Are blackness and whiteness useful concepts in the study of popular music?

Throughout history people have felt the need to classify themselves and divide each other into subordinated groups. In music this is no different, and it has led to difficulties in defining genres.

It can be argued, that today's rock is predominantly white, but what defines a black and white genre? Is it the artist, producer or the audience? Elvis may have been a white artist and rock n'roll may be seen as a white musical revolution, but on the other hand, Elvis' voice sounds black and the origins of the musical style were actually in black rhythm and blues. Public enemy later declared that Elvis was a racist but in the end the so-called ‘black music’, hip-hop has now got many successful white artists. Is Eminem the new Elvis? Or Amy Winehouse the new Diana Ross?

In my opinion it is more important to look at the origins of the musical style rather than divide genres on the grounds of skin colour. Ethnicity, class, gender and socio economic atmosphere all influence on produced music. A person’s identity contributes to the music they listen to and people identify with something familiar to them.