Do you think music videos should be censored?

In Eamons version of 'Fuck You Right Back' their is offensive language throughout the song. One of the lyrics is 'Fuck You Ho I Don't Want You Back'  This is offensive language and should be censored determining on what music channel it will be shown on. If its a channel like kiss, they are very cautious with what they air on their channel. They have a very broad target audience and wouldn't want to upset their loyal fans with taboo language in songs. The rap artist Tyga has a song called lap dance which has explicit material and offensive language. One of the lyrics is 'ass so fat i need a lap dance' This taboo language would of been banned by OFCOM as it will be seen as extremely offensive taboo language by the public. Its OFCOM job to control the use of taboo language and explicit material in songs so they would of have to censor this lyric.

Censorship is a law which has been put in place to control what is seen and heard in the media. Censorship is to suppress taboo language and explicit material that may be found as offensive to the viewer. Media related companies like MTV and 4 Music will decide what they want to censor or not when showing certain music videos. Different music channels and music videos may or may not censor the video. This is due to what their target audience like and whether it is suitable for the viewer. OFCOM stands for the office of communications. OFCOM are responsible for representing the audiences views and therefore censoring what may be seen as offensive or explicit material.


Specific artists in the music industry don't care about censorship and believe that music is just entertainment and should be seen as freedom of speech so OFCOM shouldn't be allowed to censor with their work. In Rihanna music video for 'we found love' their is explicit material shown throughout. The music video displays drugs, alcohol, sex, fighting and rebellious behavior. This behavior in the music video will cause a problem for OFCOM as it is extremely inappropriate to the young viewer.

In the Eminem debate we discused all the different point of views that the artist, record label, fans, parents and music channels. Eminem argues that his lyrics and visuals in music videos shouldnt be censored. He believes in freedom of speech and wants to express his emotions and his past experiences through his lyrics and visuals. Eminem uses offensice language to show his audience his emotions and to try build a stronger relationship with his fans.

As Shady Records is owned by Eminem they have full backing of Eminems choice of lyrics and visuals in his music videos. The label will always be happy with its main artist and owner as long as it continues to be an extremely profitable label.

Eminem is loved by his fans all over the world being the best rapper of all time. eminem never instructs children to start committing crime or do anything illegal. Eminems songs are about him and his past experiences. Eminems songs actually set an example for children telling then that you may go through a rough time but you can come out of it and be as successful as he is. This is sending the children a positive representation of the artist. However if a child got his ideas for criminal activity from an eminem song than obviously that is due to the way the child has been brought up or just is 'crazy' which eminem said in an interview about censorship.

MTV, Radio one and kiss 100 wont play any of eminems songs from the start of his career. Them songs have way too explicit material and very offensive taboo language. Also because these stations broadcast for a mass market audience, in which eminem may not fit the needs to the everyday viewer. Eminem wont be played on these stations either because of the easy access younger viewers have to the channels. The themes of death and violence especially put off these channels from playing his music.


In my personal opinion i believe that censorship shouldn't exist. I believe that artists should be free to express themselves how they like whether its through their lyrics or through the visuals in their music videos. If parents don't agree with their children listening and watching their music then they should do more about it. They should try to control what they watch or at-least trust their children to not be influenced by the visuals and lyrics. The record label for the artists song do what they want and whether the song gets censored or not its out of their hands however Eminem is allowed to put what he wants in his song as he own his own record label 'Shady Records'. To conclude censorship does have its benefits but in the overall the lyrics are just freedom of speech and the visuals from the music videos display nothing that you wont see on television.