Troubles for playlists, No Limit

Those who listen to pop stations are fed up with what gets on the playlist nowadays. Whenever Creed, Everclear and Baha Men come on, most of the sensible listeners immediately search for the "seek" button. Although the new singles of Samantha Mumba and Debelah Morgan are infectious, it's unlikely anyone can stand them after the tireless heavy-rotation airplay they get all day everyday. As a result, songs that are more deserving of airtime never make it onto the playlist and end up sitting on the stations' shelves gathering dust. \nWhile teen pop still dominates the music industry, it's surprising that Spice Girls' new single "Holler" is getting so little airtime. After all, the group is responsible for single-handedly putting pop music back onto the American music map. After a two years hiatus, the group has returned with a mature and sleek new track. Despite the group's multi-platinum achievements in the past, its addictive new single is completely ignored by stations and MTV. \nSince we're on the subject of pop music, there are a few songs out there worthy of the attention newcomers Mumba and Morgan have gotten. 3LW's red hot single "No More (Baby I'm a Do Right)," a sweet, catchy track reminiscent of the sound of a teenage TLC, is yet to catch on across the country. Robbie Williams' mesmerizing new single "Rock DJ" is also receiving little attention, although it deserves some.\nA number of R&B songs with strong crossover potentials are strangely absent from both pop and urban radio station playlists. With captivating lyrics and a simple melody, it's mind-boggling that Sparkle's new track "It's a Fact" isn't getting a lot of airplay. Dave Hollister's beautiful and affecting new single "One Woman Man" is pretty much suffering the same unfortunate fate. \nWith radio stations' intolerable programming and the gradual decrease of music programs on MTV and BET, the only way to listen to a variety of new songs is by going to the Internet. If services such as Napster start charging royalties, where can the consumers go to sample new music before spending $12.99 on a new CD?\nThe limit of No Limit\nWith platinum-selling artists Mystikal and Snoop Dogg both leaving the label, it's difficult for fans not to worry about the fate of the once glorious empire that is No Limit Records. Although the new releases of 504 Boyz, C-Murder and Silkk the Shocker are doing reasonably well on the charts, the label's boss Master P seems to be falling faster and harder than Puff Daddy.\nThe pathetically cheap videos by No Limit soldiers such as 504 Boyz and Silkk the Shocker indicate the label is really in trouble. Yet Master P and company are still stubbornly flashing their cars and jewelry in their videos. We all know that diamond-studded tank in the background of Silkk's video "He Did That" is fake, so why are they still flossing? The Cash Money camp has better made videos than the No Limit camp. Trick Daddy, Trina and Nelly can afford slick looking videos. Even ex-No Limit soldier Mystikal can afford to make a pretty fancy Little X-directed new video. Maybe Master P just needs to stop fronting. Busta Rhymes rarely brags about the platinum wrists or the platinum grills, yet he always makes the most expensive and inventive videos. If Master P has the dollars, he needs to hire Hype Williams to make a real video.