Feminist Perspectives on music magazines

On the cover of the highly successful BILLBOARD magazine we have one of the most influential and respected musicians of the century, Sade. She's photographed beautifully and modest-fully as she is no where near posing in a suggestive state or even wearing suggestive clothing. But then again, for an artist of her status - she really doesn't need to, and I could imagine she would be quite offended if that was Billboard's plan for her. There is no sense of subjugation, the image doesn't seem to suggest that Sade is being forced to do anything that makes her uncomfortable or come across as oppressive in any way. Sade is a musician of incredible talent and I believe this is all the image was trying to imply. As a woman her personal life is kept off the front cover of Billboard magazine. Is she married? Does she have children? The cover doesn't let us know - it's important for magazines like this to stay away from gender stereotypes as all that excess information isn't valuable to the content of the magazine itself. If Billboard had chosen to photograph Sade in a kitchen, apron tied and two children at her feet - it may be taken in an offensive light not to mention it would have absolutely no correlation with the theme of the magazine itself. Now, pictures of famous chefs in the kitchen shown on the front of lifestyle magazines isn't taken as offensive simple because that is the nature of the magazine's content. This front cover may come across as a breath of fresh air to some readers as with musicians like Rihanna, and Miley Cyrus who enjoy being photographed wearing next to nothing there's finally a female on the cover fully clothed and looking very subtle. It may be quite liberating to some people as well as Sade hasn't become a Madonna on us - your talent should ultimately make up who you are, not how much flesh you're showing or the shade of your lipstick.