The Parents' Music Resource Center: from information to censorship

Abstract

My purpose in this paper is to recount the history of the Parents' Music Resource Center, an American organisation founded in 1985 whose main concern has been to denounce the obscenity and violence of rock music on the grounds that it is partly responsible for the numerous ills that plague the United States. The PMRC claimed that it only wished to inform the public but my suggestion here is that the actions of the organisation resulted in a de facto censorship of popular music. I shall accordingly describe the various steps of the process that led from information to censorship as well as probe the deeper reasons that may have motivated the action of the Center.

Music and Conflict: Interdisciplinary Perspectives

“…The overall conclusion is often to call for censorship of 'dangerous' music. Several campaigning organizations have supported such conclusions, such as the US-based Parents' Music Resource Centre, which campaigned for the introduction of 'Parental Advisory' stickers on albums (Chastanger 1999). Other researchers, however, have argued that the impact of such music on a particular listener is dependent on that listener, and is never as predictable as some experimental studies have suggested (Leming 1987).…”

Involvement and Detachment

“…thrash metal), have contributed to a stereotypical and homogenized view of the heavy metal fan as a ''headbanger'' and/or ''satanist.'' Metal's connection with violent and satanic themes in particular are often highlighted by those not familiar with the genre and led to initial academic attention during its most prominent phase of mainstream popularity in 1980's North America (Chastagner 1999). Initial interest in heavy metal centered on its potential ''danger'' to the youth of society.…”

“…Initial interest in heavy metal centered on its potential ''danger'' to the youth of society. Chastagner (1999) documents the important role that socially accredited experts played in fuelling this Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) led rhetoric. PMRC is an organization formed to counter the potential threat that controversial genres of music such as rap and heavy metal may have on the moral fabric of society.…”

Bang Your Head: Using Heavy Metal Music to Promote Scientific Thinking in the Classroom

“…One of the reasons heavy metal music ideally fits Cialdini's structure of creating mystery in the classroom is that many of the mysteries regarding heavy metal music and harm have been solved. An interesting example, and an ideal one for class discussion, is the impact of the Parent's Music Resource Centre (PRMC), formed in 1985 and led by Tipper Gore (Chastagner, 1999 ). The PMRC believed that the lyrics in heavy metal music were directly contributing to the rise in suicide attempts and sexual assault among adolescents (Sampar, 2005 ).…”