In 1990, the U.S. recording industry introduced Parent Advisory labels to identify music containing explicit lyrics, including depictions of violence and sex.

For consumers, the system has its drawbacks. Companies and artists voluntarily label their products, so customers can't automatically assume that music without a label will be appropriate for all ages.

And the retail industry is also inconsistent in dealing with Parental Advisory labels. Some have policies forbidding the sale of labelled music to kids younger than 18. A few retail chains, such as K-Mart and Wal-Mart, will not carry stickered products. While others have no restrictions to stop children of any age from purchasing CDs with advisory labels.

Critics charge that although the music industry warns parents of inappropriate lyrics with labels, at the same time it's aggressively marketing explicit music to young people. In September 2000, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released a report showing how media industries, including the music industry, aggressively market media meant for adults to young children.

Of the 55 music recordings with explicit labels the FTC examined, all were targeted to children under 17. Marketing plans included placing advertising in media that would reach a majority or a substantial percentage of children under 17.