Ne-Yo has taken a swipe at modern day popstars like Lady GaGa, claiming he doesn't believe they will stand the test of time. The Let Me Love You singer - who was recently named Senior Vice President of A&R at Motown Records - has said that current artists like GaGa have not got what it takes to be musical icons.
Ne-Yo is quoted by The Daily Star as saying: "Who was the last real icon to come out of the music industry?
"Everybody thought it was going to be Lady GaGa, but where is she right now, what's going on with her? "Not to take anything away from her because she's ridiculously talented, but artists who stand the test of time - you just don't see those any more."
He continued: "Motown wants to breathe fresh air into R&B, but Motown was not always cutting-edge, it was soulful but good pop music too. "They were always at the top of the charts in the '60s, and today the lines are getting blurred again with R&B artists doing dance and pop acts doing R&B." The Closer hitmaker added: "I feel now it's just about good music again. Motown needs to stand for quality music, period."
Ne-Yo also hit the headlines this week after he stated that controversial X Factor hopeful Rylan Clark will "sell records", adding: "He's going to come out with that dance record that's going to annoy the hell out of some people but others will love it. "I don't know about featuring on one of his singles but I'd definitely write one for him."
UPDATE:
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