"Pop music and dance on display in the Caribbean today are corrupting the youth and making them irresponsible."

Right through the 20th Century and beyond, pop music has been linked closely with youth culture. With many of the consumers of popular music being young people, it's no surprise that youth have been shaped and influenced by the themes, artists and activities which pop music involves.

Pop music - short for "popular" - has become a large part of the everyday lives of youth all around the Caribbean. This particular attachment can have considerable influence on individuals, affecting everything from mood, to the negative slang words they use not only among their peers, but adults as well.

The profanity used in some song lyrics lead to some youth copying this language, while others try to emulate the lifestyles and themes depicted by the artists of said music. When these youngsters are unable to finance these expensive lifestyles, they become depressed or rebellious. Concern for these negative effects have been expressed by various groups, for example, the media and drug awareness associations, all over the Caribbean.

The youth is identified, by the music industry, as an important market segment all of its own. As different styles of music, example-punk, grunge, heavy metal- have become popular, youth have responded by forming groups whose activities are based on listening to a particular genre of popular music. For example, researchers claim to have found that listening to hip-hop music can increase a young person's likelihood of taking drugs such as marijuana or/and alcohol. Young people have thus constructed their identities around pop music assuming certain fashions and attitudes.