Music Lyrics Article

Music Subjected to Warning Labels

The Recording Industry Association of America, otherwise known as the RIAA, started working with other parties in 1985 to develop their program for including warning labels on tapes and CDs. These labels, referred to as Parental Advisory warnings, are intended to keep parents knowledgeable to the fact that their children may be listening to music with explicit lyrics.

The RIAA works with recording companies to ensure that the labels are applied properly to the jacket of the CD. This way, parents can take a more proactive and informed role in helping their children choose music that will be appropriate for them.

Contrary to popular belief, this program is not mandatory. The artist is given the option to have the parental advisory label added to their recordings, but many have felt it was better to be a part of the program and make responsible choices with the songs they choose to add to their records and participate in the program than not to. Because it is a voluntary program, retailers also have the option of allowing the sale of recordings with the PA label to minors, but as with the artists themselves, most stores have decided to restrict the sale of those items to people over the age of 18.

The RIAA has general guidelines that determine which recordings should have the PA label and which shouldn't. It is ultimately up to the recording company and the artist to determine whether the lyrics they're using are socially responsible. References to substance abuse, sex, and violence are general indicators, but there are others.

It must be considered, in an overall sense, whether parents would want their children to listen to specific types of lyrics. How the public may perceive the lyrics and the context in which they are presented need to be considered as well. Just because one person hears something and interprets it in one way, does not mean that the next person who hears it will have that same perception.

The RIAA also has another facet to the program that allows for the release of edited versions of a CD that has already been given the PA label. In this situation, an Edited Version label is applied to let parents know that the particular artist has released a more "friendly" version of a CD. This, however, isn't a catchall. A parent should still review the album to make sure that it is appropriate for their child.