Music is another potent medium for influencing thoughts and behaviors — especially in children. So says culture critic Thomas L. Jipping in a report entitled “There’s a Virus Loose Within Our Culture: An Honest Look at Music’s Impact.” The report, which is endorsed by the PTC, reviews surveys of hundreds of studies on the subject, and makes a strong empirical case that both the glorification of violence on television and the nihilistic and violent messages in much modern music contribute substantially to youth violence.

The full report is available through the Free Congress Foundation’s website at www.freecongress.org, or by calling 1-800-638-0660.

– Thomas L. Jipping