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

It is difficult to define what makes black music 'black', and what makes white music 'white'. Both have their stereotypes, however there have been artists which break the racial mould, like Eminem, a very successful white rapper.

According to Hatch & Milward, "pop music has always depended upon the interaction between white and black traditions". This can be seen to be true, as much of popular music can be traced back to having black origins. Arguably the greatest performer of all time, Elvis Presley, was influence by gospel music, which undoubtedly shaped him into the "white man who had the Negro sound and the Negro feel".

Blackness and whiteness may have had more of an effect as a concept in the study of popular music decades ago when race may have created a problem in music consumption. However this could also be disproved when looking at Marnie Smith's 'Crazy Blues', which was promoted openly as being by a black artist in 1920 and exceeded all expectation by becoming the first million selling single.

Can popular music achieve genuine political change?

If "music has symbolic force" as John Street once described, then surely it would be more than possible for popular music to influence and maybe even cause political change. Street later goes on to say that "pop becomes the expression of it's political and social context." What can be assumed from this is that popular music can be influenced by politics and socio-cultural atmosphere of the time, so it cannot be ruled out that this could be turned on it's head and the pop music actually influences politics etc.

However Shuker suggests that pop music can be a "means of raising both consciousness about, and funds for, political causes."

An example of an unsuccessful political pop music message is that of Red Wedge, formed in 1985. They used music to try and promote the Labour party, however they were unsuccessful. 

It is hard to measure how much music actually influences political opinions of people, however, with examples such as Live Aid to look back on, we can be pretty sure that it can go towards change.