Music has long been a staple of kids' media diet, being the media of choice for many adolescents, frequently edging out television (Christenson & Roberts, 1998). Many teens use music to shape their cultural identity and to help define their social group. Some social groups are identified primarily by their choice of music.

• Pre-adolescents and adolescents listen to music (including radio, CDs, tapes and music videos) between 3 and 4 hours per day (Roberts & Christenson, 2001).
• By 11th grade, girls generally listen to music a half-hour more than boys do each day (Roberts & Christenson, 2001).
• 45% of U.S. teens listen to FM radio (Zollo, 1999).
• Teens consider musicians their heroes more frequently than athletes and rate the influence of music higher than religion or books (Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service, 1999).
• More than 20-30 music styles are identified by teens. From this list rap and heavy metal stir the most controversy over song lyrics.
• Music affects emotions and teens use music to enhance or intensify their mood or to change mood directions (Christenson & Roberts, 1998).

• Most heavy metal fans are not at-risk. However troubled, at-risk youth gravitate to heavy metal music, which correlates positively with casual sex, greater drug use, suicidal thoughts, drunk driving, conflict with parents and more school problems (Roberts & Christenson, 2001).
• Alienation from mainstream school culture often precedes a teen's choice of heavy metal music (Roberts & Christenson, 2001).
• The angry, depressive, violent lyrics of hard rock and heavy metal music may be a risk factor for suicide and violence for those adolescents who are already depressed and alienated, suicidal, have drug, alcohol and family problems or are alienated at school (Roberts & Christenson, 2001).
• According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry the troublesome lyrics of some teen music:
  • Advocate and glamorize the abuse of drugs or alcohol
  • Present suicide as a "solution"
  • Display graphic violence
  • Dwell on the occult with Satanism and human sacrifice
  • Describe harmful sexual practices, incest, and a devaluing of women

"Parent Advisory" Stickers: This black and white warning label was adopted in 1990 by major record companies to satisfy Congressional demands for a system to help parents evaluate their child's music choices. However use of the sticker is:

• Totally voluntary, lots of music with objectionable lyrics have no sticker.
• The sticker, when present, is placed on the outside of packaging, which can be easily removed by kids.

Children are a market for music with explicit lyrics: The Federal Trade Commission found that the music industry continues to advertise music with violent and explicit lyrics to children.

• The music industry places explicit ads in magazines and TV shows popular with teenagers (MTV, UPN and BET shows in the afternoon and early evening).
• Parental advisory warnings were included less than a third of the time (Wall St. Journal, 2001).

Hearing Loss: Volume of sound is measured in decibels (dB) and regular sustained exposure at 90-95 dB may cause permanent hearing damage.

• Rock concerts average between 110-120dB and can peak at 150dB
• Decibels as high as 140 are measured in front of speakers at rock concerts.
• Minimum exposure time, according to OSHA for 120 dB is 7.5 minutes.
• The average walkman setting is 94dB

• Expose children to a broad range of music from an early age. For kids, listening to music from around the world can lead to an adventure of discovery about other countries and cultures.
• Be knowledgeable about the lyrics of your children's music.
• For younger children, be explicit about your family's values and what you will and will not allow your child to listen to.
• For older children, keep lines of communication open; ask why they enjoy this music. Set limits on where they can play it.
• Listening to heavy metal music is not in itself cause for alarm, but if other isolating and risk factors emerge in your child's life, seek professional help.
• Encourage use of earplugs at rock concerts. Explain the effects of loud music on hearing.

• American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (1997). Web site: www.aacap.org (visited 5/31/2001).
• Christenson, P. G., & Roberts, D. F. (1998). It's not only rock & roll: Popular music in the lives of adolescents. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press.
• H.E.A.R. (Hearing Education and Awareness for Rockers). Web site: www.hearnet.com (visited 5/31/2001).
• Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service (1999, July 9). Popular music's influence on teens is undeniable and sometimes negative. p. K-5667.
• Roberts, D. F. & Christenson, P. G. (2001). Popular music in childhood and adolescence. In Singer, D. G., Singer, J. L. (Eds.), Handbook of children and the media (pp. 395-414). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.
• Scheel, K. R. & Westefeld, J. S. (1999, Summer). Heavy metal music and adolescent suicidality: an empirical investigation. Adolescence, 34, p. 253.
• Wall St. Journal (2001, April 25). Music industry continues to sell violent fare to children, FTC says. p. B-11.
• Zollo, Peter (1999, May). Not quite the TV generation. American Demographics 21, pp. 35-36.

Last revised: 7/3/01