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NEWS
01 February 2001

Wal-Mart: Market censors and market mechanisms
Background information and articles on the biggest retailer in the US, who is often accused of censorship

In 1996, singer Sheryl Crow caused controversy with the lyrics “Watch out sister, Watch out brother, Watch out children while they kill each other, with a gun they bought at Wal-Mart discount store.”
Wal-Mart refused to sell the album unless she changed the lyric, but she refused and it stayed regardless of her losing album sales.
Other acts, who have been asked by Wal-Mart to change lyrics or song titles, include The Prodigy and Nirvana. The latter had the song title ‘Rape Me’ changed to ‘Waif Me’…

Background articles:

In some areas of the country, Wal-Mart is the only place to buy CDs or tapes. While it is well known that Wal-Mart doesn't carry labeled CDs, the New York Times recently detailed in a front-page story how the chain and other big retailers are having an insidious effect on music and movie production. Like cancerous cells, adulterated censored CDs are proliferating in Wal-Mart's bins, in many cases without being identified as such.

Read more: "Wal-Mart Blues". Article from MetroActive (1999)


Wal-Mart refuses to sell any CD or tape with a parental warning sticker, even if it has been slapped on by mistake, as in the case of rapper Bizzy Bone, who was mistakenly accused of condoning school violence. Even after the error was explained -- Bizzy raps so fast that the words are hard to make out -- the store would not carry the CD. "Perception is reality," a Wal-Mart spokesperson said.

Read more: Interview with Eric Nuzum (2001)


ROC calls for a national boycott of Wal-Mart:
"When a mega-corporation like Wal-Mart decides to restrict sales to that which is deemed "safe" by someone within that company, it has the SAME chilling effect on the music community as a full governmental legislative attack would. It basically works as a corporate mechanism to keep the music industry in line, creating a situation where the artists face economic ruin if they dare cross Wal-Mart's "line in the family-values sand". It is corporate censorship just as strong as governmental censorship, and it goes completely against the SPIRIT of freedom this country was founded on while not directly violating the Constitution."

Read more
Taboo Tunes: music censorship in the US
Taboo Tunes (2004) also focus on market censors and the role of Wal-Mart

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Read more:

