A music executive, whose record company backs the hugely successful singer Adele, has criticised the “faux porn” imagery in music videos.
Richard Russell spoke out against sexualisation of female artists in music but added that the problem goes “way beyond” just that one industry.
Mr Russell, who is behind the XL Recordings label, said particulaly in the American market bosses seem to rely on using sexuality and “gimmicks” to sell music.
Rethink
But he said with Adele, whose album has spent over 14 weeks at No 1, the message is “that it’s just music, it’s just really good music”.
He commented: “Not only are young girls going to see that, but [also] the business people who are behind all those videos. It’s going to make them rethink what they should be doing.”
Mr Russell added that it was “unbelievable” that a female performer could succeed without being over-sexualised, or conform to a certain body type.
He said he was shocked at the “faux porn” imagery in music videos on a recent TV show, adding it made him feel “a bit queasy”.
Pornography
Last year another music producer, Mike Stock, warned that young children are being sexualised by provocative music videos which resemble soft pornography.
Mr Stock, who helped to launch the career of Kylie Minogue, said: “Ninety-nine per cent of the charts is R ‘n’ B and 99 per cent of that is soft pornography.”
In March this year a national newspaper columnist said sexually charged pop lyrics and videos are damaging young children but the industry does not care as long as it makes money.
Margin
In December last year ITV’s X Factor came under fire for sleazy dance routines involving Christina Aguilera. Ofcom later investigated but ruled the performance was on “the very margin of acceptability for broadcast”.
A Government-backed report into child sexualisation and commercialisation is due soon.