Queen Latifah's lyrics tout female superiority. Salt 'n' Pepa energize with eroticism. Julie Brown's unsettling version of a campus queen dethrones the mainstream icon. Martina McBride's song of liberation gives new meaning to Independence Day. Today in the music video industry, such women artists have assumed a remarkable and refreshing new presence.

Although many popular videos have been condemned for sexism, the medium has experienced a striking change. Both in repertoires and in performances, the politics of feminism has moved to the front row. More and more, women are being...