Are blackness and whiteness useful concepts in the study of popular music?

I think that although helpful to some degree, blackness and whiteness are not defining concepts in popular music. Music can’t be racially owned - there’s too much cultural cross-over. As Swiss points out, “‘black’ music has always drawn ‘white’ audiences, and often drawn from ‘white’ musical traditions.” Hatch and Millard also suggest that pop music has always been heavily dependent on the interaction between white and black traditions. Elvis broke racial and cultural boundaries bringing about the new era of ‘rock n roll’ - he was heavily influenced by gospel and soul music. We also need to consider who defines music; the artist or the audience? Rap music, traditionally considered to be ‘black’ music has given rise to incredibly popular and credible white artists such as Eminem and the Beastie Boys. Shanks comments ‘for some whites, black music becomes a means to interrogate their own racial identity.” Race is just one way of analysing music, but economic and social environment and class should not be overlooked.