WHO SHOULD bell the cat, or better yet, who should put the brakes on the violent and vulgar lyrics which pass for music in some of Jamaica's dance halls?
From this year's monster hit, Rampin' Shop, to the Shabba Ranks, Admiral Bailey and Lady Saw staples, which were deemed, not fit for airplay, the issue of regulation - or rather the lack thereof - has been a contentious issue for Jamaica's music for decades.
The debate was rekindled at a recent Gleaner Editors' Forum dubbed 'The Year in Entertainment 2009'.
During a brief examination of the more erotic side of Jamaican music, producer Michael Barnett commented that there had always been lewd productions which, for the most part, were kept underground.
But he argued that the lewd side of the music is now too easily and freely accessed.
Easy access
That drew the support of entertainment analyst, Clyde McKenzie, who charged that there was a lack of political will to enforce the laws in place to regulate the music industry and the publication of some material.
According to McKenzie, it is just too easy for adult material to reach the ears of those not interested.
"The public spaces need to be sanitised," argued McKenzie.
"We have a system where the authorities are regulating retrospectively and not prospectively," McKenzie said as he pointed to the Broadcasting Commission's clampdown on the media and the latest drive by the police to arrest the lewd music on buses.
McKenzie argued that the absence of a designated programme manager at some radio stations was opening the door for disc jockeys to play inappropriate songs at all times of the day.
Introduce measures
He called on the music industry to introduce measures to regulate itself.
However, the notion of self-regulation does not sit well with Desmond Young, president of the Jamaica Federation of Musicians (JFM).
Young charged that there was no professional group in Jamaica, including the police and politicians, which had regulated itself to the satisfaction of the general population.
According to Young, the country's legal framework should be used to deal with aberrant behaviour.
"Whose standards are you going to impose on people?" Young asked, as he pointed to the impracticality of self-regulation.
He argued that the society had changed from being generally Christian, to being more diverse in beliefs.
The JFM president further claimed that self-regulation, was "more like an ideal".
Furthermore, Young said that there were many sectors in the music industry, with persons overlapping. "Is there a producers' association?" he asked. "Who would regulate the producers?"
"It would be nice if it could work, but I don't see where that would work," Young said.
And while the JFM expects that it would be consulted about any legal measures that would be put in place to further regulate the music industry, it is not confident that its views would be taken on-board.
"Sometimes people consult but don't listen. People will talk to you just to say you were part of the process," added Young.
Source: The Jamaica Gleaner
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Victor Jan 06, 2010
Ok Im am about sick of all the censorship Its ridiculous. I mean what were you people doing 10 years ago, what about 20 ? Did you just not have any other skills in life than the skills to come on and tell people what they can or cant listen to. Yes there is a time and place for every song. Yes some songs dont need to be played on the air during peak hours. But if your a hardcore reggae listener why do you try to lock off a stage show. I mean thats what the music is about. Reggae wasnt made on censorship was it ? Yes I admit a lot of the newer artists out are all about slackness, Im not disagreeing. But still if you dont want to hear a song or an artist then dont listen. But all this censorship is like choo. Its making the music seem like it orginated in America. Its just like Sting. I mean the biggest one night stage show in the country of Jamaica and look what a flop it was, and why ?? Probablly because the prime ministers wife was there. Well you know what that lady needs to realize she does not speak for everyone. And if your going to come to something like this then you need to realise wah gwan. Its Sting lady. This aint no day in the park. And yes I realize with all the Gaza and Gully feud that crime has gone up, but is it really due to Gaza and Gully ? Or is it the lack of Government in those areas that make it easier to sell of a ting, than to go find a job or something of that nature ? So with all that said yea I realize the importance of clean lyrics in situations. But this is dancehall Keep it raw and real. Victor |
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