Neshia's Answer

The top three things affecting our industry today are consumerism, easy access to exposure, and images of beauty.

Consumerism is affecting our industry because it seems that the only projects getting produced are those that are thought to cater to the consumer. The sponsors won't by ad space on a project that their customers don't like. So, producers and writers are forced to only move forward with projects that the consumers want to see. Anyone whose project is a little too far left or right of center might have a more difficult time getting their project produced.

With the advent of social networking websites like You Tube; easy access to exposure is definitely affecting our industry. The fact that anyone can upload a video and become a celebrity is making success more difficult for the one's that have been working hard and paying their dues. A Shakespearean trained actor might have to resort to putting water balloons in his pants on You Tube just to get attention. Then he will have to spend the next 10 years trying to undo that image in order to be taken seriously. But that's a different topic.

'Images of beauty,' is a tired topic but, I bring it up anyway because it is affecting our industry. Back in the '80s Sir Mix-a-Lot performed, "I Like Big Butts." That song was popular because it was shocking. It was the 80's and people were tying sweaters around the waists to hide their hips and butts. One of the opening lines of the song was, "Oh my Gawd Becky, just look at her butt. She looks like one of those rap guys girlfriends." And that was the coldest put-down. Well, fast-forward to the 2000's and thanks to Ms. Lopez, Ms. Knowles and Ms. Kardashian big butts are in. Women are actually paying money to get their butts to look large. Today I was at a suburban mall and I saw mannequins with big butts in the window of a regular (not plus-size) store. Imagine that.

I'm not saying that consumerism, easy access to exposure, and changing images of beauty is a bad thing. I actually think they are good. They show that our industry is responding to the needs of the people. As for consumerism; entertainment is not education. Consumers are not necessarily going to be entertained by something they don't want. We could take a gamble and throw something up to see what happens? But, why gamble? Just give them what they want and you will stay in business. It's their money. They will buy what they want. As for the easy access; I love it. It allows the 'little guy' to have a shot at the brass ring. Even though the average person on You Tube might not ever become famous; he might experience an inner satisfaction when he returns from a hard day's work at the local Wal-Mart to see that 10 more people saw his video that day while he was out. And as for the 'images of beauty' I REALLY love it. The fact that images of beauty in our industry are changing means that someone like me has a chance to fulfill my destiny as a radio and television host.