We are closing out 2017, a year which has seen another shift in the musical landscape. This year has seen the rise of such acts as Daniel Ceasar, SZA, dvsn and H.E.R. in R&B. Fading are some of the established acts who were mainstays of the late 90's like Usher, Chrisette Michele & R. Kelly. Then there are those who hang-on and represent the R&B equivilant to so many Rock acts that roll on into infinit, like, Keith Sweat, Maxwell, Erykah Badu, Johnny Gill and Mary J. Blige. 

These established acts have shown that they've taken on time and are adaptible to new musical challenges. Even those with voices touched by angels (Ledisi, Tank & Chante Moore come to mind) are experimenting with moderen cadences and lyrical flow to remain current. I believe expanding your style is what music is all about, especially to the true, "artist," just as long as you don't totally abandon what your core fans expect from you.

I am personally happy in what I read, hear and experience in today's R&B. Althouh there are many who are slow to believe it, audiences are growing, especially for "underground" independent acts. Those acts who don't get regular air-play on radio aren't waiting for non-believers to valadate them. They get their work out to the masses via streamming services, word-of-mouth and alternitive methods. In fact, many of the musicians mentioned earlier in this piece have left their corporate situation to start their own labels and control their own careers. 

This is what I see in the shift that just started to grow recently and has come into full bloom in 2017. Let me know your thoughts!