the making of a hip-hop monopoly

This diagram illustrates the magnitude of the current and growing monopolization of Hip-Hop. Corporate control and concentration of radio, retail distribution and major recording artists under one record label has affected the ability of independent artists and labels to compete or succeed. In addition, the only music that is heard and promoted from this conglomerate is highly focused on questionable themes-crime, drugs, murder etc.-while Black and Latino communities are continually victimized by these conditions.

interscope records Over 20% of all Hip-Hop albums sold in 2003 were released under the Interscope Records umbrella, which includes record labels such as Geffen/A&M and DreamWorks. Interscope is overseen by chairman and CEO Jimmy Iovine and is filtered through their top-selling Hip-Hop acts, Eminem and 50 Cent, who, along with producer Dr. Dre, have label deals of their own (Shady, G-Unit and Aftermath Records). Interscope has created extremely tight-knit relationships with the three critical outlets for control of Hip-Hop: radio, MTV and retail. The creativity of top artists is effectively dictated by the system and is made to fit the new corporate arrangement (uncontroversial, radio-friendly first singles with R&B choruses).

radio CONGLOMERATES The concentration of ownership in the radio industry in the past several years has lead to the majority of the largest and most influential Hip-Hop radio stations being owned by only four radio companies, Clear Channel, Emmis Broadcasting Infinity Broadcasting and Radio One.

Mtv MTV has a very awkward history with Hip-Hop. Most recently, they created separate categories for "Hip-Hop Video" and "Rap Video" at their annual Video Music Awards, a first step in the effort to redefine the term "Hip-Hop" for their predominately young, White, mainstream audience, and eventually push "Rap" away. (i.e. "Hip-Hop" equals Eminem, Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears etc.; "Rap" is what Black guys do.)

retail
Chain consolidation
80% of all music in the U.S. is sold at retail outlets owned by eight
different companies.

o Wal-Mart o Best Buy o Target o Transworld o Musicland o Tower Records o K-Mart o Circuit City

The strength of the above relationships effectively locks out any independent labels and artists, many of which are minority-owned, from competing in the market.

Independent record labels and artists suffer