The Mirror (UK) is reporting that Jay and B had their first married folk fight. He dissed one of her songs during a performance and she stalked off pissed. Of course they kissed and made up later.
Miss NJ: And that’s today’s Jay-Z and Beyonce report. Tune in tomorrow when we report what color B’s morning sh*t was. Ridiculous that this is news.
– from NY Daily News
Are the celebrity media racist?
A top tabloid editor tells me that Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s wedding was played down by the weeklies because “African-Americans don’t sell covers.”
Of the big five celebrity glossies out midweek, only Us Weekly gave Beyoncé the top spot on the cover. Other magazines gave her second billing to the likes of Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Aniston.
“None of the magazines landed an exclusive on wedding pictures, which would have made the story bigger,” said one tabloid insider, justifying why Beyoncé was relegated to a small cover box on his magazine.
But even wedding photos make less money for black stars, says another source. “Eva Longoria can get $1 million for wedding photos, but without the expectation of cover sales, Beyoncé might have gotten as little as $250,000 if she had sold hers,” says a top editor.
Magazine publisher and black gossip pioneer Flo Anthony responds: “That sounds to me a very racist statement. Beyoncé is one of the biggest stars in the world, much bigger than Eva Longoria.”
Anthony publishes Black Noir for women, as well as Toy Box, a black parenting magazine with a celebrity focus. She said: “It is hard for African-Americans in magazines. Only a few people, like Will Smith and Halle Berry, are mainstream. Editors really still think that only blond hair and blue eyes sell magazines.”
As another tabloid source says: “We have a saying, ‘Only Oprah.’ Oprah is the only black celebrity big enough to put on our cover.”
But Us Weekly editor in chief Janice Min tells me: “Janet Jackson has been on our cover twice, for two of our best-selling issues we’ve ever had.”
Min is also the only non-Caucasian to helm a top celebrity magazine. She acknowledges there is a perception in her industry that black stars don’t sell covers, but adds: “Typically, you will hear that discussion among a group of all-white editors.”
Miss NJ: This is what I was saying the other day (see here). Jay-Z and Beyonce are not important to the majority of white America. That’s not A-list status. It’s actually not even A1-list status. They are clearly (and firmly) B-list celebs. If even that, because that Heidi chick from The Hills has no problem getting on a cover.
Jay and B got married. Is everybody happy now? Sheesh!
Miss NJ: I do not know why I had to do a post about something that can be found anywhere else on the ‘Net. But for those who thought I was off my game because I didn’t comment, here you go. I paid this no mind because they had enough hype and publicity without me. Also because I don’t really understand all the hoopla.
SandraRose.com (via the PanacheReport.com) has a post about the “mainstream” “urban” A-list. Both of those words bother me and I could write a whole post about code words, but I’ll save it for a better moment. Anyway, the “urban” A-list only has six people on it (you have to go to her site to see all the names), two of whom are Jay and B. Now I didn’t think they were “mainstream” A-list. But perhaps that’s because I view A-list as Brad and Angie, Julia Roberts, you know A-list. I really see Jay and B as like A1-list, if that. I based my view on the backlash Beyonce got from her SI cover and the confusion caused by Jay’s Budweiser commerical during Monday Night Football. If you know about either of those, then you know that most white people are not checking for them at all. They are popular within a certain (narrow) demographic. That’s not A-list.
BK Diva: Congratulations to the couple if it did indeed go down. What was interesting to me about that list and about Jay & B in particular is that they are A List as a couple. White magazines & hollywood could care less about them as individuals. So I guess they’ll be together forever!
– from NY Post
Jay-Z wants his own label, but can’t find a home for it. Jay-Z, who left his position as president of Def Jam to be an entrepreneur last year, is apparently asking “way too much,” an insider said. “He wants a label to give him $100 million for the Carter Music Group and provide for overhead, development and digital investment. It’s crazy. He wants the labels to basically be his venture capital fund – but unlike a venture cap, they won’t get 50 percent. This is not the ’90s anymore.” A rep for Jay-Z, who is branching out into hotels and bars, called this account “rumors.”
Miss NJ: I believe this story based on stuff I’ve heard from people I know who know. Recording studios are no longer personal piggy banks and the simple fact is Jay-Z has not proven himself a successful label head, in spite of the hype. His only successes at Def Jam were Ne-yo and Rihanna and they are moderate successes considering all the overhead Rihanna costs them. He did nothing with Chrisette Michelle’s album which was one of the best to drop this year. He failed to promote what was one of LL’s best albums in years. He recorded an album and took money from his own artists to spend on himself. I won’t give diddley-squat either.
Miss NJ: The reason you don’t see that many Jay-Z and Beyonce posts is that I’m not a big fan. I don’t actively hate (anymore) but they’re not really all that interesting to me. My fave hip-hop couple is Nelly and Ashanti, followed closely by Nas and Kelis. But all that is neither here nor there. What I’m really curious about is the shadow on Jay’s upper lip. I’ve never seen the hints of a moustache before. That might not be a bad look for him if he grew it in a little. Thoughts?
Miss NJ: Doesn’t Jay look like he’s just humoring Jason? While Jason looks like he’s so happy to hang out with the cool kids? Then again from what I hear, maybe Jay’s just holding his breath so he doesn’t get drunk off the alcohol fumes.
BK Diva: Jay is saying to himself “I can’t wait to trade your ass” Brooklyn stand up “King James” is on his way.
Playin' da Dozens 