Are Blackness and Whiteness useful concepts in the study of popular music?

In the early 20th century, black and white music had more relevance than it does today. Labels such as Okeh created music especially for black people branded 'Race Records'. Although this music was marketed towards black people it is likely that many white people purchased this music.

Some music has been more widely associated to a particular race, for example Gospel. This is often due to culture, religion or class rather than race.

John Tagg said the idea that black and white music exists is ideological, not only does the implied dictiology pre-ordain certain sets of feeling and behavior for one race and deny then to the other, it also turns overriding question of class into a matter of race (1989).

Overall, I don't believe that blackness and whiteness are useful in the study of popular music.