A term used to label the organizations that produce popular culture. Such as television, radio, books, popular music and films. Replacing the concept ‘Mass Culture.’ Theodor Adorno (1903-1969) and Max Horkheimer (1895-1973) in their essay: ‘The Culture Industry: enlightenment as mass deception’ developed the term ‘Culture Industry’ in order to exemplify popular culture as nothing more than a capitalist machine, producing uniform cultural commodities which manipulate the public into meekness. They argue that consumerism creates a sense of contentment, no matter what the economic circumstances might be. This is a little problematic, as the capitalist machine must also create discontent for people without means to consume.
What perhaps more importantly Adorno and Horkheimer saw is that the ‘Culture Industries’ encouraged false needs and desires to the masses, which were created by and satisfied by capitalism; thus losing touch with genuine individual creative expression found in higher art, and needs such as freedom and love.
Adorno and Horkheimer were members of the Frankfurt School, which from now on I will call ‘FS.’ They originated as followers of Marx, who believed that the dominant class in society not only owned the means of producing commodities, but also controls the construction of societies dominant ideas and values; thus ideology as the tool of the dominant classes, to mislead the masses. A + H examined the industrialization of mass produced culture as well as the economic essentials behind what they called the ‘Culture Industries.’
A+H believe that there is a ‘loss of the individual’ because of mass production. The capitalist machine eradicates the individual, producing a mass society that only accepts pseudo-individuality– false individuality. Society is seen in terms of class, as said previously- it is the wealthy against the masses, primarily using commodification as the means in which to control. Through advertising, media and other forms of the ‘Culture Industry’ such as mass communication, capitalist modernity has succeeded in dominating the individual, and hence controlling the dominant ideologies, which govern the masses.
The ‘Culture Industry’, A+H believed to be the reason for societies passivity and blind satisfaction. Sucked in by false desires, and commodity fetishism– wanting something because of how much it costs, and what it represents. Hence cultivating a consumerist society that has no interest in over-throwing the capitalist system. 
Seashells and sunflowers, money oh my 