Good thread, OP. Well handled, I might say too.

I'm in marketing like you and the subliminal thing is the bread and butter. I generally try to use positive, uplifting imagery to achieve ends, but sometimes feel a little guilty about using stuff the average person is unaware of.

Think about it this way. If they want to go the Lucifer track, they will pull in people with the positive uplifting stuff. This attracts people to the music, whilst sewn into it, is the darker agenda. Things shown and done a certain way... early symbolism used in innocent (deniable) ways - like, um - Disneyland or Wizard of Oz.

New age sentiments planted in the fertile ground of youthful minds grow into flowers of rebellion against the old ways. Each newer generation is drawn deeper into the impending chaos, while the elder ones wonder what happened to their world.

Small steps at first, then years later they start to get really blatant with an already conditioned (over a couple generations) population. Miley, we see you. Or rather, your alter.

They ain't famous unless they're towing the line.