Music videos to get film-style age ratings in UK
A new pilot has been launched in the UK to protect children from
watching inappropriate music videos
Music videos are to get film-style age ratings in a new pilot to
protect children from unsuitable content.
Record labels Sony, Universal and Warner have signed up to the
voluntary scheme, which will begin on Friday.
The companies will submit music videos that may potentially cause
concern to the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), which will
issue the promo with a 12, 15 or 18 certificate as well as content
advice for viewers.. The pilot, which also has backing from the British
Phonographic Industry (BPI), comes in the wake of growing concerns about
the sexualised content of music videos in the past year.
Rihanna, Robin Thicke, Miley Cyrus and Nicki Minaj have all been
criticised for their "pornographic" videos, which are available for
children to watch on YouTube or Vevo with no restrictions or parental
guidance.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced in August that an age-ratings
pilot to protect children from unsuitable content was in the pipeline.
But the classifications will only be limited to British artistes and
will not apply to some of the most explicit videos from US performers.
Twenty percent of music videos released within the three month pilot
period are estimated to be eligible for an age-appropriate certificate.
David Austin, assistant director of the BBFC, said: "Parents are
eager to have more input over the types of content their children
access, particularly online. By applying understood and trusted BBFC age
ratings to online music videos this pilot is a vital step in meeting
this demand for choice and child protection."
Geoff Taylor, chief executive of BPI, said: "We want to give parents
the information they need to make more informed decisions about the
music videos they are happy for their children to see."
- The Independent
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