Red Bull, Tsugi, and the concert production agency Super! collaborated on a survey, with Sacem as a partner, to delve into the current impact of urban music. Unveiled during MaMA in Paris on October 14 and featured in Tsugi magazine, the study sheds light on the dominant presence of rap and other urban genres in the French music landscape. According to the survey, a staggering 78% of 14-24 year-olds listen to French urban music, leading to significant album sales and streaming success.
In 2020, eleven urban artists monopolized the top 20 best-selling records, and streaming platforms like Deezer, YouTube, Apple Music, and Spotify witnessed an overwhelming presence of rap songs in their top charts. The survey also highlights a significant surge in the number of Sacem members and the distribution amounts under the urban category between 2009 and 2019.
Industry professionals, including Narjes Bahhar from Deezer, Matthew Tessier from Warner Chappell, Eric Bellamy from Yuma Productions, and Oumar Samake from SPKTAQLR and Golden Eye Music, provided valuable insights for the study.
Frederic added, “Rap continues to be the most listened-to music in France, or second, just behind pop, depending on the counting methods. It inevitably marks festival line-ups throughout the year.” This project aims to capture the emotional depth and societal commentary inherent in urban music, emphasizing a blend of spoken-word lyrics, humor, and irony.
The survey, coupled with expert commentary, offers a comprehensive understanding of the booming urban music scene in France, reflecting its significant cultural and commercial impact.