Censorship is the protection rights that regulate music videos by the content it contains for example explicit language used within music videos would be unsuitable for children under the ages of 15 as they ay contain adult themes, drugs, strong language, moderate violence and mild sex activity this videos would normally appear after mid-night for over 18s. Censorship provides symbols of age ratings for each age group and category although the censorship system is not shown on most websites allowing labels and unsigned artists to express their music to a wider audience. The vulnerable masses are exposed to these videos accusing them as unpleasant while some say it’s an art form. Some viewers believe masses should be protected from some violence, sexual explicitness or political/ religions while some viewers see music as an art and be expressed constantly what ever the content; this is where the censorship laws come into place.
Over the years many media productions such as music videos have caused controversy towards the public by the use improper use of language and content used in music videos. This has been shown many times throughout the years as censorship began to be a lot tighter on radio and television for example the mid-80s British pop band Frankie Goes To Hollywood released their song ‘Relax’ which some say referenced sexual lyrics “When I’m gonna come?” this was seen as a strong reference to sex. Many consumers disliked the video and wanted it of air-time as it was shown to large audiences internationally which was seen as harmful to vulnerable masses, however some audiences enjoyed the video which generated more sales for the band.
British pop star Robbie Williams’ music video released in 2000 ‘Rock DJ’ is a more recent video which was banned due to the graphic nature of a male dancing naked and pulling off his flesh and muscles until he was a dancing skeleton. The video was censored in the U.K and banned in Dominican Republic
Online censorship is a huge feature on online social networks and video sites such as Youtube because international regulations doesn’t apply to online sources which unsigned artists and labels take advantage of to attract their audiences and other masses. By their being no censorship laws that apply on online sites it allows all to watch videos as artists can always be viewed on sites this making it easy access to watch any of their videos. Youtube is a main site that many artists use to promote themselves through uploading videos; many unsigned artists upload their videos on Youtube which they can’t on television. Many mass complain about this site as some videos which are uploaded are seen as unpleasant for example ‘hood videos’ which on most occasions encourages strong violence, crime and drugs which are mostly gang implied. For example the music video ‘RIS24/MTS – Stop Snitching [Limitlessvids] Free L’s!!’ was a video uploaded onto Youtube which encouraged many violent acts through gang activity and contained strong language. BBC News warned people of its content although this video wasn’t taken off because censorship laws don’t apply online so masses can still view the video.
Music channels that show music videos such as MTV have been criticized for the censoring of most of their music videos over the years. Although censorship seriousness in music videos has decreased to the changes over the years such as audiences’ subcultures, artists, politics, religions, ect the consumer is only shown two types of censorship that being the muted out words in the artists lyrics and blurred out images which are seen inappropriate and extreme sexual imagery removed to not offend masses by the music channels.
