A Criminology of Popular Music

This groundbreaking work examines how popular music intersects with crime, harm, and social justice through a critical criminological lens. Eleanor Peters analyzes the music industry's systemic issues—from sexism and homophobia to heteronormative bias—while maintaining focus on music's aesthetic and sensory power. The book explores how music channels fundamental human experiences like love, violence, protest, and hedonism, connecting these themes to broader social harms and industry dangers that affect creators and consumers alike.

What makes this study particularly compelling is its balanced approach to both the artistic value and social consequences of popular music culture. Peters doesn't just critique the industry's problematic elements but situates them within larger patterns of systemic harm while acknowledging music's transformative potential. Readers interested in cultural studies, social justice, and music industry dynamics will find this analysis both challenging and illuminating, offering new frameworks for understanding how the sounds we love both reflect and shape societal conflicts.