Does PMRC Play A Role In Music Censorship?

Beginning in the 1980's, religious fundamentalists and some parents' groups have waged a persistent campaign to limit the variety of cultural messages available to American youth by attacking the content of some of the music industry's creative products. These attacks have taken numerous forms, including a call by

     “Every person has the right to choose what they will and will not listen to. If they feel that the music is not of their tastes, and or find it offensive, then they will choose not to listen to it”(1). Most of the people who are offended by certain music genres usually do not listen to that type of music nor do

Censorship has long been an issue in Rock and Roll music. Although our American society celebrates “classic” rock that emerged in the 60’s and 70’s, today, artists such as: The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Doors, The Sex Pistols, and Bob Dylan were harshly judged for their music and image they projected because some members of society feared they were too suggestive, or just completely inappropriate. These rebellious artists fought against their music being censored in the best ways for their bands.

Danny Goldberg argues in "The Government Should Not Restrict Media Marketed to Children” that FTC regulation on media is affecting the entertainment industry’s profits on production of violent media content. The specific bill introduced is the Media Marketing Accountability Act of 2001. He believes that there should not be a restriction placed on marketing media to children. Goldberg posits that FTC regulation is a “radical bill” that takes away the power of parents to determine what is appropriate for their children (Goldberg). An additional point the author makes is that many of the restricted media, specifically rap music, is produced by African Americans; therefore, there is a culture bias on these restrictions. Thirdly, Goldberg states that limiting marketing on media to children, specifically

Artist are protected through the first amendment to express their feelings through the art of music. They use their songs to get an issue out to the world, to tell about something personal, for entertainment, to relate to the world, or to make a statement. Censoring the music is discrimination against the emotion the artist felt in their song. It’s like taking the first amendment away from the artist and listeners.The government can't limit expression just because of any listener, or a community is offended by the content and characters of the song. We have a choice of what we listen to. We aren’t forced to listen to anything. If you feel a certain genre of music has too rated for you or children, don’t play it. We have a choice. We have a choice. We as Americans have a

     The Parents Music Resource Center and other censorship groups became a thorn in the side of free speech when many parents (like Tipper Gore) were outraged and disgusted by this new music known as “rap.” Censorship organizations demand that these new performers like Ice-T and NWA become banned from the radio and their music be labeled as indecent and explicit in order to protect America’s Youth from listening to this so-called “filth.” Rap has since been the biggest target for censorship, with groups going as far as saying that, “there has been a marked increase in explicit violence and misogyny in popular music, and it stands to reason that exposure to such hate filled lyrics has had a effect on kids’ attitudes, assumptions, decisions, and behavior” (Senate subcommittee…). This is a crazy assumption with no facts to back it up. According to Vincent Shiraldi, the executive director of the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, “There has been a 30

Without appropriate censorship children would be flipping through the channels, hearing the “F- word” and watching nudity scenes. Within the radio community, there are only certain words that are not allowed to be said on regular radio talk, and in the music they play. Many people find offense to certain profanity and feel as though it is obscene. Children should be protected from the asinine people who feel it is appropriate to run their months. Within the last decade a group call Kidz Bop was created.

Music censorship is the editing and cutting of specific words or phrases for a purpose in order to bound distinct subject matter from young minds and to prevent more wrongdoings in the inferior generations. The problem with censorship isn't just the reigns on the free mind, but on what the mind can bestow as a gift to others. Music serves more than just as a means of entertainment. Music conveys messages to the world, and professes problems that are puzzling to deliberate with parents. The bad thing about censoring music is the fact that our right to expression is denounced by other people uncomfortable with certain musical topics (Lombardo, 2017). Censorship is meant to mask certain words and phrases from younger audiences as to not warp young minds into thinking that doing drugs, drinking and suicide are acceptable (Lombardo, 2017).

So overall, Music has it’s own particular area of censorship which is unique and flawed in it’s own way. Although there have been some more recent changes in music to support the freedom of artists, the past has been condemning and rough for artists to easily “express,” themselves through their

Numerous people influence a child before adulthood and each one of them has to be aware of the impact that they have. That includes the people at YouTube, Star 104, or the countless other companies that allow children to access music today. How accessible age inappropriate music is for young children is problematic. More awareness by people in charge of young children partnered with more restrictions by media distribution companies would greatly decrease the amount of access that they have to age inappropriate music. That would mean less influence by those songs and a longer preservation of their innocence, and who would not want that young child to think he can be a superhero when he grows

In 2003, <management of the Six Flags Amusement Park in Darien Lakes, New York, banned Marilyn Manson from performing at the park as part of the Ozzfest tour. In 2003, radio stations across the country removed songs by the Dixie Chiks from airplay because of a comment from the group’s lead singer saying that she was “embarrassed the U.S. President George W. Bush was from her home state of Texas. ”The list of examples, as extensive as it is, only includes some of the major events in music censorship history. The reality of censorship is, as common or persistent as it may be, it really does not constrict the music that is heard. It is becoming increasingly easy to discover and download music online, where, faced against the infinite expanse of the Internet, censorship can be borderline humorously ineffective. There are not even any studies proving the exact effects of music on youth, or people in general for the matter. As Victor Lombardi put it, “An extensive study encompassing psychology, physiology, behavioral studies, sociology, and music would have to be do to prove a form of music is capable of causing harm. The researches would have to be trained not only in research methods but in all these fields and the music involved. A willing, impartial musicologist proficient in the music of

This labeling of albums is not the first attempt and success at censoring music. For 50 years radio stations have been censoring songs deemed inappropriate. In 1940 NBC banned 147 songs. The Supreme Court upheld the FCC's authority to regulate music in 1978 (Winfield pg. 14). The rock and roll community could only expect some sort of limited censorship. Initially the ban was only in effect from 6 am until midnight but in 1988 president Reagan made the ban all day. The FCC in an attempt to let radio stations know what types of songs were unacceptable sent a list of 22

Music with explicit lyrics or content started having black and white parental advisories on them in 1994 (http://www.riaa.org/Parents-Advisory-4.cfm). Are these labels necessary? Is controversial music molding our society and causing teenagers to turn to drugs? Is censorship necessary to protect the youth of our nation. Generally, younger people are against censorship on this issue. Music is an outlet and even an anti-drug for many teens; however, parents and society feel differently. Should parents censor their children or society, many parents would like to raise their own

Music is one of the most popular ways of expression and has been for generations. It makes us want to dance, inspires, soothes, relaxes, and sometimes tells us a story. Music is something the whole world shares and has brought together different kinds of people. However, there has been a question on whether some music has affected society negatively and crossed the line with some of its lyrics, content, and the persona of the artists. Certain music has been boycotted and even banned in the U.S. Pro-censorship supporters say that music is something that can deeply affect our society especially children who should not have to be subjected to things like violence, sex, drugs, or hate. However, being that music is a form of expression,

Throughout the years, music has evolved and transformed in many ways. However, there are restrictions in today’s music, otherwise known as, censorships. A crisis has emerged concerning the issue of censorship. This argument consists of two possible stances: one, supporting the continuation of censorship, and two, eliminating the status quo of censorships in the music industry. There have been countless debates and arguments regarding the issues of censorship ever since the U.S. Congress passed the Radio Act in 1927 (The History). The time has arrived for censorship to be brought to an end. The government should release their grip on the censorship of music for the following reasons: it obstructs the public’s freedom of choice, it