Wal-Mart: Market censors and market mechanisms
Background information on the biggest retailer in the US. Some Wal-Mart retailers refuse to carry CDs with the Parental Advisory Sticker, a few also go so far as to boycott artists if there is a 'dirty' word, a 'controversial' cover, or 'explicit' lyrics
01 February 2001
Pop lyrics and their censors
"Political correctness has imposed a new restraint on free speech." Interview with Freemuse co-chair Martin Cloonan on explicit lyrics and music censorship today
15 January 2004
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: Rock superstars censored for their lyrics
On February 5, 2006, rock music veterans The Rolling Stones were censored during their performance at the Super Bowl - one of the most-watched events on US tv
10 February 2006
The Market and Media Censors - panel debate
Panel discussion at the 1st Freemuse World Conference on Music and Censorship in Copenhagen in 1998 with Noam Ben-Zeev, Gerald Seligman, and Martin Cloonan.
01 January 2001
Beenie Man banned from MTV gig
Reggae star Beenie Man - recently accused of "lyrics that are an incitement to homophobic murder and violence" - has been banned from performing at an MTV concert after gay activists planned a protest over the singer's past lyrics
04 September 2004
USA: College bans national anthem because of too violent lyrics
A 1,000-student college in Indiana State has banned ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at all sporting events because the national anthem’s lyrics are too violent and glorifying war
31 August 2011
USA: Controversial lyrics lead to concert cancellation
British punk rock band Gallows were removed from the bill of The House Of Blues in California due to offence taken to their lyrics by the owner of the venue, the Disney Company
29 January 2008
USA: Panel debate on censorship of music lyrics
The speakers looked at the issue of censorship of controversial lyrics in popular music through the prism of the First Amendment
24 October 2005
Wal-Mart is sued over rude lyrics
The parents of a 13-year-old girl are suing US supermarket giant Wal-Mart over a CD by rock group Evanescence that contains swear words. Wal-Mart has a policy of not stocking CDs which carry parental advisory labels
11 December 2004
Prince Says He Wants Less Explicit Lyrics
"I have a responsibility to (young fans) to perform in a manner that I would like my children to be performed in front of"
16 July 2004
Explicit Lyrics & Parental Advisory
Tipper Gore, the PMRC, and the infamous black-and-white logo: Background material and news articles
01 February 2004
Jamaica: Ban on violent and explicit sexual lyrics
A government-led crackdown on violent and explicit sexual lyrics seems to have stalled reggae music’s 20-year slide into what has been dubbed “murder music”
04 October 2010
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
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
UK / USA: ‘Offending’ album title covered with sticker
The British rock band Arctic Monkeys’ new album is entitled ‘Suck It And See’ - a phrase which causes a stir in the US where major stores will cover the offending album title
06 June 2011
USA: The US rock group Pearl Jam’s anti-Bush statement censored on webcast
Parts of a Pearl Jam live concert webcast was left out by the main sponsor AT&T. When the lead singer sang “George Bush, leave this world alone” transmission was interrupted
15 August 2007
USA: Dixie Chicks' triumph over censorship: Five Grammys
It was a victory over censorship and death threats when Dixie Chicks 'swept' the most prestigious honours in the global music calendar, the Grammy Awards
12 February 2007
USA: Dixie Chicks film about censorship censored
The American tv-network NBC and the CW Television Network has refused to air ads for the new Dixie Chicks documentary, ‘Shut Up & Sing’
30 October 2006
USA/UK: Media giant claimed to threaten British music
“Texan media firm Clear Channel Communications is increasingly casting its shadow over the music scene in Britain,” writes Granville Williams
23 February 2006
Freemuse report on censorship in post 9/11 USA
’Singing in the Echo Chamber’. Music censorship in the U.S. after September 11. New report published by Freemuse
13 February 2006
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
Viva Corporate Control!?
European independent music companies slam Universal’s alleged payola deal with Viva to guarantee video-time for Universals’ artists in return for payment
12 December 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
USA/Cuba: Impossible Music Session 4 - Not appearing: Escuadrón Patriota
The 'Impossible Music Session' no 4 takes place on Friday 10 June 2011 at 8:00 PM in Pfizer Auditorium in Brooklyn, New York, USA
18 May 2011
USA / Jamaica: Buju Banton has US tour canceled by promoters
US concert promoters canceled shows by Buju Banton after protests from gay rights advocacy organisations over the singer's homophobic song lyrics
07 September 2009
Jamaica / USA: Boundaries of freedom of musical expression examined
The boundaries of free speech in today's popular music culture are to be examined in a tv programme recorded in New York, USA, on 7 February 2008
22 January 2008
Sweden: Explicit lyrics cause heated debate about women’s sexuality
