Ironically, an article by Beaver (2010) intended to decry the lack of censorship in gangsta rap actually demonstrates that companies allowing greater artistic freedom tend to succeed with greater longevity. According to Beaver, in spite of calls from communities to engage in censorship of violent or misogynistic lyrics, "the companies have basically ignored their critics and continued to market gangsta rap because for years it had been so highly profitable." (Beaver, p. 107) This shows the counterpoint to the current strategy toward safe streamlined music taken by the industry.

The result, in musician and documentarian Thurston Moore's opinion, is that for company's like Warner, Sony and EMI, the sheer motives of profitability created a new era of obstruction for artists of a wide range of styles, talents and ambitions. The music industry of the 2000s would be substantially marked not just by a terrible downturn in economic viability but also...
[ View Full Essay]