Appropriation versus inspiration and the original “Hound Dog”

Summary

Marketplace Morning Report: Detailed Summary of "Appropriation versus Inspiration and the Original 'Hound Dog'"

Release Date: February 5, 2025
Host: David Brancaccio
Publisher: Marketplace

The February 5, 2025 episode of Marketplace Morning Report delves into two significant topics: the U.S. Postal Service's recent suspension of package deliveries from China amidst escalating trade tensions, and a deep dive into the cultural and economic implications of musical appropriation, highlighted by the history of the iconic song "Hound Dog." Hosted by David Brancaccio, the episode features insightful discussions with Marketplace’s Nova Safo and author Preston Lauterbach.

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U.S. Postal Service Halts Package Deliveries from China

Trade Tensions and Immediate Impacts

The episode opens with David Brancaccio addressing the repercussions of President Trump's intensified pressure on China. Specifically, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has halted the shipment of online shopping packages from Chinese e-commerce giants such as Temu and Shein. This suspension is a direct response to Trump's new tariffs on Chinese goods and the removal of the de minimis exemption, which previously allowed low-value shipments to enter the U.S. without additional tariffs.

Explaining the De Minimis Exemption

Nova Safo provides a detailed explanation of the de minimis exemption:

"The de minimis exception is a big reason why those online outlets can sell stuff for dirt cheap prices. It allows shipments valued at less than $800 to sail through into the US without tariffs." ([00:38])

She elaborates that the removal of this exemption means that shipments from China and Hong Kong are now subject to tariffs, leading USPS to temporarily suspend international package acceptance from these regions:

"The Postal Service says it is temporarily suspending international package acceptance from China and Hong Kong. No timeline. The notice, which was only two sentences, just says the suspension is until further notice." ([00:38])

Impact on American Consumers

David Brancaccio questions the ramifications for American consumers, prompting Nova to discuss potential disruptions:

"In the immediate term, you can likely expect disruptions if you've got packages on the way. But it's hard to say what the impact will ultimately be because of several factors." ([01:20])

Nova highlights that companies like Shein and Temu are adapting by building warehouses in the U.S. to mitigate the impact of tariff changes. However, she warns that:

"These recent disruptions could mean that prices could rise. Perhaps the days of the $10 shopping bag handbag, David, are near an end." ([01:20])

Long-Term Economic Considerations

The discussion underscores the broader economic implications, suggesting that sustained trade tensions could lead to higher consumer prices and a shift in global supply chain strategies.

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Appropriation vs. Inspiration: The Legacy of "Hound Dog"

Introduction to the Cultural Debate

Transitioning from economic news, David Brancaccio introduces a cultural segment focusing on the history of the song "Hound Dog," contrasting Elvis Presley’s famous rendition with the original performance by Big Mama Thornton. This segment features Preston Lauterbach, author of Before Elvis: The African American Musicians Who Made the King, who provides historical context and analyzes the dynamics of cultural appropriation in the music industry.

The Origins of "Hound Dog"

Preston Lauterbach emphasizes the widespread recognition of "Hound Dog," noting that:

"Most people, I would say probably 90% of those people identify with Elvis's version." ([03:25])

Despite Elvis’s version becoming a global hit, the original by Big Mama Thornton, recorded in 1953, had significant success:

"She was the recording artist. So if you take that one 78 RPM record that was issued in 1953... for each one of those sold, she was entitled to the grand sum of a half of a penny per her arrangement with her." ([05:06])

Economic Disparities and Artist Recognition

The conversation sheds light on the financial disparities between original Black artists and those who covered their work. Big Mama Thornton's version of "Hound Dog" sold between half a million to two million copies, yet she received minimal financial benefit:

"Big Mama Thornton speaking out got the discussion about appropriation into the wider culture. I mean, had some benefits for her." ([05:33])

Preston discusses the archaic practices of the music industry, where artists often relinquished publishing rights, leading to substantial profits for publishers and majority shares for performers:

"The publisher was the manufacturer of the product and therefore entitled to the first cash flow that came in." ([05:45])

Cultural Impact and Legacy

David and Preston reflect on the lasting influence of Black musicians on mainstream culture, highlighting how artists like Big Mama Thornton laid the groundwork for future performers:

"She was a powerful vocalist and so gifted, transmitting emotion, you know, through the little subtleties and inflections of a vocal." ([04:13])

Preston connects this legacy to other iconic performances, such as Janis Joplin’s "Ball and Chain," illustrating the ongoing dialogue between original Black artistry and its appropriation by white artists.

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Conclusion

The episode effectively weaves together pressing economic issues and profound cultural discussions, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of both contemporary trade dynamics and the historical underpinnings of cultural appropriation in music. By featuring expert insights and direct quotes, Marketplace Morning Report provides a nuanced exploration of how policy decisions and cultural practices intersect and impact everyday lives.

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Notable Quotes:

• Nova Safo ([00:38]): "The de minimis exception is a big reason why those online outlets can sell stuff for dirt cheap prices."
• David Brancaccio ([01:55]): "The days of the $10 shopping bag handbag, David, are near an end."
• Preston Lauterbach ([03:25]): "Most people... identify with Elvis's version."
• Preston Lauterbach ([05:06]): "Big Mama Thornton... was entitled to the grand sum of a half of a penny per her arrangement with her."
• Preston Lauterbach ([05:45]): "The publisher was the manufacturer of the product and therefore entitled to the first cash flow that came in."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions of the episode, providing valuable information to both regular listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[David Brancaccio]

As President Trump pressures China, the US Postal Service will for now stop shipping many online shopping packages from China. I'm David Brancaccio in Los Angeles. Shoppers waiting for their purchases from Temu, Shein and other Chinese e commerce outlets may have a weight on their hands. That's after the U.S. postal Service said it's suspending package deliveries from that country. The move comes a day after President Trump applied new tariffs on Chinese goods and removed what could soon become a big phrase in the culture, the de minimis exemption from Chinese shipments. Marketplace's NovaSafo is here to explain.

