Specifically with regard to music, Tesco are bad.

Tesco sell just over one quarter of all CDs in the UK. That is way more than ANY other individual retailer. Now, do Tesco stock an extensive range of music? Even in their largest stores the answer is a resounding NO. Tesco therefore must rely on their music buyers to stock the shelves. They therefore only tend to stock 'chart' music. What is this chart, and how is it compiled? Well, the 'chart' is a limited number of the top SELLING albums and singles ranked in order, so people know what's popular and (can assume) what's good. But, hang on... If Tesco sell over 1/4 of all CDs then surely they have a bigger influence on what's in the chart than anybody else don't they? YES. Hence, Tesco have the largest single influence on what's popular in music in the UK. AND THEY'RE A FUCKING SUPERMARKET.

Tesco domination of the groceries sector has allowed them to move into countless other fields and exert their influence, but music and art should be left alone. Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of people have always bought 'chart' records, and what they hear on mainstream radio. But never before has all of this depended so heavily on one retailer, who have no interest in art at all.

Because of Tesco's influence, it means that ultimately THEY decide what people hear, and THEY decide what record companies produce and acts they sign, and also THEY decide on the artistic content of records sold in their stores (therefore released). So to summarise and clarify this Tesco have ARTISTIC INFLUENCE on UK music.

If you think this is bad, the please don't buy CDs from Tesco. The smaller their market share the smaller their influence.

It's fine for carrots to be controlled, but not art.

[and before you send angry emails, we've got nothing against carrots]