Dance clubs are no longer the only venues in town where record labels can try out new music. According to a report in Billboard, producers are just as likely to cart new records down to the local shake joint to generate street buzz.
"Strip clubs have become the main breaking place for records, especially in the South," says Jermaine Dupri, president of urban music for Virgin Records.
With FM radio playlists becoming harder to crack, labels are branching out into other arenas to get new music in the streets. Unlike radio and dance clubs, where new songs are dropped into a mix and DJs tend to play songs that are already popular, strip joint DJs are able to play full tracks and can take a chance on underground and unproven material, reports Billboard.
Also, scantily-clad booty shakers have become synonymous with rap videos and a distinct part of the genre’s underbelly, which puts strip clubs among the top venues for reaching target audiences.
"When we work records, we work lifestyle venues like barbershops, beauty shops, skating rinks, bowling alleys -- anything with a culture to it. And strip clubs fall into that category," says Interscope urban promotion executive Kevin Black
"Word-of-mouth is still one of the biggest promotion factors out there," Universal Motown VP of rap promotion Troy Marshall adds. "That has helped turn strip clubs into big business."
Dupri, who has signed artists Mannish Man and T. Waters as a result of his scouting trips to XXX spots, believes that “strip club airplay is (more influential) than radio airplay in Atlanta.”
"Strip clubs are definitely a good place to meet people, learn things and see what's happening in other people's worlds. I'm probably the only label president there every other week," Dupri says with a laugh.
"Strip clubs have become the main breaking place for records, especially in the South," says Jermaine Dupri, president of urban music for Virgin Records.
With FM radio playlists becoming harder to crack, labels are branching out into other arenas to get new music in the streets. Unlike radio and dance clubs, where new songs are dropped into a mix and DJs tend to play songs that are already popular, strip joint DJs are able to play full tracks and can take a chance on underground and unproven material, reports Billboard.
Also, scantily-clad booty shakers have become synonymous with rap videos and a distinct part of the genre’s underbelly, which puts strip clubs among the top venues for reaching target audiences.
"When we work records, we work lifestyle venues like barbershops, beauty shops, skating rinks, bowling alleys -- anything with a culture to it. And strip clubs fall into that category," says Interscope urban promotion executive Kevin Black
"Word-of-mouth is still one of the biggest promotion factors out there," Universal Motown VP of rap promotion Troy Marshall adds. "That has helped turn strip clubs into big business."
Dupri, who has signed artists Mannish Man and T. Waters as a result of his scouting trips to XXX spots, believes that “strip club airplay is (more influential) than radio airplay in Atlanta.”
"Strip clubs are definitely a good place to meet people, learn things and see what's happening in other people's worlds. I'm probably the only label president there every other week," Dupri says with a laugh.
