Analysis
Is Diana Ross given greater media attention compared to the Supremes during her time as lead signer and after when she pursued an individual career?
The Supremes (https://www.gettyimages.com/collaboration/boards/QI1e5QTi-Ei5VVMVzWySuA).
Evening Standard (https://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?assettype=image&family=editorial&photographer=Evening%20Standard&sort=best#license).
CC-BY-NC
Based on the selected articles and evidence from The Los Angeles Sentinel, The Carolina Times, and The New York Amsterdam. it is evident Diana Ross is given a significant amount of media attention. The Supremes as a group, however, are not overshadowed by Ross. Evidence from these newspaper show a number of articles that discuss the Supremes contribution to the Motown sound.
Once Diana Ross left the group, her media attention did appear to increase. It is not uncommon, however, to see artists receive media attention when making the choice to pursue individual careers. This can be seen in the January 1976 issue of The Los Angeles Sentinel where Ross is recognized as "magnificent" and within a "category of her own." As Diana Ross began her journey towards a solo career, it is apparent that her media coverage focused on her pursuit of both singing and acting.
Evidence of Ross departure are seen in the November 1969 issue of The New York Amsterdam which described Ross' departure as a means to help "boost her own self and individual style." It is clear that the media attention given to Ross is significant to how people viewed Ross' ambition to develop her own career. When taken into context, however, the Supremes as a group still remained part of wide-spread media.
The Supremes (https://www.gettyimages.com/collaboration/boards/QI1e5QTi-Ei5VVMVzWySuA).
Silver Screen Collection (https://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?assettype=image&family=editorial&photographer=Silver%20Screen%20Collection&sort=best#license).
CC-BY-NC
The Supremes (https://www.gettyimages.com/collaboration/boards/QI1e5QTi-Ei5VVMVzWySuA)
CC-BY-NC
The Supremes after 1970 included original member, Mary Wilson, along with Cindy Songbird and Jean Terrell. The Supremes remained a strong presence in the music industry. They are praised in the media for continuing to perfect the Motown sound, but sometimes criticized for the lack of excitement without Ross as lead singer.
​
Evidence is seen in the January 1972 issue of The Los Angeles Sentinel when the group performed without Ross. The Supremes were still considered "young and beautiful" as they focused on their music with Motown. The April 1970 issue of The New York Amsterdam, however, described the "new Supremes" as less exciting without Diana Ross.
Overall, the Supremes remained present throughout media coverage along with the attention given to Ross as she pursued her own career.
Examining the media attention given to Diana Ross and The Supremes as they parted way displays a sense of ambition and aspiration for these artists. Both Diana Ross and the Supremes were expected to perform to the highest degree of elegance and class even before they chose to separate.
Both Motown artists separately expanded their careers in new directions. Diana Ross continued as a prominent figure in the music industry who flourished after her departure from the group as seen in the April 1971 issue of The Carolina Times. The Supremes continued to perfect their music and contributed to the development of Motown's African-American, authentic sound as seen in the January 1972 issue of The Los Angeles Sentinel.
Supremes on Hullabaloo (https://www.gettyimages.com/collaboration/boards/QI1e5QTi-Ei5VVMVzWySuA)
Donaldson Collection (https://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?assettype=image&family=editorial&photographer=Donaldson%20Collection&sort=best#license)
CC-BY-NC
Based this evidence and analysis, it suitable to answer the question of whether Diana Ross was given more media attention and in turn downplayed the attention given to The Supremes.
Overall, one can argue that both Diana Ross and The Supremes were given substantial amounts of media attention based on the events or developments taking place within their careers during the late-1960s and early-1970s. Diana Ross and The Supremes will remain one of the most influential groups that aided in the development of the Motown sound. Diana Ross' departure allowed her to pursue a different career in acting and signing while The Supremes mastered their sound as they continued to perform for audiences as one of the most powerful, female African-American artists of Motown.
Singer, Diana Ross in Concert (https://www.gettyimages.com/collaboration/boards/QI1e5QTi-Ei5VVMVzWySuA)
John van Hasselt-Corbis (https://www.gettyimages.com/search/photographer?assettype=image&family=editorial&photographer=John%20van%20Hasselt%20-%20Corbis&sort=best#license)
CC-BY-NC
Data Chart created via Flourish.
The above chart presents the number of times the phrases "Diana Ross," "The Supremes," and "Diana Ross and The Supremes" were used in the articles for this project. Focusing specifically on the SCORES tab, it appears that the number of times the phrases "Diana Ross" and "The Supremes" are used is substantial. Although there are fluctuations due to the articles used for this data, one can argue that the overall attention given to Diana Ross does not overshadow the attention given to The Supremes. The phrase "Diana Ross and The Supremes" is present in these articles, but begins to decrease in the number of times it is mentioned after Ross' departure from the group in 1970. This is likely due to the fact that media focused their attention on Diana Ross and The Supremes as separate artists rather than one group. Overall, evidence shows that both Diana Ross and The Supremes received significant attention throughout the media as both continued in their roles as powerful, African-American female artists that contributed to the Motown Sound of the 1960s and 1970s.