Dionne Warwick shares thoughts on ‘youth-oriented’ music industry

Dionne Warwick has shared her thoughts on the “youth-oriented” music industry.

The 83-year-old singer, who rose to fame in the 1960s, said that she believes talent is not the priority for today’s pop and R&B stars.

Dionne told Us Weekly in a new interview that younger generations of artists “feel that they invented show business”.

“It’s a youth-oriented industry today – which doesn’t surprise me because when I was coming through, it was a youth-oriented industry,” she stated. “I find it quite interesting that talent is not the precedence. It’s how little you can wear, how much you can shake your body, how different you have chosen to look. It’s another industry altogether.”

Last year, the Do You Know the Way to San Jose hitmaker learned that her 1963 hit Walk on By had been sampled by rapper Doja Cat on her 2023 track Paint The Town Red.

“I said, ‘Doja who?'” Dionne told the outlet with a laugh. “I don’t listen to radio, because there’s nothing on that I want to hear.”

Elsewhere in the interview, Dionne revealed younger artists who she admires.

“There are a few artists that I find quite entertaining. Some of the things that Justin Bieber has done are very inspiring,” she shared. “Justin Timberlake, he’s a real artist. He sings his little behind off.”

The music icon continued, “Beyoncé’s growth has been just tremendous. I’m very proud of her. Alicia Keys, she’s very, very talented and very positive”