NEW YORK — Facing fierce criticism of sexist and depraved rap lyrics, top music industry executives planned a private meeting. They would discuss the issue, they said, and "announce initiatives" at a news conference afterward.
That was three weeks ago. The session with the media was canceled without explanation, and ever since, music's gatekeepers have been silent.
Leaders of the four major record companies, which control nearly 90% of the market, may fear cracking the door to censorship. Others say the record chiefs are "scared to death" of further damaging sales in an industry already hobbled by digital downloading, or that they choose to remain in the shadows rather than protect "indefensible" lyrics.
Or perhaps they are leery of stepping into a racial minefield: Although black rap artists recite those lyrics, the top execs are white -- like the man who ignited the controversy, toppled radio host Don Imus.
"They want this whole thing to go away and keep doing what they've been doing, which is selling records," said Don Gorder, chairman of the Music Business/Management Department at the Berklee College of Music.
Although music industry leaders remain reticent, others are reacting very publicly:
Ebony magazine pulled the rapper Ludacris from its June cover. Verizon dropped pitchman Akon after video surfaced of the singer simulating sex with an underage fan on stage. Chart-topper Chamillionaire says his new CD contains no curses or the n-word. Percy "Master P" Miller, founder of No Limit Records, whose son Romeo also is a recording artist, says he's starting a new label for "street music without offensive lyrics."
"I was once part of the problem and now it's time to be part of the solution," Miller, whose gangsta raps once sold millions of albums but lately have been met with indifference, told AllHipHop.com. "I am ready to take a stand by cleaning up my music and follow my son's footsteps and make a clean rap album."
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who protested outside major record labels last week, is planning to lead busloads of protesters to music executives' homes in the Hamptons over Memorial Day weekend.
"It's indefensible," Sharpton said of the record executives silence on the subject. "They're hoping it'll go away. We're not going anywhere." Sharpton said protesters would continue to march until those "words are gone, until those four companies agree in some way that the use of the words ... should be beneath our standards."
