And, i'm that guy who always has the different opinion around here.
When did they do that? Billboard eliminated the R&B chart for a few months in 1964 because they figured there was too much of an overlap of songs. They realized they were wrong and restored it. The name changed over the years to accommodate changing the cultural identities and radio. Labels like "Black", "Soul", "R&B", "urban", and even "race", have all been used.
Here is what I was referring to:
Gap in the chart[edit]
From November 30, 1963 to January 23, 1965 there was no Billboard R&B singles charts. Some publications have used Cash Box magazine's stats in their place. No specific reason has ever been given as to why Billboard ceased releasing R&B charts, but the prevailing wisdom is that the chart methodology used was being questioned, since more and more Caucasian acts were reaching number-one on the R&B chart. According to researcher Joel Whitburn, "there was so much crossover of titles between the R&B and pop singles [[Hot 100) charts that Billboard considered the charts to be too similar. This does not mean that R&B artists stopped turning out hits. After all, it was during this 14-month period that Motown established itself as an R&B institution."[1]
They were determined by the type of radio stations, and the location of the record stores. The system was/is somewhat inaccurate.
Honestly, I hate labels! I hate pigeonholing music based on the subjectivity some unknown people who may not share my views. What I consider "R&B" may not be quite the same as what you consider "R&B". Labels encourage segregation of the music and the people. Labels create musical snobbishness.
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