[cma-l] Offensive Lyrics

Mon Aug 17 09:18:22 BST 2009

Whilst I agree with Ian's point about the need for us (as  
broadcasters) to be responsible in what we do in all respects, we  
cannot and should not ignore Mark's point about access. Let's consider  
who we are and who we serve. In the case of the Steve from Salford, he  
serves an inner city area why this genre of music will have clear  
impacts for SOME members of his community, members who will almost  
certainly not be served by local BBC or commercial radio. Are we  
saying that because they choose to use expletives then their music is  
not worthy of airplay? Remember society frowned upon both The Beatles  
and Elvis Presley as their behaviour was seen to be immoral.

Julie's wish for her presenters not to play music with swearing in at  
all is probably right for her audience and is certainly right for any  
daytime audience. I have an eagle ear for this kind of thing in the  
music we play and will weed it out, as will our music team and our  
station manager. What we are talking about here though is one show of  
a specific genre that will serve a specific and under served audience.  
An audience which expects expletives from some (but not all) artists.

Let's be clear. I am NOT saying we should open the floodgates and let  
bad language and songs that encourage illegal behaviour on-air when  
the kids are listening but where an approach is made for a specific  
genre then we should have this kind of debate to consider it and  
consider the benefits it can bring to our stations and communities.

Rich
Spark FM, Sunderland

Richard Berry
Senior Lecturer in Radio Studies
Admissions Tutor
Programme Leader: FdA Community Radio & BA Radio
The David Puttnam Media Centre, St Peters Campus
Sunderland, SR6 0DD
Tel: 0191 515 2239
Skype, Facebook & Twitter: richardberryuk
Web: www.sunderland.ac.uk/radio
Tags: www.delicious.com/richardberry
Blog:myblogs.sunderland.ac.uk/blogs/radio/

On 16 Aug 2009, at 18:14, Julie at radiowestsuffolk.co.uk wrote:

