Præsentation af Freemuse på danskPresentacíon de FreemusePrésentation de FreemusePresentation in Arabic
Click here to go to start page Click here to go to start page
Search Sort content by country/region Sort content by artist Sort content by subject
About music censorship
Artists on censorship
About Freemuse
Publications
Study room
Activities
News
Links
Press room

LEGISLATION

China: Culture, Legislation and Censorship
Excerpts from the article "Chinese Cultural Laws Regulations and Institutions" by Gao Shuxun (ed.)
01 August 2003
UK: Britain at War
Extensive article on how music was "restricted" during the Falkland and Gulf war, with focus on UK legislation and corporate censorship. Presented by Martin Cloonan at the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship, 1998
01 January 2001
Beate Slydal: About the Turkish Penal Code Article 301
Excerpt of political scientist Beate Slydal's presentation at the seminar 'Music - a human right', held in Oslo, Norway, on Music Freedom Day, 3 March 2008
28 March 2008
Kuwait: Music shops closed
Music shops in Kuwait have been closed on the claim of defending morals and Islamic obligations, reported Arabic Network for Human Rights Information on 6 February 2008.
05 March 2008
Jonas Otterbeck: Islamic reactions to the music of today
A working paper, 22 pages in PDF-format, to be published as a chapter in the book 'Religion, Media, and Modern Thought in the Arab World', Cambridge Scholars Press Ltd.
13 November 2007
China: Canto-pop Censorship in China & Singapore
An edited version of a part of a thesis entitled 'Three Decades of Canto-pop: Hybridization, consolidation and Innovation', written for University of Liverpool in 2005
04 September 2007
Syria: 'Silenced voices'
In Syria, music is a mirror which shows the soul of the listener. A few young musicians perceive a magic language of sound which can touch the heart and make new thoughts spark. And this is exacly where their problems start...
07 November 2006
Turkey: "Keep Roj TV!" Turkish musicians protest
Turkish musicians signed a petition against attempts to ban the Denmark-based Kurdish Roj TV. The Danish government has been under diplomatic pressure to effect its closure.
17 January 2006
Turkey: 'Censorship - the Turkish way'
These original documents reveal the methods of official Turkish censorship
06 December 2005
Googoosh: Iran's Daughter
Googoosh was Iran's most famous and beloved pop diva, until she was silenced following the 1979 Islamic revolution. The award winning documentary on Googoosh is now out on DVD
14 December 2004
Pride and prejudice: 'anti-gay' stars refuse to apologise
Their gigs have been cancelled all over the world and their names withdrawn from awards. But Jamaica's dancehall stars refuse to apologise for - or even stop singing - songs that encourage the murder of gay people. Extensive article from The Guardian
10 December 2004
Musical responses to 9/11: From Conservative patriotism to radicalism
This article poses the question: What would a suitable American popular music response to the events of 9/11 sound like? Read the chapter by Martin Cloonan, from the book "9/11 – The world's all out of tune"
09 December 2004
City demands 'anti-gay' music ban
Brighton will be the first UK city to demand that retailers ban albums with "anti-gay" lyrics. The City Council voted unanimously to write to the managing directors of Virgin Megastore, HMV and MVC condemning the music. The council do not have the power to force the stores not to sell the music
27 November 2004
City seeks 'anti-gay' album ban
The first UK city-wide boycott of albums with "anti-gay" lyrics is being considered in Brighton. Councillors want music retailers like HMV, Virgin Megastore and MVC to stop selling albums with homophobic lyrics in its Brighton branches
23 November 2004
Zimbabwean gospel diva Fungisai Zvakavapano denied UK visa
A London-based Zimbabwe news website quoted a British Embassy official as citing fear that she might not return to Zimbabwe after her tour as a reason for refusing her a visa
02 November 2004
Iran: Concerts cancelled
Bureaucratic obstacles have turned into a kind of musical oppression in Iran, reports Shadi Vatanparast from the Iranian web-magazine Tehranavenue.com
21 October 2004
Cat Stevens denied access "on national security grounds"
US officials identified that the singer, whose name is now Yusuf Islam, was on one of their "watch lists". After an interview, the singer - who converted to Islam in 1977 - was denied entry into the US
22 September 2004
Zimbabwean Censorship Board absent from censorship discussion
“Artists in Zimbabwe do not know what the censorship board looks at when accessing productions, so this was an opportunity for them to know." A meeting in Harare discussed the growing concern about the Censorship Board
22 September 2004
The world's all out of tune: Popular music after 9/11
"9/11 – The world's all out of tune. Populäre Musik nach dem 11. September 2001". New book - in German - on music after September 11, out October 2004
14 September 2004
New US study on cultural exchanges since September 11
U.S Homeland Security and State departments are encouraged to "work together to improve the current visa situation…so it is less of a barrier for foreign visitors, artists, and scholars, and for the presenters who invite them"
10 September 2004
Iranian rapper talks a fine line
Chart-topping Shahkar Binesh-Pajouh targets unemployment, poverty and westernised Iranian girls in his new album, which the culture ministry took four years to approve. The ministry passed it only after he deleted six songs from his original ten
04 September 2004
Albums with ‘objectionable material’ removed from Kansas libraries
The Kansas attorney general has withheld more than 1,600 compact discs from distribution to state libraries because officials determined the albums promote violence or illegal activity, records show
10 August 2004
Iran: Lashes for loud music
The judiciary in Hamedan has ordered that anyone caught playing thumping tunes in their cars should be subject to jail terms or lashes, according to news agency IRNA. "Playing any type of music loud in the vehicles is regarded as a crime and violators will be dealt by legal measures"
09 August 2004
Clerics condemn Kashmir pop song
Religious leaders in Kashmir have sought a ban on a pop song by two Pakistani singers. A line in the song, Kachi Pencil (Fragile Pencil), says God has written the fate of man with a fragile pencil
03 August 2004
Independent record labels unhappy with Sony – BMG merger
Small record labels fear more corporate control: "This merger is not about economic necessity in a changing market, it is about the desire to dominate and to control the outlets at media and retail level”
20 July 2004
Hip-Hop Cops: US put Hip-Hop under surveillance
A collection of articles on the latest developments in a nationwide effort to place every aspect of hip-hop culture under state surveillance
08 July 2004
Cuban musicians criticize new U.S. travel rules
A group of musicians has criticized new U.S. regulations that will further limit travel to Cuba, urging the United States to build bridges to the island instead of tearing them down.
