(Trinidad Guardian) The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) has written to broadcasters advising them to refrain from playing music with violent lyrics that can negatively impact young people and children.
TATT reminded broadcasters that it is empowered under the Telecommunications Act to regulate the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors and is responsible for ensuring the content broadcast on radio and television stations is appropriate for the country.
It said in recent times it had noticed a proliferation of content, notably songs with lyrics that promote violence and violent behaviour, including but not limited to murder, rape, gang violence, illicit drugs and inappropriate sexual behaviour.
“The Authority advises that content of this nature can have a negative impact on persons, particularly children and young persons and impressionable or vulnerable persons in society. The Authority therefore advises you to refrain from the broadcast of any such content which glorifies or promotes violence, encourages violent behaviour and/or glorifies or promotes the use of guns or other weapons and glorifies or promotes inappropriate sex behaviour and/or the use of illicit drugs,” TATT said.
TATT also told broadcasters to take all necessary steps to protect children from content that includes offensive language, sexual themes and other unsuitable material.
“Please treat this matter with the due care and attention that is required in the circumstances,” it said.
In response, T&T Publishers and Broadcasters Association (TTPBA) president Douglas Wilson said his organisation and its members stand for self-regulation and responsible broadcasting and operate by a code of conduct.
“That’s what we subscribe to,” he said.
Wilson added that broadcasters also operate within the Telecommunications Act.
“We recognise there is freedom of expression as media houses, practising broadcasting media and print media. However, we must be and will be responsible in how we discharge our duty to the public, so it’s not about censorship being the answer and I would like to steer everyone away from that,” he said.
Wilson added, however, that when it comes to crime and violence, music is only part of the narrative.
“We have to start looking as a society at the quality of our leadership, homes and parenting. We have to look at the entire system of justice which has failed the country,” he said.
Guardian Media Limited’s Radio Commercial Manager Tova Satnarine-White also weighed in. She said music has and will always be a form of expression.
“When individuals sing or writers produce material, they are doing so based on their lifestyle, their reality and/or what they believe their audience wants to hear. Our programming committees select music, based on genre, target audience, popularity and audience feedback. The broadcast code has set the criteria for music in T&T and we support all artistes within these guidelines,” she explained.
The issue of violent lyrics has been in focus in recent times after two Trinibad artistes were recently charged with being members of a gang.
At the opening of the 46th Caricom Heads of Government Meeting last week, Guyana President Mohamed Irfaan Ali called for artistes in the region to focus on positivity in their music and briefly referenced a decision to bar certain artistes from performing in his country. Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley later said that banning Trinibad music might not be beneficial but there is a need for artistes to clean up the lyrics.