Labels and Labeling

Last week's FTC report accused the five major music conglomerates of purposefully marketing violent and suggestive content to minors. Here, a look at their stats, with asterisks indicating artists who have released records with parental advisory labels:

BMG ENTERTAINMENT
Year 2000 sales: $4.55 billion; record labels include: Arista, RCA, Windham Hill; top artists last year (according to Billboardcharts tallying record sales and radio play): Britney Spears, 'N Sync, Santana, Creed, Christina Aguilera, Backstreet Boys, Joe, Lou Bega, Kenny G, Toni Braxton

EMI GROUP
Year 2000 sales: $3.80 billion; includes: EMI, Virgin, Capitol, Parlophone, Chrysalis, Priority, Blue Note; top artists: D'Angelo*, Garth Brooks, Lenny Kravitz, A Perfect Circle*, 504 Boyz*, Ice Cube*, Beastie Boys*, Sammie, Radiohead, Smashing Pumpkins*

SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
Year 2000 sales: $6.24 billion; includes: Columbia, Epic, Legacy; top artists: Celine Dion, Dixie Chicks, Destiny's Child, Korn*, Macy Gray, Savage Garden, Mariah Carey, Marc Anthony, Will Smith, Ricky Martin

UNIVERSAL ENTERTAINMENT
Year 2000 sales: $6.22 billion; includes: Interscope, Geffen, Island/Def Jam, MCA, Mercury, Motown, Verve, A&M, Decca, Deutsche Grammaphon, Philips, Polydor, Universal; top artists: Eminem*, Dr. Dre*, Limp Bizkit*, DMX*, Sisqó*, Nelly*, Jay Z*, 3 Doors Down, Shania Twain, Juvenile*

WARNER BROS. MUSIC GROUP
Year 2000 sales: $4.15 billion; includes: Atlantic, Elektra, London-Sire, Rhino, Maverick; top artists: Kid Rock*, Faith Hill, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica*, Matchbox Twenty, Madonna, Eric Clapton, Moby, Third Eye Blind, Lil' Kim*

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Kelefa Sanneh parses the new federal attempt at music censorship, and gauges the music community's response. Tricia Romano gives a history of the music biz's censorship wars.