Censorship in Australia - Current Situation - Music

Music

Music is mainly regulated by the Australian Recording Industry Association and the Australian Music Retailers Association.

The current classification scheme was introduced on 1 April 2003, with the following four levels:

  • Level 1: WARNING: MODERATE IMPACT coarse language and/or themes

These recordings contain infrequent aggressive or strong coarse language and moderate impact references to drug use, violence, sexual activity, themes and/or any other revolting or abhorrent activity.

  • Level 2: WARNING: STRONG IMPACT coarse language and/or themes

These recordings contain frequent aggressive or strong coarse language and strong impact references to or detailed description of drug use, violence, sexual activity, themes and/or any other abhorrent activity.

  • Level 3: RESTRICTED: HIGH IMPACT THEMES Not to be sold to persons under 18 years

These recordings contain graphic descriptions of drug use, violence, sexual activity, themes and/or any other revolting or abhorrent activity that are very intense and have a high impact. They are not permitted to be sold to anyone under the age of 18.

  • Exceeding Level 3: Not to be sold to the public

These recordings contain lyrics which promote, incite, instruct and/or exploitatively or gratuitously depict drug use, violence, sexual activity, themes and/or any other revolting or abhorrent activity in a manner that would cause outrage and/or extreme disgust to most adults. They are not permitted to be released, distributed or sold to the public.

However, it is worth noting that these classifications and guidelines carry absolutely no legal ground and are strictly self-regulated.

Read more about this topic:  Censorship In Australia, Current Situation

Famous quotes containing the word music:

    So gladly, from the songs of modern speech
    Men turn, and see the stars, and feel the free
    Shrill wind beyond the close of heavy flowers,
    And through the music of the languid hours,
    They hear like ocean on a western beach
    The surge and thunder of the Odyssey.
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    The music stopp’d, and I stood still,
    And found myself outside the Hill,
    Left alone against my will,
    To go now limping as before,
    And never hear of that country more!”
    Robert Browning (1812–1889)

    But listen, up the road, something gulps, the church spire
    Opens its eight bells out, skulls’ mouths which will not tire
    To tell how there is no music or movement which secures
    Escape from the weekday time. Which deadens and endures.
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