by Andre Jones

Created on: January 27, 2007   Last Updated: December 15, 2007

Music and the Savage Beast?

It has been said that music calms the savage beast. In today's world, one must ask if the savage beast controls the music industry. It seems that much of the popular music produced today has gone beyond edgy to angry, vengeful rage. Having said that it is clear to me that there is plenty of music produced which goes unheard. From independent projects that have limited distribution, to music produced in foreign countries not considered hot enough for the American charts, all maybe less aggressive in their content and quality but have less opportunity to affect the collective conscience's behavior.

But the executive branch of the major music labels seem all too eager to promote sex, money and murder as their main three subjects through which to sell their products. About 75% of the hip-hop heard on the radio is angry, violent and/or ridiculously crass. Could it be that it's because there's a bull in the china closet unconcerned about the precious minds of the youth? Recently I spoke with a friend of mine, who is heavily involved in the rap industry, and he told me that he had to turn down a record deal with a pretty large label because the contract stipulated that he had to curse a certain amount of times per song and use the word nigger a certain amount of times. This practice says to me that there are two huge problems with the industry. One, the corporate greed is more important than artistry. Two, the savage beast has administrative powers to control what's heard in the mainstream.

It's no wonder then that music influences behavior. It's intended to. The affect plays itself out in the news every time we see escalating anger in our children, in the fear we have as parents to allow our children to do things alone and in the way rape and gun violence have increased in both adults and children. One constant that has continued to show in police report after police report is the psychological influences of music on the minds of the individuals involved in tragic events.

My suggestion is to become aware of what is being force fed to all of us through mainstream radio. Not only be aware but make a conscious decision to seek out different styles of music. Expose yourself to many forms so that you develop a full musical diet. Then if you are able produce an alternative. It's far more rewarding than staging a boycott. Besides, if enough people produce new forms of expression, the industry will be forced to pay attention to what artists want to say. Ultimately, the music is going to influence us. Since that is the case, we might as well contribute consciously to the influence.

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