Despite published
reports, MTV’s Network Logo – a channel that targets the gay community,
has been able to acquire music licensing from Def Jam for their new TV show “Noah’s
Arc” and other future projects.
Logo responded to allegations that the channel had been denied
use of Def Jam music because the label did not want to be associated with gay
programming.
It was reported that the MTV Network was trying to clear music
from Kanye West for "Noah’s Arc," a comedy-drama about a gay black
screenwriter and his friends in Santa Monica trying to carve out livings in
the movie business.
In response to the published reports, Logo issued the following
statement: "The issue of licensing Kanye West’s music for Noah’s Arc was
a misunderstanding, and we have in fact been able to acquire music from Island
Def Jam for this show. We are huge fans and supporters of Kanye West, and we
look forward to working with the Island Def Jam Music Group on Noah’s Arc and
other future projects."
The statement comes after a storm of controversy surrounding
the comments West made on his MTV special “All Eyes On Kanye West”
earlier this year.
During the interview, Kanye discussed with MTV’s Sway
how he felt homophobia was viewed in the music industry.
"When I was in high school I got called ‘fag’ a lot because
of the way I walked and other little things," explained West. "And
what happened was, it made me kinda homophobic, cause it’s like I would go back
and question myself, my own feelings."
West went on to reveal that after realizing his cousin was gay.
The experience proved to be a turning point in his life.
“It was kinda of like a turning point when I was like,
‘Yo, this is my cousin. I love him and I’ve been discriminating against gays.’
Not just in Hip-Hop. Not just Hip-Hop, but America just discriminates,"
West said. "And I wanna just get on TV and tell my rappers, tell my friends,
‘Yo, stop it."
Logo is the latest
cable television channel aimed at gays and lesbians, whose annual buying power
this year is estimated at more than $600 billion, according to Witeck-Combs
Communications, a Washington, D.C. marketing firm specializing in the gay marketplace.
