April 17, 2007 New York - The National Organization for Women in New York City is launching a campaign to shed light on how music executives and artists are complicit in what has become a thriving modern-day market for sexism, homophobia and racism.

"Disguised as entertainment, some in the music industry promote an image of manhood that finds success by denigrating women, blacks and gays," said Sonia Ossorio, President of NOW-NYC. "Our campaign will break down how sexism, homophobia and racism are being peddled in the music business. The American public can decide whether they want to continue supporting it as part of our economy and as part of our popular culture."

The Don Imus controversy has presented an opportunity to redouble efforts to put music executives and artists in the hot seat. With Don Imus, Americans expressed their unwillingness to continue to listen to his ideas. He is free to continue to share his views, but no one is willing to pay for it any longer.

"There is a long tradition in American culture of demeaning African-American women through the mass media. That systematic denigration has taken on an even more disturbing twist with black hip-hop artists co-opting the misogyny," said Ebony Edwards-Ellis, chair of NOW-NYC's Women and Girls in the Media Committee. "They are creating and selling this music to an audience that is predominantly non-black and making millions of dollars in the process. This has led to an all-new generation of Americans who have been trained to regard black women in a negative light."

"Music executives and artists are complicit in what has become a thriving modern-day market for sexism, homophobia and racism," said Sonia Ossorio, President of the New York Chapter of the National Organization for Women. "Disguised as entertainment, some in the music industry promote an image of manhood rooted in the notion that denigrating women, blacks and gays is powerful."