Plus the proof is in the pudding. More and more people are downloading movies and music as the amount of sex increases, and the quality decreases. If sex sells, why did Christina Aguilera’s debut album sell 4 million more than the sexually charged Stripped? If sex sells, why hasn’t Beyonce (and Sasha) outsold Whitney Houston? If sex sells, why did Rihanna (the clothed girl gone naked) have to release countless singles and videos, meanwhile Alicia Keys (fully clothed) released four singles and equalled her sales in less time?

Not only is it sad for the industry in general, but also for the artist. Some of them have a good/great voice to fall back on when the public starts crying, “Grandma, put some clothes on!” However, some of them are surviving on their fashion, famous boyfriends, and any other gimmicks their record label can find.

Take Madonna and Janet Jackson, for example. They’re both told to stop going for the younger crowd and cover up. Madonna has defied the odds, and whatever her critics say, and continued on like she always has. Her soldout tours, stable CD sales, and high public interest shows that she will be fine. On the other hand, Jackson’s sales have been on the decline. The more sex she uses to sell, the lower her sales get. She’s been dropped by two record labels in quick succession, so the future looks very, VERY bleak. She’s proof that a sexy image can only go so far before someone ‘sexier’ comes along and takes your spot.

Then the future is ruined as well. The young stars look at the current legends, icons, etc focusing on their image more than their music, and follow the same path. This leads to girls barely out of school wearing the skimpiest clothes they can find, instead of SINGING, ACTING, or DANCING. We’re stuck with ‘singing’, in between the breast shaking, ‘acting’, in between the raunchy shots, or ‘dancing’, in between the booty close ups.

Whenever another female artist or actress starts wearing less and less clothes on stage or screen, the usual excuse is: Sex Sells…but does it?

I’m sure you’ve heard (or seen…) the naked photos of Cassie and Rihanna, but are these ‘private’ photos really that surprising? Cassie, Rihanna, and even my favourite singer, Beyonce, use sex heavily to grab a hold of your attention and not let go. Their sexuality gets them signed to record labels, magazine covers and spreads, etc. Meanwhile, more talented singers and actresses who keep their clothes on get…nowhere. They have to stick to mixtapes, play to ‘intimate’ crowds, star in films that go straight to DVD, and anything else that will be forgotten a year from now.

Does sex sell? No, I don’t think it does.

The media is pushing more and more sex all the time, especially in the music industry. The female singers are encouraged to wear little and shake a lot. Strip, drop it like it’s hot, and don’t forget to mention your album coming out when you’ve finished.

And that’s the problem right there.

These industries forget two things. One, not all of your audience consists of hetereosexual males and lesbians. Two, just because some men and women will ‘pleasure’ themselves whilst watching these raunchy music videos or films, it doesn’t mean that they’ll get out their credit cards and buy your product. When I’ve seen six pack abs on male singers, it’s never made me think, “Yep, I’ll buy your album!” No, it’s made me think, “Damn, I wish you would If You Seek Amy.”

Ivory

PS. What’s with the poor excuse for these naked photos that ‘Everyone’s done it at some point. Don’t you have naked photos of yourself on your PC?”

No, I don’t.