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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Jermaine Hall

Aired July 13, 2002 - 12:28   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Michael Jackson's criticism of the recording industry taking advantage of black artists has been raising a few eyebrows, and Jackson's profile, consequently. He makes the charge amid lower than expected sales for his last album. Perhaps Jermaine Hall, music editor of "The Source" can help make sense of all of this. So what do you think, Jermaine? Did Michael Jackson make this case because he's trying to win, you know, perhaps some support because his sales have not been what's expected -- what he wanted them to be, at least in the U.S.?

JERMAINE HALL, MUSIC EDITOR, "THE SOURCE": Well, Fredricka, I think, you know, it's a good thing that Michael is informing the public on the struggles of music artists. However, you know, he's a bit of an opportunist. I'm saying this because of the time that he's doing this. He's doing this when his album has, quote/unquote, flopped. I mean, his album only sold two million copies, which, you know, technically is not a flop, but when you spend $30 million producing it and your label spent another $25 million promoting it, then, you know, you have no choice but to call it a flop.

WHITFIELD: So he's making a legitimate point because there have been other artists who've certainly made the same assertions, but perhaps it's your view -- and perhaps even some other artists' view -- that he may not be the right spokesperson for this argument?

HALL: It's just -- there is a lot of irony to it, because this is the same man who preached that, you know, it doesn't matter if I'm black or white. Also, you know, this whole issue is not a black and white issue to begin with. The system is set up to destroy artists, period. And you know, to destroy is -- is -- is a strong word, but that's pretty much what it does. Whether you're black or white really doesn't matter.

WHITFIELD: But don't you feel badly for Michael Jackson that no matter what point he makes, and it being a legitimate one, no one is arguing his point, that perhaps his point is being upstaged by the evolution of Michael Jackson, you know, his exterior appearances, particularly, which have, you know, made headlines so much in recent years, that perhaps that is what is upstaging a very legitimate, important message?

HALL: Yeah, you're right. It's absolutely an important message. I think, you know, things are being done to rectify the situation, like they are trying to change the seven-year law, which would be absolutely a brilliant thing, because artists can't spend seven years on a label -- like that's, you know, they can't be asked to produce seven albums for a label. It's just crazy. That can span your entire career. I mean, artists don't -- artists don't make an album a year, typically. You know, they do it every two years. So you could end up spending 14 years on this one label without an opportunity to renegotiate your contract. You look at somebody like LL Cool J who was stuck in a 10-album deal, you know, on DefJam Records, and he never received the opportunity to renegotiate.

WHITFIELD: Well, Jermaine, you and I can talk about this until we're blue in the face about the very issue, but the bottom line is, it makes a difference as to whether the CEOs and the CFOs of the recording industries, the various labels are paying attention to what Michael Jackson is saying. Doesn't it boil down to whether he has an audience from the upper echelon of those who are making the contracts, who are making the deals for all of these artists?

HALL: Well, I mean, you must keep in mind, it is Michael Jackson, you know. Whatever he says is going to merit, you know, some type of...

WHITFIELD: So you think he will be -- he will be heard, in your view?

HALL: I would say that upper management, you know, at different labels will hear what Michael Jackson have to say. Will it make a difference? I don't think so. Because again, this is not a black and white issue. This is a green issue. This is a very green issue. It's about money. You know, labels are expected to make money. That's the bottom line. And they don't have, unfortunately -- they don't have time to develop artists in the way that they should. They're looking for that quick hit.

WHITFIELD: OK. Jermaine Hall, of "The Source" magazine, thank you very much for joining us. Appreciate it.

HALL: Thank you.

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