Music Censorship has been an issue in the United States for many years. This timeline covers censored music and the banning of album sales, airplay becuase of lyrics, performances, clothing, and album artwork.
1940
The NBC radio network bans 147 songs containing sexual reference. Songs included "Love for Sale" by Billie Holiday. (1)
1955
30 songs in Texas were banned by the Juvenile Delinquency and Crime Commission because they were thought to be obscene. Almost all of the artists on the Commission's list were African American. (2)
1965
Radio stations across the country banned the Rolling Stones from their playlists for sexually suggestive lyrics. in the song "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." (2)
1967
The American Mothers' Committee tries to remove songs that represent drugs, sex, and blasphemy. (1)
1968
The Doors' were banned at many radio stations because they represented an anti-war theme with the song "Unknown Soldier." (2)
1970
The FCC (Federal Communications Commisions) bans all songs converying drug use. Songs included "Eight Miles High", "Yellow Submarine", and "Puff(the magic dragon)." (1)
1975
Loretta Lynn's "The Pill" was banned from stations because of its references to birth control. (2)
1987
In Florida, a record store clerk was arrested for selling a 14 year-old boy a 2 livce Crew album. (2)
1990
In Missouri, a bill was introduced that forbid the sale of records with lyrics that are violent, sexually explicit or perverse. Twenty other states took censorship measurements as well. (2)
1991
The rap group N.W.A faces The British Obscene Publications Squad when the squad impounded 23,000 copies of the album Efil4Zaggin. Island, N.W.A's record company, was charged with distributing an obscene publication. The reasoning was because the lyrics dealt with violence and sex, and offended women, homosexuals and others. Songs from the album included ''To Kill a Hooker'' and ''Findum, Fuckum and Flee."
The record, Efil4zaggin, was taken to court. The defence stated it's case on four claims. The first claim was that rap was part of an established popular tradition, in which sexual explicitness was the norm. The second defence was that pop lyrics are of relatively little importance. The third claim was to explain that the voices and attitudes of N.W.A were those of the ghetto. Lastly, the defence argued claimed the musicians were reporting not advocating the sentiments they recorded. N.W.A's defense won over the courtroom.(4)
1997
In Mississippi, three concert venue owners were arrested for booking a performance by 2 Live Crew. They were given six-month jail terms for booking the band. (2)
1998
A Michigan high school student was suspended for wearing a tee shirt promoting the band Korn. (2)
2000
In Louisian a sheriff confiscated albums by Britney Spears and Snoop Doggy Dog from a roller skating rink owner. The officer said he had seized the music becuase the music played in the rink had caused a fight in the parking lot. (2)
Four Texas students were suspended from private school because they attended a Backstreet Boys concert. The school said this was violating a school policy forbidding "involvement in inappropriate music dancing." (2)
2001 (After 9/11)
The Strokes removed their song "New York City Cops" from their album Is This It. (1)
Rage Against the Machine shut down their websites disussion boards after federal officials question managment. (1)
The ban Coup was forced by their record company to change the cover of their album Party Time because it showed the band in front of an exploding World Trade Center. (1)
Also 150 popular songs were listed to be banned containing the songs "Fly", "Jet Airliner", "Head LIke A Hole", "Only the Good Die Young", "Great Balls of Fire", and "Crash into Me." (1)
2003
Marilyn Manson is banned from performing at a Six Flags
Amusement Park in New York for Ozzfest. He was the only act removed. (2)
The Dixie Chicks are removed from airplay because of a comment made
by the group's singer stating she was embarrassed that U.S. President George W. Bush
was from her home state of Texas. (2)
2010
Musician M.I.A.'s video for her new single "Born Free" was banned from You Tube. The video was banned because it shows American police subjecting redheads to violence. (3)
Music Censorship has been an issue in the United States for many years. This timeline covers censored music and the banning of album sales, airplay becuase of lyrics, performances, clothing, and album artwork.
