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Explicit Lyrics & Parental Advisory
Tipper Gore, the PMRC, and the infamous black-and-white logo: Background material and news articles
The Recording Industry Association of America, which represents the majority of record labels in the country, has posted a black-and-white logo, warning of explicit content, on album covers since 1985.
The history behind Parental Advisory and the infamous logo can be found in the book ‘A Brief History of Banned Music in the United States’, by Eric Nuzum (2001) Parental Advisory (Eric Nuzum)
After years of pressure from the Parents' Music Resource Center (PMRC) and a series of Senate hearings in 1985, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) introduced, in 1990, a uniform labeling system using the logo, "Parental Advisory - Explicit Lyrics."
The RIAA initiated this system without providing record companies with any standards, criteria or guidelines for determining what albums should be labeled. That decision is left completely up to the companies, which have chosen to label only selected rock and rap albums and not recordings of country music, opera or musical comedy that may also contain controversial material.
Background information, and a 'for-and-against' interview from ACLU: Popular music under seige (ACLU)
Statement of Hilary Rosen, President and CEO, Recording Industry Association of America before the Committee on Governmental Affairs, United States Senate "Rating Entertainment Ratings" (July 25, 2001)
Read statement
News articles on explicit lyrics:
Race leaders, musicians and academics are discussing setting up an ethical code for the British black music industry to tackle the increasing use of offensive lyrics. The debate has been organised by the Black Music Congress (BMC) which was set up to discuss issues around black music.
Story from BBC (28 June 2002)
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) recently launched a new campaign to improve awareness among parents, educators and music consumers about its Parental Advisory programme.
Story from BBC (27 May 2002)
Representatives of the American music industry and politicians meet on Wednesday to discuss new plans to protect children from explicit lyrics. The government has threatened to introduce sweeping reforms of ratings systems, which would replace the music business' current voluntary system.
Story from BBC (25 July 2001)
To censor or not to censor? This is the thorny question parents face when their kids bring home music they find offensive. Should freedom of expression override house rules based on what parents feel are appropriate values for their kids?
From Media Awareness Network
In 10 years, the parental advisory sticker has become a fixture. Reports estimate that one-third of the country's top-selling albums carry the tag, and a study claims that 74 percent of parents are "very satisfied" or "somewhat satisfied" with the parental advisory label.
Extensive article on the sticker debate, including interview with Luther Campbell of 2 Live Crew. Story from The Village Voice (May 2001) |
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| Read more: |
| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Elton John attacks new 'era of censorship' in America |
| The British singer has attacked what he calls a McCarthy-like "era of censorship" in America. Entertainers who speak out against the Bush administration or its policy on Iraq, he claimed, risk scorn and damage to their livelihood |
| 17 July 2004 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| Music during wartime |
| An extensive collection of links to articles related to how the war on Iraq affected freedom of musical expression - from American country albums being burned to the rise in protest music |
| 10 June 2003 |
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| 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 |
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| Patti Smith |
| From Tibet to the US: Video interview with Patti Smith on the importance on free musical expression |
| 17 August 2001 |
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| Kris Kristofferson |
| Video interview with American folk singer Kris Kristofferson about his personal experiences with music censorship in USA - and in Russia |
| 31 March 2008 |
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| Governments against dance music |
| Laws are in place all over Europe, in the USA and in Asia, "aimed at stifling dance music culture", according to music organisers |
| 14 October 2005 |
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| Hip-Hop as a Political Tool |
| Five steps to using hip hop within a political framework and to developing a viable political constituency in the hip-hop generation |
| 08 June 2004 |
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| 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 |
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| Crackdown on music in public space |
| Many cities world-wide are debating whether music in public space is to be considered a form of noise pollution. Some ban, others encourage street performances and music lessons |
| 16 February 2006 |
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