Soca Under Fire

Broadcasting Commission bans lewd carnival music, gun lyrics

Contrary to what many believed would not happen, the Broadcasting Commission has now placed a ban on certain soca and hip-hop songs.

In a release issued yesterday, the commission declared; "The Broad-casting Commission is prohibiting transmission of any soca music content that displays, simulates or instructs about sexual activities or positions."

As it pertains to dancehall music, the commission has issued another directive. The release also declared a halt to the airing of lyrics which glorify the gun, killings and other acts of violence.

double standard

This follows an earlier directive on February 6, prohibiting the airing of 'Daggerin' 'and other explicit sexual content in the broadcast media. A lively debate was triggered in some quarters, with many individuals accusing the commission of a double standard approach to dancehall, while turning a blind eye to the crude and sometimes overtly sexual dances during carnival parades.

However, the regulatory body had earlier this month, said it would act against "all types of musical broadcast output, including soca music and carnival music". Yesterday, the commission officially put this in place.

extends to any content

The recent ban also extends to any content from live coverage or recorded shows, dances or events which display children participating in activities that simulate sexual activities or positions, whether in street parades, stage shows or at any other event.

The commission's directives on 'gun lyrics' further stipulate that any recording, live song or music video promoting and/or glorifying the use of guns or other offensive weapons, offences against the person such as rape, murder, and mob violence or other offences such as arson should be taken off the airwaves.

In ending, the release urged that immediate steps be taken to prevent the airing of material to which the directives apply, or which has to be edited by using 'bleeping'.

Source: Jamaica Star