[Nova Safo]

Yeah, David, I'm glad you had to pronounce that. The de minimis exception is a big reason why those online outlets can sell stuff for dirt cheap prices. It allows shipments valued at less than $800 to sail through into the US without tariffs. So Temu, Sheehan and others would just ship stuff over directly from China after people purchase them online, keeping their costs down. Well, President Trump got rid of the exemption for Chinese imports. Now the Postal Service says it is temporari suspending international package acceptance from China and Hong Kong. No timeline. The notice, which was only two sentences, David just says the suspension is until further notice.

[David Brancaccio]

Now we embrace the practical on this program. Nova. What does this mean for Americans who order from these sites?

[Nova Safo]

Well, in the immediate term, you can likely expect disruptions if you've got packages on the way. But it's hard to say what the impact will ultimately be because of several factors. One, Shein, Temu and others, including sellers on Amazon. David can also ship via other partial services. Also, the Chinese companies have already been working to reduce their reliance on the de minimis exception. For example, they've built out warehouses in the US So they can build bulk ship through regular channels. All these things though, and the recent disruptions could mean that prices could rise. Perhaps the days of the $10 shopping bag handbag, David, are near an end.

[David Brancaccio]

Of course I can pronounce de minimis Nova. I took Latin. Novasafo. Thank you. Stock in the big data analytics company Palantir rose a dramatic 24% yesterday after its CEO briefed investors that changes brought by cost cutters led by Donald Trump's advisor Elon Musk could bring Palantir lots of new government business. Palantir was co founded by Silicon Valley tycoon Peter Thiel, with whom Musk has had a sometimes friend, sometimes enemy business relationship that has spanned now to inspiration versus appropriation. Key to Black History Month. Let's look at a big Elvis Presley hit and the performance by a black artist that preceded it. These are themes from a new book called Before Elvis, the African American Musicians who Made the King. The author, Preston Lauterbach joins us. Welcome.

[Preston Lauterbach]

Thank you.

[David Brancaccio]

I had to throw away all my LPs some years ago before a move. I only have 25 of the dearest ones. And here's Big Mama Thornton right here in this pile. She's Hound Dog, years before Elvis. Hound Dog.

[Preston Lauterbach]

Everybody knows that song Hound Dog, right? I mean, I think that's as well known the world over as any piece of music. Most people, I would say probably 90% of those people identify with Elvis's version.

[Nova Safo]

You ain't nothing but a hound all the time. You ain't.

[Preston Lauterbach]

Big Mama. Cut it. Three years before Elvis is one of those kind of, oh, interesting moments for a lot of people.

[David Brancaccio]

Yeah. I mean, it had, I would say, more edge. Preston, what does everybody say? Force in nature. I mean, that's usually the phrase that gets attached to Big Mama Thornton.

[Preston Lauterbach]

Such a powerful vocalist and so gifted, transmitting emotion, you know, through the little subtleties and inflections of a vocal. And I think that that's something that Elvis really responded to.

[David Brancaccio]

Now, her version, recorded in 1953, did sell. I mean, I saw one figure, about a half million copies. But she would continue to say she didn't make much money off that.

[Preston Lauterbach]

Well, look, the estimates on those sales vary. If you ask her record company, it sold 500,000. If you ask Big Mama Thornton, it sold 2 million. So the record companies were in the habit of depressing some of their totals, you know, for their own financial reasons.

[David Brancaccio]

Now, Big Mama Thornton remained grumpy her whole life about the amount of money someone like Elvis made off of Ain't Nothing But a Hound Dog and what she made on her first version.

[Preston Lauterbach]

Big Mama was not the songwriter on Hound Dog. She was not the copyright holder or the publishing rights holder. She was the recording artist. So if you take that one 78 RPM record that was issued in 1953, one of which was in Elvis's personal collection, I might add, for each one of those sold, she was entitled to the grand sum of a half of a penny per her arrangement with her.

[David Brancaccio]

Record company, Big Mama Thornton speaking out got the discussion about appropriation into the wider culture. I mean, had some benefits for her. When Janis Joplin does Ball and Chain, right? Some of that goes back to her.

[Preston Lauterbach]

Well, that's where the ownership of the material comes in and where the cash flow begins. And so it dates back to this really archaic way the music business operated during Sheet Music Publishing. The publisher was the manufacturer of the product and therefore entitled to the first cash flow that came in. Well, the same thing was true of records. And so to bounce back to ball and chain a little bit, she assigned the publishing to this company because it was, quote, unquote, standard procedure, which all you young musicians out there really need.

[David Brancaccio]

Preston Lauterbach's new book is called Before Elvis the African American Musicians who made the king. Mr. Lauterbach, thank you.

[Preston Lauterbach]

It has been my pleasure.

[David Brancaccio]

Our producers are James Graham, Naomi Rainey, Nick Perez, Ariana Rosas, Alex Schroeder and Erica Soderstrom. Our senior producer is Meredith Garrettson Morby in Los Angeles. I'm David Bronkac. It's the MARKETPLACE morning report from apm, American Public Media.