Hi
Everyone!
I am
back!!! It’s been an interesting a busy few weeks! I have spent a lot of time
with kids from the ages of 7-14 all summer and, boy, have I learned a lot! Most
of you are aware of what I do for a living, however, for those of you who do
not, I work as a Music/Theatre Teacher. I have a lot of contact with kids as
well as young adults.
With
that being said, I wanted to talk about something in the music industry that
bothers me….and alarms me. It is how music is marketed to young girls. I think
the young musicians (and not so young) who market to the teens/tweens are doing
it wrong. The Teen demographic is one of the most sought after and coveted
demographic for young musicians. Check out Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, Katy
Perry, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Miley Cyrus. These musicians all have
marketed or are currently marketing themselves to the teen/tween demographic.
Fair enough. But how are they doing this?
I did a
quick Google Image search of the ladies listed above. What did I see? Cleavage
and skin? Yup. As well as a few of them on the cover of Cosmo. Cosmo?
Seriously? You’re marketing yourself to my Teenager/Tween and you’re half-dressed
on the cover of Cosmo?
Then I
took look at Justin Bieber on Google Images….there he is without a shirt. There
he is in his underwear or with his underwear extremely low cut. I mean, come
on!!! YOU market to teens/tweens and you come THIS FAR from exposing your
private parts!
I take
the subject of how we are raising our girls extremely seriously. I am not a
prude. I am not an “ultra-conservative” mom. I actually consider myself pretty
open minded. However, when I see celebrities like the ones above doing what
they’re doing while marketing to teens/tweens I practically scream! So, here is
my open letter to Katy, Justin, Taylor, Demi, Selena, Miley and all of who are
marketing yourselves to the teen/tween demographic.
Dear
Celebrities Marketing to the Teen/Tween Demographic,
I’ll put
it simply: I don’t like the image you are selling to our girls. Most of you
have pretty good music (with the exception of Taylor Swift, but I will address
that). However, your great music and messages in your music is negated by the
images you put forth and some of you, by your behavior. I will list my problems
with you one by one.
(
1) Katy
Perry…Every girl I know LOVES your music.It has some great messages to it.
Particularly Firework. But do you have to shoot sparklers out of your breasts
to get your point across in that song? You KNOW teens/tweens love you. You KNOW
they look up to you. So, why do you have to do that? Did it ever occur to you
that there is some 10 year old out there trying to figure out how to shoot fireworks
out of their breasts? It’s not funny. It’s also not funny or cool to show up at
Teen Choice Awards with your “assets” propped up like action figures on a shelf
for everyone to admire and look at. Have some class and maybe a bit of
discretion. Most girls do not have your body, Katy, and never will. But because
you put so much emphasis on it these girls are trying like hell to have it.
Cannot even imagine their self-image problems because of that. Enough said.
(
2)
Taylor
Swift…Stop being a Mean Girl. It may be “hip” and “edgy” to slam your former
boyfriends in your songs(seriously they should get some money from the sale of
those songs), but it’s also classless and MEAN. You have some great songs. You
are very talented. We get it. But “Why you gotta be so mean?" You’re teaching
our girls that if they are mad at someone they can be publicly mean to them.
And you’re teaching our boys not to trust girls. Stop being a Mean Girl.
Please.
(
3)
Demi
Lovato/Selena Gomez/Miley Cyrus… Put some clothes on. When you are marketing to
teens/tweens there is absolutely NO reason for you to be wearing lingerie.
Period. I cannot get past your inappropriate clothing enough to see if you
actually have any talent. Girls, you do not have to dress sexy to be
attractive. Self-confidence is attractive. Not skimpily clad girls with pouty
red lips. Just sayin’.
(
4)
Justin,
Justin, Justin… Your music is great. But you know what? Grow up and act like
those musicians who are ALLOWING you to collaborate with them. Have some class.
Stop whining and start winning good opinions by your character. And you know
what? You need to put some clothes on as well. It’s much more attractive to
imagine what’s beneath the clothing on a well-dressed, talented man then to see
his underwear and bare chest all the time.
Do better, you guys.
These teens/tweens will grow up and follow you until they are adults. Grow with
them and you will keep them as fans (money). Do things they admire. They are a
HUGE demographic for you guys to feed your paychecks. You actively pursue them.
That in itself requires you to act responsibly towards them. Unless, of course,
all you want is their money and don’t care. If that’s the case, then you really
do not deserve the admiration you get from them… and karma will get you in the
end J……Just sayin’……
Thank you for your
time.
Sincerely,
Nancy
**PHOTO CREDIT**
Hana Urban
www.hanaurban.com
