Only six major companies power the music industry. PolyGram, EMI, Warner Music Group, Sonly Music Entertainment, BMG, and Universal Music Group run the worlds music production; between the six firms they control 80 to 90 percent of the market on a global level (Scherizinger). They provide an enormous influence and face very few limiting factors. These companies are fueled by huge revenue, much of which the American people gladly provide. In the past nine years these profit-driven companies have collected more than $200 billion in assets (Hurt). Companies sell what consumers choose to buy, regardless of cultural implications brought on by the subject matter involved. We should not blatantly support a music industry that is supported by sexism and violence. 
A common theme through out the music world is violence. There is violence in youth, violence in sex, and violence in our communities. The American citizens have created a culture where carnage is an accepted part of out lives. By way of music, especially urban music, derogatory language and cursing have found a way into the homes of citizens. The hip-hop culture can be found in almost every country and with it comes a great deal of aggression. Youth around the world listen to the lyrics of popular rap music regardless of socioeconomic standing, race or ethnicity (Richardson 176). Americans as a whole are funding this empire, whether they support the content or not, they are supporting the production. Violence may be condemned socially but undoubtedly profits and is rewarded by entertainment media (Richardson 183). We recognize the portrayal of violence as wrong, but we do nothing to stop it.
Individuals from many different upbringings, even women, support the content not only by purchasing it but also by embracing the lyrics. It is common in hip-hop music for male artist to “discuss and present women as caricatures, sexual objects, less than human, […] and overly sexualized, devoid of its physical, emotional, and psychic components “ (Oware 788). Not only are males participating in this language but also females. Both female artists and listeners find substance in “explicit” content. Many women choose to express themselves through “female self-exploitation and hyper objectification” (Oware 789). They present themselves in overly sexualized ways and as a higher level of woman that is not restricted by their sexuality. It is arrogant for them to believe that one person can be above the rest of the group, and their conceit has devastating affects on young women all over the globe.
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Some say that women may find some sort of “affirmation and power in the fear that their sexuality…creates in men”(Lipsitz 386). Women feel this way because of the declining culture that allows them to see these lyrics as flattering rather than belittling. Women rappers also use their sexuality as a weapon in response to male sexism. Popular rappers like Lil’ Kim continually addresses sex and criticize men about their performance and their ability to please her which can be “the ultimate fear of many hetero-sexual males”(Oware 793). This is not helping women to overcome gender discrimination and is not empowering anyone. Media conglomerations are profiting from an endless cycle we have created. In reality, both men and women performers are bashing each other and themselves and in doing so they create false ideas for the youth about love, relationships, status, and power.
The violence and sexism is rap music is everywhere. A main machine distributing these ideas is the music industry. Greed causes the industry to prioritize the content that sells without any moral consideration. Our society supports an environment where inappropriate content flourishes and the music companies reap all of the benefits. They continue to profit until Americans stop buying into vulgar ideas.
*Works Cited from link below
