Should the government rate music?

[cindys_castle2011]

As some may know I am homeschooled, and I have a homework assignment. I need your help, if you don't mind. My mom said to take a poll on here since, i don't have a class ya know I have to do a report on my findings from both sides, (yes/no) I don't want this to turn into a big argument over my school project.. but I do want you to argue your sides.

Should government rate music? Some people say that they should, others say rating hurt free speech. What do you think?

Picture this: your favorite music group comes out with a new record. You've heard that some of the lyrics might not be suitable for kids, and your parents are pretty strict about that kind of stuff. After talking it over with them, however they decide you can get the album. But when you go to the store to buy is, the store manager won't sell it to you. He says its illegal for you to buy it because your to young. You parents say its okay.. but the government says it isn't. Who's right?
Right now, there are no laws regulating the sale of music to kids. Only music companies rate albums. And music stores decide for themselves, who to sell them to. but some people want government to start rating records. And they want it illegal for some kids to buy certain kinds of music. What do you think? Should the government rate the music you listen to?

"yes- if record companies rate their own music, who know's what they're going to say? They're only interested in making a sale. There is no way they are going to give an honest review. Anyway, what difference does a label make if it doesn't keep a kid from buying the album. W/out government regulations, record stores will sell whatever they can to whoever wants to buy."

"no- if the government starts rating music, they are saying what people can and can not listen to. Thats censorship and a violation of the 1st Amendment! And if they get away with censoring music, its just a matter of time until they censor books and tv shows. Kids and they're parents should be the one to decide what they listen to. The government should stay out of it, and leave the parenting up to the parents!"

 

[Shelton123]

Like as in G, PG, PG13, R? I think so. Some parents buy a Gwen Stefani album for their 9 year old thinking it's appropriate, and are pretty surprised at what they here, y'know? Gwen Stefani seems kid-appropriate enough, because all of her singles are, but the other songs are kind of raunchy for a kid under 10. Same could be said with Regina Spektor. Watch the music videos for her famous songs and think "Wow! This is appropriate for any kid!" and then all of the other songs on her CD are about drugs and sex.

 

[imabrat]

I don't know a lot about this topic, but from the info provided in the OP:

Hellllzzzzzzz No!

 

[HouseMD1120]

No!!!!!!!!!!!

Or if they did, just put a rating on it but dont give an age limit. Some parents actually look at the cds that kids buy, and if they dont like the fact that their 5 year old bought a cd that was rated R, then they can return it.

 

[crazytp93]

Mixed.

I don't think it should be, but if we do it to movies why not music?

 

[andy.b]

Do you mean like the Parental Advisory sticker? Cause I think that is good enough, they shouldn't get rid of it, or go beyond it.

 

[HSMndLKfan92]

No. Censorship is up to the parents, not the government. The parents know best what the kids could and couldn't listen to.

 

[soccercruiser87]

isn't that what the parental advisory stickers are for? If the cd contains explicit material then the cd will have the parental advisory on it. If someone still wants to get a cd that has the parental advisory sticker on it, just get the edited version of that cd.

 

[CastawayJ]

music has gone sour, "Womanizer" I mean, Come On!

 

[Sparx]

should the government rate music?
yes.

should the government create laws about the consumption of the music based on the ratings? (like kids can't go see an r rated movie)
no.

i'd love it if music was rated like g, pg, pg13, r and x, but creating laws about what people can and cant listen to (or can and can't watch) isn't okay.

for one, how do you regulate that? i download music from napster. if i wanted to download an R rated song, i could. it doesn't ask to see my drivers license or birth certificate or anything so whats to stop me from lying.

another thing is i don't like it when the government decides it needs to be a parent.

 

[BabyPiglet]

I agree with Shelby. I don't care if they rate it, but they should decide who can and cannot buy the music.

It's a parents' job to regulate what music their child listens to, not some government official's.

 

[Fatphil32]

It's not really in their best interest. They already have parental advisory ratings to warn parents and most people who even work at movies really don't care if underage kids sneak in, so I don't see why a CD shop would be different. It just creates more problems for the government, record labels, and CD stores. Not to mention, banning the sale of artist like Lil Wayne to teens, who might be on the higher rated warnings, would only increase illegal downloading of the music, costing the artist, record companies, and shops even more money.

Not to mention, there's a big difference between hearing and seeing. Seeing sex, killing, ect. is a lot different than just hearing it. There's not much trauma that can come from a song, while a lot of people have trouble with seeing it in movies.

 

[chisnpeke]

That's what parental advisory warnings are for.

The government doesn't rate movies, why should it rate music. It's up to the parents to keep kids "safe" from suggestive lyrics. The government can't be everyone's mommy.

 

[chisnpeke]

Like as in G, PG, PG13, R? I think so. Some parents buy a Gwen Stefani album for their 9 year old thinking it's appropriate, and are pretty surprised at what they here, y'know? Gwen Stefani seems kid-appropriate enough, because all of her singles are, but the other songs are kind of raunchy for a kid under 10. Same could be said with Regina Spektor. Watch the music videos for her famous songs and think "Wow! This is appropriate for any kid!" and then all of the other songs on her CD are about drugs and sex.

Then the parent should preview the album if the kid is young enough to be influenced by the music they listen to.