1940
The NBC radio network bans 147 songs containing sexual reference. Songs included "Love for Sale" by Billie Holiday. (1)
1955
30 songs in Texas were banned by the Juvenile Delinquency and Crime Commission because they were thought to be obscene. Almost all of the artists on the Commission's list were African American. (2)
1965
Radio stations across the country banned the Rolling Stones from their playlists for sexually suggestive lyrics. in the song "I Can't Get No Satisfaction." (2)
1967
The American Mothers' Committee tries to remove songs that represent drugs, sex, and blasphemy. (1)
1968
The Doors' were banned at many radio stations because they represented an anti-war theme with the song "Unknown Soldier." (2)
1970
The FCC (Federal Communications Commisions) bans all songs converying drug use. Songs included "Eight Miles High", "Yellow Submarine", and "Puff(the magic dragon)." (1)
1975
Loretta Lynn's "The Pill" was banned from stations because of its references to birth control. (2)
1987
In Florida, a record store clerk was arrested for selling a 14 year-old boy a 2 livce Crew album. (2)
1990
In Missouri, a bill was introduced that forbid the sale of records with lyrics that are violent, sexually explicit or perverse. Twenty other states took censorship measurements as well. (2)
1991
The rap group N.W.A faces The British Obscene Publications Squad when the squad impounded 23,000 copies of the album Efil4Zaggin. Island, N.W.A's record company, was charged with distributing an obscene publication. The reasoning was because the lyrics dealt with violence and sex, and offended women, homosexuals and others. Songs from the album included ''To Kill a Hooker'' and ''Findum, Fuckum and Flee."
The record, Efil4zaggin, was taken to court. The defence stated it's case on four claims. The first claim was that rap was part of an established popular tradition, in which sexual explicitness was the norm. The second defence was that pop lyrics are of relatively little importance. The third claim was to explain that the voices and attitudes of N.W.A were those of the ghetto. Lastly, the defence argued claimed the musicians were reporting not advocating the sentiments they recorded. N.W.A's defense won over the courtroom.(4)
1997
In Mississippi, three concert venue owners were arrested for booking a performance by 2 Live Crew. They were given six-month jail terms for booking the band. (2)
1998
A Michigan high school student was suspended for wearing a tee shirt promoting the band Korn. (2)
2000
In Louisian a sheriff confiscated albums by Britney Spears and Snoop Doggy Dog from a roller skating rink owner. The officer said he had seized the music becuase the music played in the rink had caused a fight in the parking lot. (2)
Four Texas students were suspended from private school because they attended a Backstreet Boys concert. The school said this was violating a school policy forbidding "involvement in inappropriate music dancing." (2)
2001 (After 9/11)
The Strokes removed their song "New York City Cops" from their album Is This It. (1)
Rage Against the Machine shut down their websites disussion boards after federal officials question managment. (1)
The ban Coup was forced by their record company to change the cover of their album Party Time because it showed the band in front of an exploding World Trade Center. (1)
Also 150 popular songs were listed to be banned containing the songs "Fly", "Jet Airliner", "Head LIke A Hole", "Only the Good Die Young", "Great Balls of Fire", and "Crash into Me." (1)
2003
Marilyn Manson is banned from performing at a Six Flags
Amusement Park in New York for Ozzfest. He was the only act removed. (2)
The Dixie Chicks are removed from airplay because of a comment made
by the group's singer stating she was embarrassed that U.S. President George W. Bush
was from her home state of Texas. (2)
2010
Musician M.I.A.'s video for her new single "Born Free" was banned from You Tube. The video was banned because it shows American police subjecting redheads to violence. (3)
Other Pages
Music Censorship Home
Censorship in Other Countries
FCC and Clear Channel
References
(1) Korpe, M. (2004). Shoot the singer!. New York, NY: Zed Books Ltd.
(2)Nuzum, E. (2005, September 26). Brief timeline on music censorship. Retrieved from http://www.aclu.org/free-speech/brief-timeline-censored-music
(3)Violent M.I.A video banned on youtube. (2010, April 28). Retrieved from http://www.indexoncensorship.org/2010/04/mi-video-banned-youtube/
(4)Street, J. (1993). Musicology and sociology. Innovation of Social Sciences Research, 6(3), 277-289