Many people enjoy rap music at least in part because of its edgy, troublemaking vibe. The problem is that some of this music could cause real trouble. Thus, Ice-T’s song “Cop Killer” generated significant controversy when it was released. Among other things, its lyrics celebrated the idea of slitting a policeman’s throat. Rick Ross rapped about drugging and raping a woman. Time Warner Inc. did not withdraw Ice-T’s song but Reebok fired Ross over his lyrics. One difference: Time Warner was struggling with a $15 billion debt and a depressed stock price. Reebok at first refused to take action but then singing group UltraViolet began circulating an online petition against the song and staged a protest at the main Reebok store in New York. What obligation do media companies have to their customers? What factors matter when making a decision about the content of entertainment?
