The music industry is expected to come under fierce criticism today in a new US government report on the marketing of violent and lewd entertainment to children.
The US Federal Trade Commission study, due for release at around 10 a.m. (3 p.m. Irish time) follows a scathing FTC report in September that said the entertainment industry "aggressively" marketed adult-rated films, video games and music to under-age audiences.
A source familiar with the FTC's progress report said it came down hardest on the music industry, while the film and video-game sectors were found to have made some headway since last September but still had work to do.
"The music industry comes off looking the worst of all three in terms of progress they have made since the last study was done," the source said.
He said the report did not propose any specific actions to be taken against the industry, preferring instead to rely on self-regulation and public pressure.
In the past, the FTC has balked at policing Hollywood, citing constitutional hurdles.
Last September's FTC report on the entertainment industry was ordered by former President Bill Clinton after the massacre in April 1999 at Columbine High School in Colorado raised new concerns about the effect of violent entertainment on young people.
The music industry, in particular, has been criticized for not providing ratings according to age for the sale of recordings with sexually explicit, homophobic, misogynistic and violent lyrics such as those by Grammy Award winning rapper Eminem.