- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- preteenagers today articles
- preteenagers today q&a
- teenagers today articles
- teenagers today q&a
- community & groups
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
The Music Made Me Do It
How Much Influence Does Music Have on Teens?
By Carma Haley Shoemaker
Can music really influence a teen to the point of committing rape, murder or suicide? Organizations such as the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) say it can, yet musicians and the Recording Industry Association of America state that music is not that powerful.
As today's music is more diverse than ever, issues concerning lyrics, song titles, album and CD covers – as well as the artists themselves – have become the center of controversy. But who should decide what's best for teens?
In the 1980s, various religious and parents' groups waged a campaign to limit the variety of musical messages that were available to America's teens. This campaign included the PMRC calling for warning labels on recordings that offered lyrics, themes or imagery related to sexuality, drug or alcohol use, extreme violence, rape, the occult and suicide. As a result, in 1990 the "Parental Advisory - Explicit Lyrics" warning label was initiated. However, no standards or criteria of what was considered "explicit" were given. As a result, the recording companies were left to decide what was appropriate for teens on their own.
Hundreds of "warning" labels are used on various albums and CDs every year. The red box "explict" warning can also be seen on various singles and albums when downloading music on services such as Apple's iTunes. Used to provide parents with information related to the content contained within, these labels are thought to prohibit teens from purchasing music that may contain lyrics, imagery or language that may be unsuitable. However, most teens don't feel they work.