By: Amanda Anderson-Niles
Tyrese’s new album “Black Rose” is doing well on the sales charts, but he feels R&B is pretty much a dead genre because a lot of radio stations are refusing to support the artists.
In a lengthy letter he posted to Instagram, Tyrese calls out Ryan Seacrest and other popular radio heavyweights for not supporting R&B music.
He writes:
Open letter to Mr Ryan Seacrest of Kiss FM and Mr Elvis Duran of Z-100. Since you don’t want to respond, let’s turn things UP a notch!!!
First, you should know this… So that no one tries to diminish my point….. Let’s take a few things off the table.. ( cracking my knuckles ). I have no malicious intentions towards anyone, I’m not bitter, im actually one of the most positive and optimistic people you could ever meet and know!
I’m not mad, I’m simply addressing a real issue… This is NOT a rant, this NOT coming from a racist place and I am not pulling the “race card.” This is not about sexual preference and for sure not doing this for press or buzz desperate for attention for my album release – I respect you both completely and don’t want you to be socially or personally attacked .. ( so let’s get into these topics )
Did you see my recent interview I did with the breakfast club Power 105 NYC talking about you?
I love you both and I’m so proud of all that you’ve accomplished! You both happen to be some of the BIGGEST and most influential Mainstream radio hosts. I’m simply posing some specific questions and it’s NOT just to you but to ALL MAINSTREAM RADIO STATIONS IN GENERAL… Do you think there is a lack of diversity in radio? Is mainstream radio really being fair with their approach? Did you know that I had a song called STAY that was #1 on Billboard for 11 consecutive weeks? And it was ONLY played on Urban AC and Urban Mainstream radio? Sam Smith ( who I’m a huge supporter and fan of ) also had a song called STAY and because people LOVED it, it was played on ALL formats of radio ( including mainstream, top 40, Rhythmic and crossover)… And it sounded like he had a FULL CHOIR on his hook!! (((( If that would of been MY song, I would of likely been stuck on the gospel channel..))) aha! We support Sam Smith, Robin Thicke, and Justin Timberlake on ALL urban stations… why? Because it’s R&B Soul Music and great R&B soul MUSIC has no racial preference, no sexual preference and no boundaries…I don’t create limits for MYSELF and I don’t appreciate people creating limits for me!! HEAR ME OUT!!
I couldn’t possibly have OVER 6 BILLION in global box office receipts if I was ONLY supported by black people
How is it possible that urban radio plays Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake and Sam Smith ( When they release R&B Soul records and when we’re singing in the EXACT same genre, WE don’t get ANY love on the other side…?? Sam Smith won a BET award and was a no-show – is that ok?
As artists…. Other than Robin Thicke.. Are you guys interested in doing any radio promo? Call ins? Meet and greets with the fans for those Urban Radio Spins?? Do you have any idea how HARD it is to get your songs ON Urban radio?? Or to land a BET nomination? We have to work our ASSES OFF for every spin! #SHAME ft Jennifer Hudson needs to be HEARD by people ALL AROUND the WORLD!!!! And I won’t stop or rest until we get there….#King
– Tyrese “Black Rose” Gibson
Ps- I am so sorry but I’m Not going to do a house or techno version of SHAME to get radio spins!!! I’m not putting on no tight pants to have more pop appeal – I don’t wanna be cool… I actually told #TeamVoltron that I wanted my album and single and creative direction to be irrelevant- I don’t twerk… And I don’t know anybody name Nay Nay lol – it’s #GrownFolkSeason it’s real #RnBSeason – My voice is deep, I love sex, I love the ART of love and love making – i love to mentally intrigue that woman’s mind. I don’t wear braids or backpacks with cartoon characters on it – I’m #GROWN and I actually LOVE being grown…. Ladies hear me when I say I’m singing to that – cause I want that…
I have a voice…… Change is uncomfortable – I am willing to take the heat, deal with the backlash and press and media that may come of this post….. Why.? Cause change doesn’t come from just complaining you have to make a move….. “the best way to predict the future is to create it”… I don’t play the lack of diversity game too well… I think what’s fair is what’s fair…
LETS MAKE A STATEMENT!!!
It’s simple Tyres. Stop letting white folk in our genre. We don’t have to be accepting. I’ll be glad when black folk stop asking for validation from culture vultures.
Thank you!
Well said.
Sh-t he better do like Beyonce and stop giving a f-ck about these white pop stations. You don’t even need radio stations anymore to go platinum. F-ck Ryan anyway because his downlow a-s is the reason we can’t get rid of those Kardashian THOTs.
People still listen to the radio?
I’ve definitely noticed how top 40 has shut out black artists but you don’t need top 40 to sell units anymore.
Yes Tyrese… I likes me a grown n sexy Man lol… But I agree with this whole letter!
“Sam Smith won an award and was a no show at BET” *Faints*.. Lmao. After I saw how this guy was so close to the Kardashians and worshipped their every move, I stopped liking him..
His album is number one without Ryan Seacrest so I wouldn’t even give those fools any energy.
He is calling them out for something I noticed too but he doesn’t need their support to be honest. Radio stations will be absolutely obsolete in a few years now with streaming taking off.
He didn’t lie about the stations at all but the good thing is radio stations aren’t as important as they used to be. His album is still doing very well so I say let the racist radio stations crash and burn on their own.