![]() It ended up being a way for certain retailers like Wal-Mart to brand themselves as 'family friendly'-at least to families who didn't like profanity on records." 7. “Since kids-even before the Internet-were able to get what they wanted. “Overall, I don't think labels adversely ffected sales,” Danny Goldberg, President of GoldVE Entertainment, told NPR. Despite vows by some stores not to sell albums with the labels, fans still purchased the music and younger fans found a way to listen to it. Some artists and others in the industry were worried about the effects of censorship on the music and on sales. ALBUM SALES WERE NOT AFFECTED BY THE WARNING LABELS. Today they are incorporated into both physical and digital artwork for albums and singles and are still considered a recommendation, not a requirement. In 1994, the warnings were revised again to read “Parental Advisory: Explicit Content.” Despite being called stickers, the labels were incorporated into the permanent artwork for the albums instead of being stuck to the outside of the cases. The warning labels were revised in 1990 to read “Parental Advisory: Explicit Lyrics,” and size, color, and placement recommendations were put into place (black-and-white squares on the lower right corner). THE LABELS HAVE UNDERGONE A FEW DESIGN CHANGES OVER THE YEARS. The ruling was later overturned, and there were two versions of the album released: a clean version titled Clean As They Wanna Be, and the uncensored version which featured the PA label. The project was deemed illegal, so when the group decided to perform the songs anyway they were arrested. In 1990, a federal district judge ruled that an album by the group 2 Live Crew, titled As Nasty as They Wanna Be, was obscene. ![]() A HIP-HOP ALBUM WAS BANNED IN THE PROCESS. No one was going to agree to those demands, but after Senate hearings with label executives and prominent musicians, a compromise was reached that stipulated that either lyrics would be printed on the back cover, or albums would bear labels that read “Explicit Lyrics-Parental Advisory.” 4. They demanded that all lyrics be printed on album covers, that explicit covers be relocated to behind store counters, and that labels “reassess contracts” with musicians who create explicit content. THE PMRC WANTED MORE THAN JUST A LABEL ON EXPLICIT ALBUMS.Īccording to NPR, the group rejected the Recording Industry Association of America’s (RIAA) initial plan to have record labels include advisories because they wanted to take more extreme measures. Musicians including Dee Snider and Frank Zappa became deeply involved in the war that ensued, speaking at hearings and appearing on television to combat the claims of the PMRC and to stand against censorship of their art. The list featured popular and successful recording artists of the time, including Prince (“Darling Nikki”), Madonna (“Dress You Up”), Mötley Crüe, W.A.S.P., Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, Cyndi Lauper, and Twisted Sister. PMRC chose 15 rock and pop songs that they objected to on the grounds that they contained lyrics that were too violent or sexual. BEFORE THERE WERE LABELS, THERE WAS THE LIST.įrank Zappa testifying before a Senate committee in 1985. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons Known as the “ Washington Wives,” the women, along with other members, used their connections to start a political battle against musicians and the music industry for content that they felt was inappropriate for children. In 1985, a non-profit foundation called Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) was formed by Tipper Gore (wife to then-Senator Al Gore), Susan Baker (wife to former Secretary of State James A. Here are some things you should know about parental advisory stickers and the so-called “Obscenity Wars.” 1. The warning labels have become a common (though not required) part of the industry, with many record labels choosing to use them on content that may be considered inappropriate for kids. But it was a hard-fought battle to get to this point. Unless you’re buying music for a minor (or are one yourself), it’s easy to ignore the “Parental Advisory” label in the bottom right corner of some album covers.
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