www.musicweek.com
30.03.12MusicWeek 3
DAVID CAMERON SET TO MEET RECORD EXECS OVER AGE CLASSIFICATIONS AND YOUTUBE
Sex And The Committee U
POLITICS BY TIM INGHAM
K recorded music industry leaders are awaiting a summons to
No.10 to discuss the thorny subject of sexually explicit music videos with PM David Cameron. A consultation looking to
ensure that children do not have access to potentially harmful material is due to be published by the DCMS in the spring. Cinema-style age ratings for music videos are under consideration, but widely opposed by record companies who are arguing for self-regulation. David Cameron is thought to
be keen on the idea of movie- style age classifications following recommendations from last year’s Bailey Review into the Commercialisation and Sexualisation of Children. The issue once again hit the
headlines this week, with YouTube placing an age gate on 53-year-old Madonna’s new video for single Girl Gone Wild. YouTube is willing to restrict videos following consumer complaints if they contain “nudity and dramatised or implied sexual conduct”. However, an official BPI
Parental Advisory online scheme launched last year has not yet been adopted by the Google- owned platform – and fears are
Borderline?: Scenes from Madonna’s raunchy video for new single Girl Gone Wild have been age- rated by YouTube
growing that without YouTube’s signature, calls for BBFC-style age ratings could gain momentum at Government level. The likes of iTunes, Amazon,
HMV, Tesco and VEVO have signed up to the BPI initiative,
which marks digital files and videos with the word EXPLICIT – so long as labels include metadata in files indicating that they contain potentially offensive content. BPI chief executive Geoff
Taylor told Music Week: “Most of the key digital music services are already implementing the new scheme, and we are working hard to persuade the remaining few, including YouTube, to come on board.
“We believe that the
digital environment should offer consumers a music experience that is convenient, easy to use, legal and safe. We will continue to engage with industry and Government to achieve those goals.” Reg Bailey, the head of the
Mothers’ Union and Bailey Review, told BBC Radio 5 last week: “This is not a question of interfering with artistic freedom. It is simply saying ... that if [videos] are not age- rated, parents and children can get a huge shock when they see stuff that they weren’t expecting to see.”
VIEWPOINT ‘I BELIEVE IN RESPONSIBLE ACTION... NOT A MOVE TOWARDS CLASSIFICATION’
DAVID JOSEPH UNIVERSAL MUSIC UK CHAIRMAN & CEO
“This is an incredibly sensitive subject, and it’s quite easy to fall into saying the coolest thing – but I do believe there is an issue here. It’s important this doesn’t get blown out of proportion; this whole thing’s about context. “At this industry’s heart,
we should completely support artist freedom and delete the word censorship from anyone’s vocabulary. “However, times are changing
and [Universal] and I believe in responsible action. It might sound trite; but as a father of an eight-, six- and four-year-old, I’m incredibly conscious of policing
the internet and the effect the internet can have in school and outside one’s home. “Personally, I think David
Cameron has a point in raising the issue – but it’s about what we do about it once it’s been raised. I would welcome a move towards voluntary measures, but I 100% do not welcome a move towards classification boards. They will be cumbersome and delay creativity. When an artist creates something, it often has a timely or immediate message – I believe they and we should be able to put it out when we want. “That said, on VEVO when
there’s explicit content on a video, it shows a little flag that says: ‘Contains explicit content’. Likewise, when we deliver a track that has explicit lyrics, it’s tagged on iTunes. “It’s going to affect a handful
of videos a year, but if there’s something with content that shouldn’t be seen by an eight- or 10-year-old I believe it’s a responsible act [for the label] to put a little flag up on the video before it’s seen. Then at least you give people the chance to switch off. “A lot of what the Government is going to try and do is not
specifically aimed at the music industry or our artists – it’s aimed at ISPs and search engines to play their role. You need to know as a parent what sites are safe for your children to view and what they’re going to see. I don’t think that’s censorship; I’m for freedom of expression. “But it’s responsible, and it’s
something I want to take a look at. I won’t deny that on a personal level I’m conscious about it as a father. I’ll wait for the meeting [with the PM], but we’re already taking steps towards this and have been for some time. There’s just a bit of common sense needed.”
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52