Music

Music is a powerful medium from which we communicate emotion and self expression. It is an important middle ground that brings parents and children together. Each age group can be identified by the music they listen to.

Piracy of music is illegal and unethical. The recording industry has become very strict in upholding the ban against pirated cds and illegal downloading of music.

Kids today try to emulate the attractive lifestyles of these musical artists. We must discuss with them that it is okay to admire and appreciate what musical artists bring to our lives but we must be realistic and not allow them to influence our day-to-day activities. We must set rules and limits for each child in the family. We must be explicit as to how we intend to monitor what our children listen to.


Music Album Ratings

In 1985, National PTA worked with the Recording Industry Association of America to reach an agreement that specified that music containing explicit lyrics should be clearly identified. This led to the creation of the Parental Advisory Label.

The decision to place the Parental Advisory Label on an album is a voluntary one made jointly by the record company and the artist. The Parental Advisory Label, which is plainly displayed in nonremovable form on the front cover of the album, is placed on an album when the lyrics may be too explicit for all audiences (particularly children) and, out of respect for the artist’s creativity and expression, it is decided not to rerecord, revise, or remove the potentially offensive songs. In some cases, an edited version of an album with a Parental Advisory Label is created; this album will have an Edited Version Label.

The rating of music in this way is not an exact science. Parents may not always agree with the decisions made by the recording companies and artists. When making decisions about what music is appropriate for their children, parents should listen to the songs or albums themselves and talk to their children about the music and artists.