> Gentlemen please!
>
> Having come from a "working" class East End family, father a builder,
> so I know all the expletives under the sun, rubbish school etc.
> However, whilst I could turn the "air blue" as good as any, I know
> when it is and isn't appropriate. I find songs with swearing in
> offensive and I would hope that so would my presenters, regardless of
> age, class etc.
>
> Surely, if you can't sing a song without effing and blinding in it,
> don't sing a song.
>
>
> Julie MacLeod
> Station Manager - My father called me Margo because he thought I was  
> posh!
>
> Listen to me every Friday night at 8pm for the Request Show or every  
> other
> Wednesday at 6pm for "What's Going On". www.radiowestsuffolk.co.uk
> RWSfm is coming to Bury Soon!
>
>
> Quoting Ian Hickling <transplanfm at hotmail.com>:
>
>>
>>
>>
>> Well that's where we'll have to disagree Mark.
>>
>> It seems fashionable to denegrate the idea of having standards - and
>> look where it's got us.
>>
>> If you like to align the concept of right and wrong to "so called
>> respectable, white, middle class, daily mail readers" then so be it
>> - but I'd remind you that the people we've democratically elected to
>> represent and govern us fall loosely into that general catergory.
>>
>> Of course the use of expletives is everyday conversation is
>> widespread and generally tolerated - but I suggest that the lower
>> down the social, financial and responsibility scale you look, the
>> greater is the usage.
>>
>> Do we need to set a tolerance level across all frontiers and
>> universally enforce it?
>> No, of course not.
>>
>> But I do profoundly object to offensiveness for offensiveness' sake,
>> and offence is what obscene lyrics in songs appear solely to seek.
>>
>> If we're going to say that music should reflect the language used by
>> a section of the community, then why restrict it to that? Shouldn't
>> we to be consistent then encourage the use of that medium to
>> advocate drugs, violence, child abuse, teenage pregnancy and all the
>> other characteristics of modern society?
>>
>> I don't think that most of us would like that.
>>
>> And, by the way, I don't recall ever having knowingly read the Daily
>> Mail in the whole of my life.
>>
>> Ian
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> CC: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>> From: paradigm.productions at ntlworld.com
>> To: transplanfm at hotmail.com
>> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Offensive lyrics
>> Date: Sun, 16 Aug 2009 11:56:19 +0100
>>
>> I have to disagree with you Ian. A provocative lyric that includes
>> say the F word is merely reflecting the language used by a section
>> of the community and it's occasional use can certainly have impact.
>> If community radio is to genuinely reflect all sections of the
>> community there is a need for programming that to some would be
>> regarded as offensive. Racist or homophobic language is of course
>> not acceptable anywhere as it is illegal.
>>
>>
>> To make the judgement you have about what is "conventional means"
>> when it comes to communication is perhaps not helpful as it suggests
>> that so called respectable, white, middle class, daily mail
>> reader's  are the arbiter of right and wrong. I would suggest this
>> is far from  the truth. Just because someone chooses to communicate
>> in different  way to me does not make either of us conventional or
>> right or wrong.  We all just use the language and means that we find
>> comfortable and  accessible to us.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Mark Harris
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 16 Aug 2009, at 07:58, Ian Hickling wrote:
>>
>>
>> Whilst wholeheartedly agreeing with Richard's suggestions, I have to
>> question the reasoning behind the need to play material which has a
>> lyric which is intended to be provocative or offensive.
>> What is the artist trying to achieve other than to offend?
>> It's often defended by protagonists as portraying modern culture -
>> but is this something that we as responsible broadcasters want to
>> highlight or promote?
>> My own view is that an artist who feels the need to use an offensive
>> lyric is merely betraying his own inadequacy for communicating
>> effectively by conventional means and as such is not worthy of
>> exposure on radio or anywhere else.
>> Ian Hickling
>> Partner
>> transplan UK
>>
>>
>>
>> From: richard.berry at sunderland.ac.uk
>> To: Stevensuttie at aol.com
>> Date: Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:40:56 +0100
>> CC: cma-l at commedia.org.uk
>> Subject: Re: [cma-l] Hip Hop - offensive lyrics?
>>
>> ofcom are right to advise you as they have done, a 'health warning'
>> would merely be a mitigating factor if a complaint was made. The
>> first thing you can do is to take care when scheduling the
>> programme. For example, if you put it after the big band show then
>> 67 year old Agnes is likely to hear it and be offended, whereas
>> putting it after the rock show at 10pm you'd be less likely to find
>> people offended by the content - especially given the content of
>> some rock songs!! Don't rule out recording the show and playing out
>> in the wee small hours if you have the kit to do it.
>>
>>
>> You could try and make some edits yourself or talking to the labels
>> to see if they can send you the clean versions. Some will, some
>> won't. If you have legal copies of the rude versions then a digital
>> copy via email will do just fine for broadcast. You may also want
>> him to record the show so you can clear it before it goes out. The
>> more you can the more you can show you've been in control of the
>> content. If someone complains and you've not taken any steps to
>> ensure compliance then they will kick you more for that than any
>> actual breach of the rules!
>>
>>
>> Regards
>> Rich
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Richard Berry
>> Senior Lecturer in Radio Studies
>> Admissions Tutor
>> Programme Leader: FdA Community Radio & BA Radio
>> The David Puttnam Media Centre, St Peters Campus
>> Sunderland, SR6 0DD
>> Tel: 0191 515 2239
>> Skype, Facebook & Twitter: richardberryuk
>> Web: www.sunderland.ac.uk/radio
>> Tags: www.delicious.com/richardberry
>> Blog:myblogs.sunderland.ac.uk/blogs/radio/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 12 Aug 2009, at 14:11, Stevensuttie at aol.com wrote:
>>
>>
>> Dear CMA colleagues,
>>
>> I have a very enthusiastic young chap who wishes to do a Hip Hop
>> show. I have zero knowledge of this particular genre, other than the
>> music often talks about rascist, violent and sexual matters.
>>
>> Unfortunately, this volunteer cannot get hold of radio edits for all
>> songs, so occasionally, lyrics that may cause offence may be
>> broadcast. I called OFCOM this morning to ask if this was
>> acceptable, if we put out disclaimers along the lines of "Warning:
>> The following music contains lyrics that may cause offence - if you
>> are easily offended this programme isn't for you." The answer was
>> unclear from OFCOM - but put bluntly - that disclaimer would not
>> serve as a protection should a listener complain.
>>
>> So I wondered what everybody else does? Any help or guidance on this
>> matter will be gratefully received.
>>
>> Thanks in advance
>>
>> Kindest Regards
>> Steve Suttie
>> Station Manager, 94.4FM Salford City Radio
>> office 0161 793 2939
>> mobile 07772 355 852
>> WINNERS - Community Award - Salford Business Awards 2009
>> Visit our Website
>> www 
>> .salfordcityradio.org_______________________________________________
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