Assistant professor of musicology at the University of Pennsylvania and sound engineer specializing in African American popular music.
Research interests: Black electronic dance music and club cultures, DIY and independent music production, Afrofuturism, and the historiography of African American music. Supervisors: Mr. David Kerzner (Undergraduate Advisor), Dr. Stephen Marcone (Masters Thesis Advisor), and Dr. Eduardo Herrera (Dissertation Advisor) Phone: 9738206799 Address: New Jersey
In November 2017, the announcement of a diverse pool of Grammy award nominees prompted a wave of ... more In November 2017, the announcement of a diverse pool of Grammy award nominees prompted a wave of excitement among music industry professionals, fans, and journalists, who previously lambasted the Grammys’ lack of racial diversity. After several years of backlash, the Recording Academy made streaming-only releases eligible, implemented an online voting system, and established a nomination review committee for the rap award categories. Subsequently, there was a significant increase of African-American nominees featured in the mainstream award categories. While some critics have commended the Recording Academy for addressing their diversity issues, I argue that these policy changes provide a false sense of racial reform, covertly protect white elites’ socioeconomic interests, and are susceptible to reversal. Utilizing critical race theory (CRT) scholarship, I examine the discourse and implications surrounding each policy’s implementation to unearth the Recording Academy’s underlying intentions for instituting the changes. My findings reveal that the Recording Academy deploys powerful yet subversive colorblind ideologies that obscure racial inequalities and the racially negligent nature of the policy changes. In sum, I recommend that the Recording Academy implement large-scale race-conscious measures to confront their diversity issues effectively and meaningfully.
Although scholars and music industry professionals have expressed their criticisms on the current... more Although scholars and music industry professionals have expressed their criticisms on the current state of R&B, as far as we know, R&B’s identity crisis has not been critically examined in an academic setting. However, an analysis of the social and musical factors contributing to R&B’s ongoing identity crisis reveals that many popular recording artists stretch the artistic and musical boundaries of contemporary R&B by continuously gravitating towards and moving away from the genre. More specifically, this paper will use qualitative and historical research methods to evaluate how R&B is affected by genre interplay, racial issues, and the rise of alternative R&B—in an attempt to gain a further understanding of the genre’s current identity crisis and highlight areas for future research.
As a result of there being more cellular subscriptions than people, cellular providers have run o... more As a result of there being more cellular subscriptions than people, cellular providers have run out of potential customers. To combat this issue, cellular companies are regularly employing pricing strategies and tactics to attract new customers and grow their share in the market. However, these strategies and tactics come with risks that can have detrimental effects on individual cellular providers and the overall market.
This case study aims to: o Identify key players in the cellular phone industry o Suggest reasons why companies embrace price wars o Highlight alternative strategy methods o Recommend pricing tactics for Verizon to target customers
In this case study, Red Bull’s social media and mobile marketing strategies are highlighted and s... more In this case study, Red Bull’s social media and mobile marketing strategies are highlighted and summarized using a couple examples of recent, successful implementation. The case study also highlights how Red Bull has diversified itself and has become a prominent force in the digital media empire.
This case study analysis aims to: Analyze Red Bull’s social media and mobile market strategy Highlight and examine tactics and strategies employed Suggest alternative solutions Recommend a course of action for the future
Autotrader convinces car dealers, associations, and manufacturers to purchase advertising on its ... more Autotrader convinces car dealers, associations, and manufacturers to purchase advertising on its website by providing them with marketing research data. Autotrader’s marketing research provides sellers with quantitative and qualitative data that predicts consumer behavior and trends. By providing hard data, Autotrader aims to convince car dealers that their advertising dollars will be well spent.
This case study analysis aims to:
o Identify Autotrader’s marketing research objectives o Reveal how Autotrader’s research projects meet its objectives o Explain Autotrader’s data collection methods
In this case study, Alta Data Solutions is presented with an order from Burtell Incorporated that... more In this case study, Alta Data Solutions is presented with an order from Burtell Incorporated that will provide a multi-million dollar contract. This potential relationship will not only increase revenue and boost productivity levels for Alta Data--it will also make Burtell Inc. more competitive in the consumer products market. However, due to the difficult economic climate, Burtell Inc. has several reservations in regards to considering a new software service. Vicki Nguyen, the senior sales associate for Alta Data, has been tasked with preparing a presentation for Alta Data that she will present at a meeting with members from Burtell’s purchasing department.
In November 2017, the announcement of a diverse pool of Grammy award nominees prompted a wave of ... more In November 2017, the announcement of a diverse pool of Grammy award nominees prompted a wave of excitement among music industry professionals, fans, and journalists, who previously lambasted the Grammys’ lack of racial diversity. After several years of backlash, the Recording Academy made streaming-only releases eligible, implemented an online voting system, and established a nomination review committee for the rap award categories. Subsequently, there was a significant increase of African-American nominees featured in the mainstream award categories. While some critics have commended the Recording Academy for addressing their diversity issues, I argue that these policy changes provide a false sense of racial reform, covertly protect white elites’ socioeconomic interests, and are susceptible to reversal. Utilizing critical race theory (CRT) scholarship, I examine the discourse and implications surrounding each policy’s implementation to unearth the Recording Academy’s underlying intentions for instituting the changes. My findings reveal that the Recording Academy deploys powerful yet subversive colorblind ideologies that obscure racial inequalities and the racially negligent nature of the policy changes. In sum, I recommend that the Recording Academy implement large-scale race-conscious measures to confront their diversity issues effectively and meaningfully.
