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Talented black and Asian singers are being stifled by "pop-obsessed" British music industry executives, according to a London-born star who is topping American charts.
Jay Sean - real name Kamaljit Jhooti - is number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart with his single Down and is tipped to claim the top spot tomorrow after shooting to number one in radio and TV airplay charts.
US critics hailed the R&B hit, featuring Grammy award-winning rapper Lil' Wayne, as one of the "anthems of the summer" and Jay Sean has become a household name.
But the 28-year-old from Hounslow said his success was only possible after moving to New York and he criticised British music bosses for treating urban artists as niche products.
He said: "In England the industry is set up more for straight-up pop - manufactured pretty girl bands and things like that - anything else is a niche.
"They [Americans] are not obsessed with your background like in England. They place less emphasis on those things - If people ask, I explain my background proudly, but ultimately I want to be about the music."
He also believes the British music industry cares too much about promoting artists in "specialised slots".
"There's too much over-thinking by the marketing people in the UK music industry which is sad as it should be your music that is the most important thing. Even on the radio it is all specialist shows, whereas here they just put everything together more."
Jay Sean signed to US hip hop label Cash Money records last year - three years after a split with Virgin Records. He follows several other British urban artists who have found fame in America after moderate success in Britain.
Following the success of Down in the US and another single with Cash Money artist Birdman called Written On Her, Jay Sean has been signed by Island Records in London.
He said: "It's been an amazing couple of months. When you have a hit song out here it's like a hurricane. It will be weird to come back - I've been in New York for nearly a year but I feel that I am in control of my career now."
Reader views (7)
Jake,New York
The music industry in this country died a good twenty years ago with the start of the Nineties.No imagination and no musicians left.Different in your country.You still have bands that can actually play an instrument.
I was knocking the UK not the USA.
- Steve, London
The US is R&B/hip hop obsessed? Not really. The songs on the Top 40 and Hot 100 here are a mix of different genres with 'urban' songs being a minority.
And Steve, why surprised by his getting a break? It might be because people here don't see singers like Jay as "those people." And I find "rubbish" comments amusing considering the songs that top the UK charts. Crazy Frog?!
- Jake, New York
Interesting take on the state of the British Music Industry.... considering everytime I go to the US, the only music I hear on the radio (apart from the specialist radio stations) is R&B..... not muc else... maybe the odd Britney song.
So, it's exactly the same but in reverse...
- Paul, London, UK
Yes we're pop obsessed over here and there are hundreds of rubbish releases every year.
And the USA is randb/hiphop obsessed, and there are thousands of rubbish releases every year.
Two wrongs don't make a right.
- Ted, London UK
What a load of rubbish. England has been cutting edge in the music industry for decades and the radio stations for many years favoured urban / R&b music.
- Brandon Thomas, SW7
I've heard the musak these people listen to.Total rubbish.I'm surprised the niave Americans give them a break.
- Steve, London
Sorrowfully the music industry is all about cash money. In Britain Jay Sean has a big following among British Asians that could have helped boost him in the charts and sales ratings. Trouble is there's big demand too for free and illegal downloads.
- Sanjay, London