After being banned on two regional radio stations, the lyrics of a song by Frida Muranius are debated in newspapers, radio, web forums and court yards all over Sweden
11 July 2007
USA: Printing plant refused to print 'satanic' album cover
A forthcoming death metal album from Akercocke has caused uproar amongst religious groups in Ireland and USA. A US printing plant has refused to print 'satanic' material
16 May 2007
USA: Grammy awards to blacklist songs containing the n-word
New York's City Council has asked The Recording Academy, home of the Grammys, not to nominate musicians for Grammy awards if they use the word 'nigger' in their lyrics
01 March 2007
USA: Controversial reggae star's show called off
A Los Angeles nightclub has canceled a performance by reggae star Buju Banton because of his lyrics against homosexuality
26 September 2006
USA: Record label accused of boycotting song
Famous rapper Master P believes that Sony BMG are placing phone calls to radio stations across USA, demanding that his son’s single not get played and negotiating “no-play deals”
11 May 2006
Press release: Post 9/11 USA report
Freemuse report on USA after 9/11
13 February 2006
USA: Country song about miscarriage blacklisted
Country singer George Canyon’s song ‘My Name’ is banned by certain American radio stations because it's lyrics are about a woman who miscarried
04 January 2006
USA: Bruce Springsteen's new album banned by Starbucks
Because Bruce Springsteen's song ‘Reno’ describes an explicit encounter with a prostitute, the US coffee shop chain Starbucks has banned the sale of his new album
07 May 2005
Reggae stars dropped because of 'homophobic' lyrics
A collection of articles and background information on Hate Music and the current debate, where Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel, the two controversial reggae acts accused of inciting violence against homosexuals, have been dropped from the UK Mobo Awards show
08 September 2004
Militant Mind State
"Money Censors" The two rappers Spread Love (Omar) and M2 (Jaryd) from Militant Mind State (US) interviewed by Daniel Brown/Freemuse at Roskilde Festival, July 2001
12 September 2001
Kenya: Are musicians composing "dirty" songs just to please listeners?
Editorial from The Nation on explicit lyrics: “Many people have accused the media of contributing to moral decadence by glorifying music with raunchy lyrics and giving minimal airtime to those with positive messages”
12 November 2004
'Anti-gay' lyrics inquiry starts
The government is considering banning reggae star Sizzla from the UK. Meanwhile detectives are investigating claims that lyrics penned by eight leading reggae artists incite violence against homosexuals and are therefore illegal.
03 November 2004
United Kingdom: Reggae concert banned over lyrics
Jamaican singer Buju Banton has been banned from playing a concert in Manchester after protests over his allegedly homophobic lyrics. Greater Manchester Police cancelled the gig as previous performances "suggest a likelihood of public disorder"
23 September 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
USA: Controversy over album cover with photo of World Trade Center attack
The cover of Steve Reich’s new album ‘WTC 9/11’ stirred up such controversy that he asked the publishing company, Nonesuch, to withdraw the image. Nonesuch complied
15 September 2011
USA: 'Footloose' - dance film about a town where rock music is banned
The story of ‘Footloose’ follows the young dance maniac Ren McCormack, a boy who comes to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned
17 August 2011
USA: Jazz musician suspected as terrorist because of his Arabic name
An American jazz pianist's Arabic-sounding name allegedly made US officials suspect a link between his payment for a performance in Europe and possible terrorist activities
27 June 2011
USA: Singer discriminated by anti-discrimination group
Syrian-American musician Malek Jandali was disinvited from performing at an anti-discrimination convention because of a pro-freedom song he was due to perform
15 June 2011
USA: ‘In the face of adversity, the musician cannot sit idly by’
What is the role of the musician in a conflict zone? asked a New York-based magazine to four emerging musicians from areas of conflict
01 December 2010
USA: Radio station focuses on Freemuse CD and music censorship
The Freemuse CD ‘Listen to the banned’ and discussions about the power of music, and music censorship, was in focus in a one-hour radio show on Wisconsin’s public radio
11 November 2010
Guinea-Bissau / USA: Rap artists threatened, appear on live video in New York
Via a live video feed Baloberos Crew from Guinea-Bissau will give a virtual performance in New York on 30 June 2010: Impossible Music Session 2
09 June 2010
USA: Army rapper discharged after nine months imprisonment
The imprisoned soldier, Iraq war veteran and hip-hip artist Marc Hall avoided a scheduled General Court Martial in Iraq for producing an angry anti-‘Stop-loss’ rap song
27 May 2010
USA: Banned music showcased in concert series in New York
A concert with the exiled Pakistani singer Haroon Bacha on 9 December 2009 marks the start of 'Impossible Music Sessions' in New York showcasing banned music
09 December 2009