The Search

106 & Park attracts a lot of attention from their participants (audience) who are influenced to produce a substantial network of printed and online fanzines to keep the show alive. Such fans produce stories usually distributed to other readers via online discussion forums just as I’m doing. The studies of fans of the popular media, show’s that productive activities challenge the traditional gender roles. For example, websites such as “FanPop” , “FanPageList.com”, and "Facebook.com” ; illustrates the audiences reaction to the media.

   In the show's 12 year history, for every two or three years, 106 & Park gives the show a somewhat new refreshing twist by hiring new hosts. In process of finding a new host, they hold a contest called “The Search”. This illustrates advertisement of the show being reproduced by the consumers. The Search is an video audition of skill and essence within a two month period time to be discovered. The key is personality.        Those who are auditioning, has to make a video acting as their introducing a favorite video on the show’s countdown; explain to the world who will be watching your video why you should be the next host of 106 & Park; then finally tune in to the Top 10 Live show to see if your video makes the show. The contestants have the two month course to promote themselves via Youtube or etc to hopefully be scouted by 106 & Park. During the last week of the two month audition, 106 & Park narrows it down to seven finalists whom the consumers then vote for.

Lift Every Voice

Everyone has that American dream of being on the big screen. Well, 106 & Park has a new portion of the show that could make your wish into reality. Encouraging the show’s audience and contestants to be a part of the public sphere, by bringing together people who love music of all genres a chance to compete for the spotlight. Urging participation of a common identity in a broader public culture.

Every Wednesday during 106 & Park’s segment from 6 - 8pm, three artists or groups compete before a live studio audience.

This particular segment of the show (Wild Out Wednesday) was added to BET’s popular video countdown show 106 & Park’s weekly schedule in 2011 to give vocal groups, solo artists and dancers between the ages of eighteen and twenty-eight, the amazing opportunity to reach bigger heights. The competitions are divided each week by genre, so week-by-week groups or artists compete in separate competitions. The audience at home chooses the weekly winners and the best of the best come back for the summer all-star series. Relating to Haberma’s public sphere; “private individuals (genre competitors) would come together in a shared space and public opinion would be developed through discussion of ideas, values and events”. pg.174

Way Of Looking At Things

In the generation of 2013, besides African Americans, there’s plenty of ethnic groups who like the genres such as Rap. As an American Hip Hop and R&B music video show set up in a countdown format, the show does provide music from limited cultures. A lot of people think that 106 & Park specifically targets African American’s, however that category is way more diverse than just one race. The show’s top artists such as Kanye West, Lil Wayne and Flo-Rida are hip-hop artist but yet they still make music for many ethnicity interests. To show an example, African American musician Kanye West is considered a hip-hop artist. In 2008 he started making music in a way to appeal a broader audience such as releasing a album, 808s & Heartbreak. From then on, Kanye West changed the stereotype of rap artist having a somewhat thug image to more of a sophisticated style.  

Above are photos of Kanye West and Jay-Z upcoming tours that are around the world. This goes to show that hip hop music isn’t just for one range of audience but unlike the ideology, many races other than African Americans are interested and influenced by hip-hop music.

As I stated above, just from the “ideal” of rap artist having a thug trait, some people are uninterested in the show because it displays it. For instance, surveys show there’s a population of black people who don't support 106 & Park just because of the fact that its aired on BET (Black Entertainment Television). The "dominant ideologies" of 106 & Park are basically stereo types. Although the show is showcased and based around African American individuals, there’s a wide range of audience

The Genre

   In the 80’s, the world of film and radio came together to hit the American tv. We now know that station as MTV (Music Television). MTV limited specific genres of music videos, specifically focusing on pop/rock music videos. As you know from the last post, 106 & Park, the primary network music video show, is aired on BET. In contrast to MTV, BET (Black Entertainment Television) was created in attempt replace MTV’s failure to play african american music videos during the early years of its launch. This is what establishes 106 & Park’s genre. In the case of the research done, genre becomes important because it can be linked to the demographics of individuals who consume certain genres of music. It would be naïve to assume that those who listened to rap in the 1980s would have turned to MTV to watch videos, when MTV was known for having very few or no Black musicians.

    5 days a week, 106 & Park show the most popular urban/hip-hop videos. Designed to prove the advertisers who felt that “black videos” would not reach a wide enough audience wrong.

   With 75% of African-American viewers ages 18 through 24, 106 & Park attempts to close the rift that existed between black music videos and the availability of these music videos to its target audience. The target audience for 106 & Park is teenagers and young adults who are interested in popular music. The airs before 9pm so viewers know that the show will not involve adult themes. This ties in with the target audience as the language they use will be suitable for some younger viewers who may tune in to watch the show. 106 & Park goes to show that certain genres are not only linked to different demographics but they are also linked to different cultures.

As BET’s networks rated #1, “106 and Park” is an interactive music video show aired in television five days a week. Similar to MTV Jams, 106 and Park is a mix of Hip-Hop, Pop, and R&B music video show which is set up in a countdown format. With the participation of the audience, unlike other tv shows, 106 and Park allows fans to vote for the videos they want to be aired on the countdown. With multiple mediums synced into one, you’re able to vote through the show’s website online, via text message, Twitter, Facebook, or even through the official 106 and Park application for ipods and etc. In this way, 106 and Park creates a global village. Of the many ways to vote, the 106 and Park application shows a convergence of technology to provide multiple ways for the audience to share their opinion of which videos should be placed on the countdown and also mobility for fans to catch up on previous episodes.
The show relates to Marshall McLuhan’s concept. The idea of voting for what videos make the countdown is a cool medium, dealing with high participation from the audience and fans. McLuhan quotes: “ extending the capacity for instant global communication, the show mediums (such as the app, tv, and internet) are bringing about the convergence of distinct forms of communication and precipitating a shift in relationship between the media producers and audience”. Not only do fans of the artists have control of the decision making for the countdown created, but the show’s audience too, for what they want to see.