Although scholars and music industry professionals have expressed their criticisms on the current... more Although scholars and music industry professionals have expressed their criticisms on the current state of R&B, as far as we know, R&B’s identity crisis has not been critically examined in an academic setting. However, an analysis of the social and musical factors contributing to R&B’s ongoing identity crisis reveals that many popular recording artists stretch the artistic and musical boundaries of contemporary R&B by continuously gravitating towards and moving away from the genre. More specifically, this paper will use qualitative and historical research methods to evaluate how R&B is affected by genre interplay, racial issues, and the rise of alternative R&B—in an attempt to gain a further understanding of the genre’s current identity crisis and highlight areas for future research.
As a result of there being more cellular subscriptions than people, cellular providers have run o... more As a result of there being more cellular subscriptions than people, cellular providers have run out of potential customers. To combat this issue, cellular companies are regularly employing pricing strategies and tactics to attract new customers and grow their share in the market. However, these strategies and tactics come with risks that can have detrimental effects on individual cellular providers and the overall market.
This case study aims to: o Identify key players in the cellular phone industry o Suggest reasons why companies embrace price wars o Highlight alternative strategy methods o Recommend pricing tactics for Verizon to target customers
In this case study, Red Bull’s social media and mobile marketing strategies are highlighted and s... more In this case study, Red Bull’s social media and mobile marketing strategies are highlighted and summarized using a couple examples of recent, successful implementation. The case study also highlights how Red Bull has diversified itself and has become a prominent force in the digital media empire.
This case study analysis aims to: Analyze Red Bull’s social media and mobile market strategy Highlight and examine tactics and strategies employed Suggest alternative solutions Recommend a course of action for the future
Autotrader convinces car dealers, associations, and manufacturers to purchase advertising on its ... more Autotrader convinces car dealers, associations, and manufacturers to purchase advertising on its website by providing them with marketing research data. Autotrader’s marketing research provides sellers with quantitative and qualitative data that predicts consumer behavior and trends. By providing hard data, Autotrader aims to convince car dealers that their advertising dollars will be well spent.
This case study analysis aims to:
o Identify Autotrader’s marketing research objectives o Reveal how Autotrader’s research projects meet its objectives o Explain Autotrader’s data collection methods
In this case study, Alta Data Solutions is presented with an order from Burtell Incorporated that... more In this case study, Alta Data Solutions is presented with an order from Burtell Incorporated that will provide a multi-million dollar contract. This potential relationship will not only increase revenue and boost productivity levels for Alta Data--it will also make Burtell Inc. more competitive in the consumer products market. However, due to the difficult economic climate, Burtell Inc. has several reservations in regards to considering a new software service. Vicki Nguyen, the senior sales associate for Alta Data, has been tasked with preparing a presentation for Alta Data that she will present at a meeting with members from Burtell’s purchasing department.
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for addressing their diversity issues, I argue that these policy changes provide a false sense of racial reform, covertly protect white elites’ socioeconomic interests, and are susceptible to reversal. Utilizing critical race theory (CRT) scholarship, I examine the discourse and implications surrounding each policy’s implementation to unearth the Recording Academy’s underlying intentions for instituting the changes. My findings reveal that the Recording Academy deploys powerful yet subversive colorblind ideologies that obscure racial inequalities and the racially negligent nature of the policy changes. In sum, I recommend that the Recording Academy implement large-scale race-conscious measures to confront their diversity issues effectively and meaningfully.
This case study aims to:
o Identify key players in the cellular phone industry
o Suggest reasons why companies embrace price wars
o Highlight alternative strategy methods
o Recommend pricing tactics for Verizon to target customers
This case study analysis aims to:
Analyze Red Bull’s social media and mobile market strategy
Highlight and examine tactics and strategies employed
Suggest alternative solutions
Recommend a course of action for the future
This case study analysis aims to:
o Identify Autotrader’s marketing research objectives
o Reveal how Autotrader’s research projects meet its objectives
o Explain Autotrader’s data collection methods
for addressing their diversity issues, I argue that these policy changes provide a false sense of racial reform, covertly protect white elites’ socioeconomic interests, and are susceptible to reversal. Utilizing critical race theory (CRT) scholarship, I examine the discourse and implications surrounding each policy’s implementation to unearth the Recording Academy’s underlying intentions for instituting the changes. My findings reveal that the Recording Academy deploys powerful yet subversive colorblind ideologies that obscure racial inequalities and the racially negligent nature of the policy changes. In sum, I recommend that the Recording Academy implement large-scale race-conscious measures to confront their diversity issues effectively and meaningfully.
This case study aims to:
o Identify key players in the cellular phone industry
o Suggest reasons why companies embrace price wars
o Highlight alternative strategy methods
o Recommend pricing tactics for Verizon to target customers
This case study analysis aims to:
Analyze Red Bull’s social media and mobile market strategy
Highlight and examine tactics and strategies employed
Suggest alternative solutions
Recommend a course of action for the future
This case study analysis aims to:
o Identify Autotrader’s marketing research objectives
o Reveal how Autotrader’s research projects meet its objectives
o Explain Autotrader’s data collection methods