Final - Case Study 7.8

Question 1: What are the ethical issues in the production of songs with explicit lyrics?

Answer: From the creators’ side, the issues are whether the content being created is truly ‘artistic’ or if it’s simply being ‘explicit’ only for the shock value that comes with such lyrics. Others ethical items that should be considered are the possible negatives of the material falling into the hands of a demographic that it is not intended for, such as minors.

Question 2: Will Voluntary regulation work for the recording industry?

Answer: Voluntary regulation is sort of a misnomer. Left to its own devices, the industry would not have regulated. It wasn’t until groups were formed that lobbied for legislation that the industry ‘voluntarily’ self regulated and we have what we have today. That said, self regulation is a quicker way to meet what the public desires, vs. government legislation, which can take years to be realized. Granted the industry could instantly and on a whim change to a less strict regulation, but this is unlikely, as it would bring the wrath of the government and take the perceived choice of self regulation out of the music industry’s hands. To specifically answer the question, I think voluntary regulation is as effective as government regulation and serves to meet the needs of the public faster. Should the solution of self regulation not meet the needs of the public, the ensuing threat of government regulation will cause stricter or more correct self regulation to take place.

Question 3: If you were a record producer, would your company sign artist who sing explicit lyrics?

Answer: Yes. These artists will be signed by some company at some point whether I choose to make a ‘moral’ stand against it or not. The only question is will I be in a position to reap profits from it. The fact that these artists are known and successful means there is a public demand for it. By extension this means that regardless of what would be a largely symbolic stand against explicit lyrics, I would effectively only be passing the potential profits on to some other record producer who would sign these artists. I’d rather have my hand in the honey jar too.

Question 4: If you were a record producer, would you feel an obligation to do more than put a warning label on albums with explicit lyrics?

Answer: No. Those who are of age to make informed (or to choose to not make an informed decision) don’t need to be informed beyond the fact that there is an explicit lyrics label. Those who are too young to do so (by law), cannot purchase such albums without the assistance of someone who IS of such an age. In this arrangement, just as with R rated movies, it is up to the judgment of the guardian to choose whether the material is appropriate for the underage person.