream awards ceremonies so, you're darned right it isn't racist: if anything it is more of a response to it. As for the second sentence - an odd observation. There have always been Jewish people in the entertainment industry; not just in Jazz and Rock 'n' Roll and no, those genres were not merely INFLUENCED by black people, we're generally talking about genres here which were ORIGINATED by African Americans. That is a big deal and not something that should be played down or white-washed out of history.

"But in a world where race issues, religious issues and gender issues are still prevalent, do we really need a name like MOBO, which to many people, may be seen to be promoting segregation- especially to those who aren't really educated on this issue?

"Every year when the ceremony takes place, you can bet that the majority of tweets and 'jokes' on Twitter will surround this name. Most tweets read along the same lines as 'What if there was a MOWO awards? Black people would hate that and say it was racist.' To be perfectly honest, I feel if there was a MOWO awards, it would not go down well, but why would it? Why would anyone try to segregate something so subjective and free like music? They shouldn't."
Lack of education brings ignorance. Why should something change to facilitate the ignorant? Music often fits into genres, whose origins can be traced. It is what it is and not what someone decides they want it to be. A show which celebrates black music genres and gives awards to people of ALL races working within those genres is no problem to anyone sensible in a world of award shows where the most celebrated are usually white people.

"In America, there is a cable channel named BET (Black Entertainment Television). Why do we need this? Why can't races of both colours watch the same channels and shows?"
Why can't they just watch what THEY want? Why can't people from minorities choose to watch programming specifically aimed at them. Maybe you don't need it - maybe MTV is adequate for YOU but people who watch BET Jazz might want some real music and not all of those viewers will be non-white either. Let's not remove choice.

"It is 2016 and the entertainment field is as diverse as ever. Yes, statistically there are more white actors in highly paid jobs in the industry, but labelling the channel BET is ludicrous."
No it is not ludicrous. It features black-created entertainment content, which makes the name wholly appropriate. Has anyone told anyone them can't watch it?

"If we are wanting a world where there is no racism or segregation, end any mention of black and white, stop labelling people based solely on the colour of their skin and make music and pictures where race doesn't matter. People aren't stereotypes, everyone is different."
Racism runs a whole lot deeper that the entertainment industry. People on the receiving end understand that specialised entertainment channels and awards shows have nothing to do with its causes.
Blondie X
21-01-2016
Apart from a few categories, it's meaningless anyway and as relevant as the Brits. When the likes of Sam Smith are winning MOBO awards, you know the shark has been well and truly jumped
Tejas
21-01-2016
Originally Posted by JohnnyForget:
“Go back far enough and you'll find that even a genre as white as Rock is music of black origin.”

A very good point which highlights how daft the concept of this award ceremony is. I would suggest changing it to Urban Music awards, but some of what they acknowledge now is mainstream pop so I'm not sure what the point is anymore!
Peter the Great
21-01-2016
Originally Posted by kirbyreed:
“i think only classical and country are the only genres that aren't of black origin.”

Even some early Country was heavily influenced by blues.
mialicious
21-01-2016
Originally Posted by Tejas:
“A very good point which highlights how daft the concept of this award ceremony is. I would suggest changing it to Urban Music awards, but some of what they acknowledge now is mainstream pop so I'm not sure what the point is anymore!”

'Urban' thats even worse! ie: 'The Inner city music awards'
mgvsmith
21-01-2016
Originally Posted by Peter the Great:
“Even some early Country was heavily influenced by blues.”

It's interesting how 'integrated' Blues, Folk and Country music were in the Southern states in the 19th and early 20th century. It was actually the more musically segregated Northerners who created these distinctions in the developing American record industry of the 20th Century.

I have to agree with others here that the influence of African-American culture on the development of popular music in the 20th and 21st century is immense. And seminal artists like The Stones and Zeppelin owe much to that. Although I wish there were more Black women playing guitars.

The MOBO awards reflect a peculiarly British narrative on the influence of Black British culture on pop music. I'm not sure if the music that is celebrated at these awards does reflect Black British experience though. I could be wrong on that.
unclekevo
23-01-2016
No, people who bring up the 'MOBOS are racist' argument are zoning in on the 'Black' part of the name. The MOBOs don't celebrate black artists, they celebrate those performing music of black origin (albeit I would agree that it's quite a pigeonholed representation of music of black origin) regardless of race. The likes of Jessie J and Sam Smith have previously won MOBO awards so the idea that they're exclusively for black artists is rubbish. It's constantly pedaled out as a tit for tat retort when the question of black representation in the entertainment industry is raised, that being said, the current furore surrounding the Oscars is a bit of a non-issue IMO.
dodrade
24-01-2016
Originally Posted by unclekevo:
“No, people who bring up the 'MOBOS are racist' argument are zoning in on the 'Black' part of the name. The MOBOs don't celebrate black artists, they celebrate those performing music of black origin (albeit I would agree that it's quite a pigeonholed representation of music of black origin) regardless of race. The likes of Jessie J and Sam Smith have previously won MOBO awards so the idea that they're exclusively for black artists is rubbish. It's constantly pedaled out as a tit for tat retort when the question of black representation in the entertainment industry is raised, that being said, the current furore surrounding the Oscars is a bit of a non-issue IMO.”

It still defines genres according to the skin colour of those who invented them.
Hav_mor91
24-01-2016
Originally Posted by r1ver:
“Absolutely - it's actually insulting to black culture in my opinion; All forms of pop music from Bowie to Madonna to Justin Bieber to the Rolling Stones to Aviccii to Adele to the 1975 have their roots firmly in black history; even country which is as influenced by blues as it is by folk music. Why should black history be shoe-horned into one narrow pigeonhole?”

I think your statement is absolutely ridiculous of course some music has it's root in balck origins and culture but not all of it does, and certainly not all artists you mentioned owe a debt to black culture.

I see the Mobo's as no different to as say the classical brits, folk music awards, etc. It is simply celebrating and focusing on one aspect of our shared culture and history. And actually I think it proves a positive it shines a light on music and artists that get by passed from the more general and popularist Brits. Also the argument to my mind of whit artists winning is again for me missing the point as it embraces and celebrates black music or music that has it's roots in said culture.

It's just PC, diversity heaven forfend we offend anyone kind of bullshit attitude.
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