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RECORDING INDUSTRY CODE

Music Code Complaints Hotline Phone (02) 9267 4504 (Mar 2001)

Before ringing the above number about offensive or poorly labeled material or lodging a written complaint, read the information below.

Under the Self Regulation System operating in Australia since 1996 the Australian Record Industry Association(ARIA) have adopted principles for you, these are.......

1.Adults in a democratic society should be free to listen to what they wish.

Note: This is adapted from the infamous "Murphy Statement" of 8th March 1973 advising....."Adults shall be entitled to read, hear and view what they wish in private or in public and....persons and those in their care SHALL NOT be exposed to material that is offensive to them".

Note: This statement was made 10 years before the invention of video tape recorders and PC computers, 17 years before the internet and computer games, and 26 years before Hard Core Death Metal Music.....it was quoted in 1984 as being obsolete & unworkable by 1976.

Note:Interestingly, car seat belt protection was made compulsory around that time therefore,...."Banning in a democratic society, the right to wear or not wear a seatbelt as they wish".

2. Creative artists should be free to express themselves without fear of intervention.

Note: Like the US movie industry, US recording artists & song writers can legally advise another person (i.e. son) to kill you (i.e.parent). If someone does attempt to kill you, then it's not really the song writers fault....even if there is direct evidence that cannot be refuted in a court of law. In Australia we do not have the 1st ammendment/Bill of Rights therefore, you have the rights under common law tort, (civil wrong) to persue the matter if...

3. Audiences should be supplied with enough information so that they can choose to avoid exposure to material which may offend them.

Note: should be not will be.

4. Record companies operate under a commercial imperative to release sound recordings.

Note: Read the August 2000 US Federal Trade Commission Report on targeting Violent Entertainment to under age Children.

Two Types of warnings should be placed on packaging to conform to Principal 3 above....however:-

• Level 1 - Albums containing "explicit" language or lyrics.

  • "WARNING: This recording contains explicit language".

• Level 2 - Albums containing more impactful explicit and/or assaultive language or dealing with issues which may offend some sections of the Adult Community must carry a label containing the following message.

  • "WARNING 18+: This recording contains explicit language and is not recommended for persons under the age of eighteen".

  Note: This category contains large quantities of explicit language, acts of violence or extreme aggression which......(contains a loophole)......is however, justified by artistic merit of the recording, bearing in mind the wide range of musical genres available.

  Note: Therefore, if it is "Artistically Justified" banned lyrics such as necrophilia, pedophilia, bestiality, suicide, sadistic torture etc, may be categorised as a Level 2 product and legally sold because of this deliberately placed loophole.

To read the Code click on the links below.....

RECORD INDUSTRY CODE OF PRACTICE FORLABELLING PRODUCT WITH EXPLICIT AND
POTENTIALLY OFFENSIVE LYRICS

1.Introduction:

2.Underlying Principals:

3.Potentially Offensive or Explicit Lyrics:

4.Classification:

5.Labelling:

6.Form of Warning:

6.Complaints Procedure:

7. Compliance:

8.Reporting and Review Mechanisms:

9.Public Education and Liason with Retailers:

10.Guidelines for Retailers Handling Compact Discs with Explicit Lyrics:

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