(Jamaica Observer) – More than 200 songs, including titles by Bob Marley, Byron Lee, Mutabaruka, Morgan Heritage, Roberta Flack, Diana Ross and The O’Jays stand to be blacklisted by the Broadcasting Commission if the regulator doesn’t review its directive as to what is suitable to be aired on public radio and television.
The list of recordings is being compiled by the Media Association of Jamaica (MAJ) which has been trying, in discussions with the commission, to clear up grey areas in relation to the regulator’s directive banning music with lyrics that are deemed to be sexually explicit and/or promoting violence.
“We are hoping that the commission will give us guidance if they have a different view, because it is the directive that we are tying to meet,” MAJ President Gary Allen told Splash. “If they don’t do that, our attorneys and programmers who have looked at the songs and regulations have said to us as managers that the regulations can be interpreted to mean that these songs will have to be taken out of rotation and we would have to go ahead and do that.”
In fact, the list is not exhaustive and could grow to 600, said Allen.
Although the MAJ has not made public its list, an extensive catalogue has been circulated on the website Facebook.com among friends with an interest in entertainment.
Morgan Heritage’s “Brooklyn”, Bob Marley’s “Burnin’ & Looting”, Mutabaruka’s “By The Bullet By The Ballot”, Lionel Richie’s “All Night Long”, Busy Signal’s “Done Wid Di War”, The Mighty Sparrow’s “Dragon Dance”, Roberta Flack’s “Killing Me Softly”, Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out”, and The O’Jays’ “Let Me Make Love To You” are just a few of the titles on the Facebook list.
Asked if this list represented what was being compiled by the MAJ, Allen said: “I cannot comment on the list you have obtained one way or another except to say that in the discourse I have heard some of those titles come up.”
The Broadcasting Commission’s ban on music with sexually explicit lyrics, particularly recordings referring to daggering (a popular dancehall dance in which sex is simulated) triggered fierce debate earlier this year, with opponents accusing the regulator of bias against dancehall.
The commission denied the accusation but eventually included soca music, a move that resulted in local TV stations abandoning their plans to provide live telecast of the annual carnival parade through the streets of Kingston.
Under the commission’s directive, music with lyrics that need to be bleeped out (edited) are not deemed fit for airplay. Media houses can have their licences suspended if they broadcast three songs in violation of the directive, Allen said in outlining the urgency of the list. “We would really like there to be a dialogue with the regulator,” he added.
The commission told Splash that it does not address individual songs as its directive covers content.
“The directive breaks down the content into what is permitted, what is explicit and what is not. And if you look to what the Children’s Code speaks to and the ratings levels (of songs), it is simple to see what would be allowed and what could potentially be a problem,” stated Nicole Morrison, the commission’s public relations officer.
Earlier this month, singer Julian Marley feared that, due to increased policing of the airwaves, radio would not play his new single “Boom Draw”, which addresses the use of ganja as a sacrament. Following the issuing of the commission’s directive in February, president of Greensleeves records, Olivier Chastan, argued that the restrictions could impact on artiste creativity and result in self-editing in order to secure airplay.
The list on Facebook also includes: Lionel Richie – “All Night Long”, Akon/Colby Adams/Kardinal Offishal – “Beautiful”, Sparrow – “Congo Man”, D’ Angelo – (yes the song with no name), Shirley Jones – “Do Me Baby”, Richie Spice – “Earth A Run Red”, The Police – “Every Breath You Take”, Roberta Flack – “Feel Like Making Love”, Bob Marley – “Guava Jelly”, Beenie Man –“ Gyal Inna Bungle”, Shaggy – “It Wasn’t Me”, Kanye West – “Jesus Walks”, Roberta Flack – “Killing Me Softly”, Bee Gees – “Love You Inside and Out”, Billy Paul – “Me & Mrs. Jones”, Usher – “Nice & Slow”, Byron Lee – “O Carolina”, Tina Turner – “Private Dancer”, Ludacris/ Mary J Blige – “Run Away”, Justin Timberlake – “Sexy Back”, Mims & Junior Reid – “This Is Why I’m Hot”, Rihanna – “Unfaithful”, Madonna – “Vogue”, Junior Gong – “Welcome to Jamrock”, Village People – “YMCA” and many others.
