Realism Of The Authentic Girls Has Appeal To Teens

Benjamin Nugent profiled the success of ‘The Authentic Girls’, a trio of women who write their own songs and play their own instruments including Vanessa Carlton, Avril Lavigne, and Michelle Branch. A&M Records president Ron Fair commented on the reasons behind their success saying, “The same kids who two years ago were buying *NSYNC and Christina Aguilera records are responding to styles of music that are more song- and artist-driven. They’re two years older, and the realism of singers singing their own songs has a lot of appeal. They haven’t heard that music sung by their peers before.” Meanwhile, Branch took a shot at Aguilera and Spears commenting, “The biggest thing I hear a lot from kids who come to my shows is, ‘Oh, it’s so nice to see somebody with their clothes on.’” Read more.