Parental Advisory Label

Although I believe that record companies should be responsible in providing notices on their products including on the Parental Advisory Label (PAL), for most part however, parents have a decisive role in selecting a material that is appropriate for their life style. As we know parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. Of course all music is not always appropriate for all ages. In general record companies’ label a material with three distinct features in which they assume the material may depict. These are the use of strong language, violence, sex or substance abuse. As we see the matrix covers general aspect, where detail and specific issues may be escaped or ignored. Elements that are most of the time unsuitable for little kids such as bad attitude, frightening and tense music that have ominous nature, heavily dramatic and action-oriented music, profanity content and the like may be over looked while labeling the material. When I say this however, I am not ignoring the steps that the music industry is taking in helping parents to determine what is and is not appropriate for their children.

On the other hand, it is known that different families do have diverse family life styles which are ruled by their own norms.  For instance, cultural morals and standards in a family, and religion can have a significant impact in their preferences. For instance families who are against of witches, monsters, and heroes may not allow such illustrations in their music or music videos even though the material is allowable for all ages. This shows that let alone families, it is even impossible to define each individual situation in which a record label should determine that a sound recording contains unwanted content.

In another note, even if the materials that are allowable for all ages may be interpreted differently from person to person. For instance music lyrics are often subjected to varying interpretations. In addition music that has loud and raspy can be perceived as dreadful, even if the lyrics are proper. Sometimes we even forget to understand the lyrics of music that is accompanied by soft and soothing instruments even though it has poison in it.

In another instance I expect that kids who are forbidden to see and hear materials that contained PAL contents, may be curious to know what is in the material. Remember the time when we were kids we tend to sneak on the materials we were forbidden to touch. Let me remind you the news I heard, a little boy was given a CD from his grandparents as a Christmas gift which they taught it is appropriate for his age by looking on the PG label up front, however the CD turned up to be Black Eyed Peas CD which by mistake recorded in kids CD layout.  His grandparents only seen the label upfront; they didn’t know what is inside. This shows that parents/guardians should take careful attention in providing materials even though materials rated appropriate for their children may have something which is inappropriate. As Parents we have the primary responsibility for instilling our children proper morals and values.