The musicians tied their comments to the release of the album: Bridge to Havana
02 July 2004
USA: 'Crash into me, baby!'
America’s implicit music censorship since September 11. Read the chapter from 'Shoot the Singer!', by Eric Nuzum on how the September 11 terror attacks have affected freedom of musical expression
03 June 2004
Shoot the Singer! Book
"Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today". The first worldwide presentation of contemporary cases of music censorship, with cases from i.a. Burma, Mexico, Middle East, France, Algeria, Zimbabwe, USA, South Africa, Turkey. Edited by Freemuse director Marie Korpe, published by Zed Books, May 2004.
25 May 2004
USA: New fines proposed in indecency bills
The bills would give the Federal Communications Commission the authority to fine recording artists, air talent and other individuals up to $500,000 for knowingly uttering indecent language on radio and TV
14 March 2004
Australia: New censorship codes imposed
Robyn Riley, Far North Queensland's answer to Tipper Gore, is a shining example of how one person can make a difference. A Christian activist and fanatical letter writer, Riley believes song lyrics cause suicide, murder and teen behavioural problems
01 March 2004
Fresh Iranian bands ready to rock
A music competition aims at introducing new talent in the Islamic Republic. But when you live and work in Iran, there are certain limitations on forms of self-expression
09 February 2004
Explicit Lyrics & Parental Advisory
Tipper Gore, the PMRC, and the infamous black-and-white logo: Background material and news articles
01 February 2004
Iran: Women & music censorship
Background material on women in the performing arts in post-revolutionary Iran
20 January 2004
Sarah Jones and FCC
Interview from BBC with the US singer, who has faced several problems in regards to her allegedly controversial lyrics
14 January 2004
Damon Albarn: Music is destroyed by censorship
The record industry exerts a covert censorship, which makes it difficult for musicians to express themselves freely, was the message from Damon Albarn, Tony Allen and Ty at the Roskilde Festival 2003
01 July 2003
"Rave Act" bill passed
The Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act (also called the "RAVE Act"), which was attached to the AMBER Alert bill, passed both the House and Senate on April 10
14 April 2003
UK licensing bill defeated
Controversial bill defeated in the House of Lords - but has yet to be discussed by MPs
17 March 2003
UK licensing bill
Latest on the controversial Licensing Bill
05 March 2003
USA: What if they gave a culture war and nobody came?
Extensive article on the history of music censorship in the U.S., detailing the occasions when judicial and legislative authorities have focused attention on popular music as expression
28 January 2003
Return of the "Rave Act"
Proposed US law can shut down raves
21 January 2003
Clear Channel: September 11 & Corporate Censorship
Corporate censor no. 1, or just the market leader? A collection of articles on Clear Channel - including the debate on the infamous list of 'potentially offensive songs', which Clear Channel suggested its 1.300 radio stations not to play following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US
01 December 2002
USA: Government Arbiter or Catalyst for the Arts?
Historical perspective on government funding for the arts. Article.
05 November 2002
Turkey: New media law heavily criticised
The Turkish parliament has approved a controversial bill that critics charge will further curtail press freedoms and strengthen media monopolies
16 May 2002
Argentina: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
25 February 2002
Chile: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
25 February 2002
Cuba: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
25 February 2002
Dominican Republic: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
25 February 2002
Guatemala: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
25 February 2002
Mexico: Country profile
Excerpt from 'A Survey Of Censorship And Restrictions On Music In Spanish America'
25 February 2002
Limits of Musical Freedom
Which kinds of limits are there to the freedom of musical expression in the world today?
07 February 2002
Frank Zappa
Interview, conducted on March 16, 1986. Frank Zappa talks about his appearance before the US Congress and his involvement in the fight against censorship
28 November 2001
White Noise Music - an international affair
Hate Music. The story of modern racist music, covering cases from UK, Sweden and USA. Paper from the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship, 1998
01 January 2001