Today's media culture is extremely manipulative. Serving an enormous market, record companies, radio stations, TV networks, etc. are trying to secure their success. Teens are told what to feel, what to like, and ultimately what to buy.
             "Teenagers are the hottest consumer demographic in America. At 33 million strong,... last year, America's teens spent $100 billion, while influencing their parents spending to the tune of another $50 billion." (The Merchants of Cool 2001:Synopsis). Media markets are constantly trying to keep up with what is cool and trendy – keeping up with what image sells well. Amazing amounts of funding goes into this research. Markets try hard to maintain a "hip" image that's as genuine and real as can be. To America's youth, MTV, KIIS fm, and the rest, seem so on point when it comes to being cool. Magazines are also bombarding teens with tons of advertising and articles on how to be the life of the party. It seems as if what was once something people sought for their amusement or interest, has become the very things they rely on for "successful living." Companies have made media addicts out of today's youth; they tell teens what they want, package it, then sell it to them. Teenagers are ready to follow whatever messages these companies have to tell them, however "coded" they may be.
             Teens know when they're being fed some prepackaged image- correction, teens think they know. It's hard not to be cynical about anything these days, when one knows its corporate/money-interested origins. "The Merchants of Cool" talk about a band called "Insane Clown Posse" based in downtown Detroit. The teens called it "rage rock" and claimed it as their own. "Rage rock is literally a challenge thrown up to marketers; just try to market this! But marketers have accepted the challenge; rage rock is now a big business. N...