With R. Kelly on Trial, What Has Become of His Music?

The R&B superstar may have experienced a “social death,” with his music largely disappearing in public. But streaming data tells a more complicated story.

As a veteran wedding D.J. from Chicago, Richard Gintowt has a lot of history with R. Kelly. Growing up, hits like “Ignition (Remix)” and “Step in the Name of Love” were ubiquitous local favorites by the homegrown R&B star, and when Gintowt started soundtracking wedding parties, “‘Bump n’ Grind’ used to crush it for me,” he recalled. But in 2019, amid renewed furor over decades of allegations that Kelly had systematically abused young women, the D.J., now living in the Bay Area, stopped playing Kelly’s music altogether. The one time that Gintowt has spun “Ignition” recently — at the request of a bride — the experience only reinforced his stance.