A Music Rating System is NOT an Effective Public Policy

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In dealing with all of the media of today and deciding what might be harmful to different age groups, many different strategies have been suggested to insure free speech while protecting the varying levels of maturity. One suggested remedy to the problem of exposure to young people has been the implementation of rating systems. Ratings are currently assigned to movies and television programs. The next step of this process would be to assign ratings to music. While the goal of a music rating system is understandable, there are many reasons why this policy should not be implemented. By taking a look at the Constitutional, financial, and parental involvement in rating policies, several good reasons not to support this mandate will emergeThe First Amendment in the Constitution of the United States clearly states that, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Abridgement is normally taken to mean shorten when applied to books or texts. However, according to the dictionary, abridgement also means to diminish the capacity or scope. This idea that no one can diminish anyone else’s ability to be heard is the very foundation of American society.

Free Speech does not just mean the right to stand on a street corner and talk aloud, but also applies to anything from bumper stickers, to art sculptures, to clothing. Music is a form of free speech that is protected under the law. Rating systems for song lyrics is a form of encumbering free speech. The reason why ratings are an encumbrance to music as free speech is because they arbitrarily assign value that dictates access based on the subjective view point of a board of people. This assumes that song lyric ratings are arrived at in the same manner as current movie ratings. According to the Motion Picture Association of America’s website,” There are 8-13 members of the Board who serve for periods of varying lengths…no one in the movie industry has the authority or the power to push the Board in any direction or otherwise influence it.” So basically what this means is that 8 to 13 people get to dictate the standard and age appropriateness of material for all of the United States.

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