Current US censorship of music?

Subject: Current US censorship of music?
From: GUEST,RIchard Bridge
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 03:28 PM

A friend mentioned that Paul Gambaccini on his BBC radio 2 show on Sat 15 April mentioned that a current US band had re-recorded Dylan anti-war song(s) - I'm not sure if it was one or more - and had been roundly condemned by the Bush administration for unamerican (or unpatriotic) activity.

My details may be a bit fuzzy, I didn't hear the radio show myself.

Does anyone know the facts or can anyone point to a source for the facts?

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 05:03 PM

Sounds interesting - of course, condemning and censoring are two different things. It does seem, however, that our corporate broadcast monopolies make it easier for corporations to bury songs that might be offensive to their "market." When radio stations had a wider ownership, it was harder to make censorship so unanimous.
I don't know of specific instances of censorship, but these corporate radio monopolies have me concerned.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 05:07 PM

I think the heading of this thread is misleading.   Songs are not "censored" or "banned" by the government to begin with. The FCC can fine a station for playing something with obscenities, but they would not try to fine a station for political content. (At least not yet!)

I have not heard anything about any Dylan song or group being "roundly" condemned by the Bush administration. George doesn't even read the newspapers, and I have it on good authority that his 8 track player is jammed and he hasn't been listening to tunes.

In all seriousness, this is a new one and I doubt that there is any truth to it.

One rumor that is floating around is that Neil Young supposedly has recorded a song called "Impeach the President" that will be released in a few weeks.

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: artbrooks
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 05:08 PM

Being condemned by the Bush administration is a distinction shared by just about everyone except the right wing of the Republican Party and the Gold Star Mothers...or did he get them too?

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: GUEST
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 12:17 AM

I hear the country stations are starting to play the Dixie Chicks again, now that the chicks can say "told you so" about the war AND the president.

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: GUEST,Don Meixner
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 12:36 AM

At the risk of starting a big fight here. Don't confuse censorship with editorial policy. Radio stations may play or not play whatever they choose based on their policy in house. I am not aware of any local or federal government censorship being enforced. But then I don't live everywhere and I am only speaking of Central New York.

Censorship is a government act or it is something you do yourself. Short of photo/vidieo representation of child pornography and snuff films even Bush hasn't been too successful at censorship of much. And that is a very good thing.

Robert Maplthorpe was a brilliant artist. His photographic technique was flawless and ground breaking. His subject mater was a bit beyond the pale at times. Other times it was not so provoking. Perhaps Bob would have been better off to self-censor a little more.

Don

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 03:08 AM

Looks like no-one does know the facts then.....

I have emailed Paul Gambaccini but had no substantive reply yet.

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: stallion
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 04:49 AM

Try The BBC website "listen again " feature, most of the previous weeks programmes are accessible on the web for one week after

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 07:57 AM

Thanks Stallion but it would take an hour and a half to spend listening, and require me to install Realplayer which last time I did it (several "formats" ago) seemed to be full of malware.

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 12:12 PM

I have the following very helpful reply from Paul Gambaccini.

That clears that up (so far).

"Hi Richard,

You asked if I had mentioned on air that some group is re-recording Bob Dylan anti-war songs. I'm afraid to say I did not. I did recently play the Dixie Chicks' "Not Ready to Play Nice" and discussed the grief they received for criticizing President Bush, but that is very different. This Saturday I will be playing two tracks that happen to fall into the anti-Bush category, the Dixie Chicks and Pink's "Dear Mr. President", but these are written by the artists themselves, not Dylan.

There are probably more political songs to come, as I would imagine that Bruce Springsteen's forthcoming album of Pete Seeger songs, prominently including "We Shall Overcome", will chart highly, as will Neil Young's, which calls for the impeachment of the President.

Best wishes,
Paul"

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 12:24 PM

Richard, how is the climate in the UK? Are there anti-war songs being played on the radio over there? Are there protest songs against the British government receiving airplay?

I remember the controversy when the Sex Pistols released "God Save the Queen". Supposedly radio stations refused to play it, or it was played only late at night. I've even heard stories that the song was kept at #2 on the British pop charts because it would not look right to have such a protest song reach the top spot. I hope the climate has changed over there.

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: Kaleea
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 02:02 PM

Since a large amount of artists make & distribute their own cd's, it is nearly impossible to censor all of the Music these days. The large labels, though, can still have pressure from corporate owners as do other kinds of media. Ever wonder what happened to the very popular China Beach which was going strong till pappy bush decided to have a war in the desert? With the "world economy" we now have do we really enjoy free enterprise?

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 03:26 AM

Ron, I don't listen to the wireless very much, generally. Most radio stations seem to playing MoBO and urban, while I am neither, or tired not quite new stuff without ever finding any of the classic rock tracks. Indie gets in too - the modern whiney tripe that all sounds a bit like Oasis (without which I can well do). I can go from end to end of the tuning scale repeatedly without finding anything I want to hear. I think it's a product of the playlist system where the producers choose the tracks and DJ's are simply puppets with moving mouths. Once upon a time the DJ was the man who researched, chose, and sequenced the music and there was a chance of finding diversity and excitement.

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 11:38 AM

Censorship to anything is FUCKING gay!

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 12:00 PM

Alright, who wants to go after this?

Don

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: jeffp
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 12:00 PM

Thank you for your erudite comment.

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: hesperis
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 12:04 PM

Yeah, the modern whiny stuff is difficult to take seriously.

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: Kaleea
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 01:22 PM

Time to for the Smothers Brothers to do another show. Too bad Pat Paulsen is no longer among us to run for president again.

Subject: RE: Current US censorship of music?
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 04:10 PM

As regards what gets broadcast in the UK: try Listen Again to the last Radio 3 "Hear and Now" contemporary music programme, featuring John Tilbury. Would PBS in the States have been willing to air that?