R&B originated from blues, jazz, and gospel music in the 1940s-1950s United States. Common elements include rhythmic beats combined with soulful vocals about relationships, heartbreak, and everyday life. Famous R&B artists like R. Kelly and Mariah Carey helped popularize the genre in the late 20th/early 21st century by redefining its sound and putting it back in the spotlight. Conventions include sexually suggestive portrayals of males and females in music videos to appeal to predominantly female audiences, as well as a focus on simple melodies, lyrics, and tempos for dancing or emotional ballads.

2. BACKGROUND OF R&B
 Stylistic Origins: Blues, Jazz, Gospel
 Cultural Origins: 1940’s – 1950’s, United States
 Variations/Sub-genres: Contemporary R&B, Smooth jazz, Neo soul
 Brief outline of the genre: Rhythm and Blues also known as simply R&B, is a
music genre that combines elements of rhythm and blues, soul, funk, pop, hip
hop and dance.
 Usual Lyrical Content: Within this genre lyrics are usually based on everyday
life focusing on the effects of relationships, work and drinking on a persons life
 Usual Instruments: Drum kit, bass guitar, saxophone, horns, piano, organ,
electric guitar, vocals, background vocals
 Famous Artists similar to our unsigned artist: Ashanti, Whitney Huston, Mary J.
Blige, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys

3. FAMOUS R&B ARTISTS
 Both Mariah Carey and R. Kelly are worldwide recording artists associated
with the R&B genre and its build in popularity in the 21st century.
 R. Kelly: Due to his highly recognised songs such as ‘Ignition’, R.Kelly has
been credited for helping redefine R&B and hip hop, earning the nicknames
"King of R&B" and "King of Pop-Soul". Labelled as the most successful R&B
artist in history, R.Kelly is said to have put R&B on the map for his
contribution to the genres slow and fast tempo music categories.
 Mariah Carey: Mariah Careys song ‘We Belong Together’ placed a pin in
the R&B genre community as it was labelled “Song of the Decade” and had
put the genre back in the spotlight when it was thought to slowly descend
back.

4. CONVENTIONS OF THE GENRE
 In terms of males and females, within this genre it is common to see the
male sex topless whilst the female sex wears minimal clothes. These are
done in order to appeal to the genres predominately female audience
whilst also pandering to its small male audience.
 Often split into two types of tempo fast and slow. Each of these tempos
have their own narrative outlining; with fast tempo music videos
usually centralised around partying and fast cars whilst those with slow
tempo often refer to heartbreak.
 Lyrics focus heavily on the themes of triumphs and failures in terms of
relationships, freedom, economics, aspirations, and sex.
 Usually female artists are often portrayed as soft goddess type people in
their videos, however in recent years women have been shown to be
strong and powerful than men breaking the typical stereotype.

5. CONVENTIONS OF THE GENRE
 The music usually follow predictable patterns of chords and structure
making creative practise less about ‘sudden bursts of innovation’ and
more about the ‘continual production of familiarity’, as theorised by
Negus.
 Within this genre songs are usually three to four and half minutes in
length
 The beat and melodies tend to rather simple with most focus being on
the lyrics of the song.

6. TARGET AUDIENCE
 A majority of R&B fans are teenagers/ young adults aged between the ages of 13-25.
This may be due to the genres explicit lyrics in some of the songs.
 A majority of this age group as stated in my previous slide, are of the female gender.
This may be due to the fact that female R&B artists stereotypically make songs about
being in love or heartbroken – this is something that would appeal greatly to teenage
girls and young adults.
 The target audience of males is predominately female as well. This is due to their
sexualised portrayal within music videos. Females will find this appealing because
usually they will also be physically attracted to the male artist. However some males
will be attracted to the jewellery, naked women and depiction of wealth in these
videos.
 Though the ethnic group of the R&B genre audience is predominately black. This
may be due to a large sum of artists being black with lyrics referring to the struggles
of life as a black person when not about love.
Target Audience
Males