[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
[an error occurred while processing this directive]
Guest Commentary December 5, 2001
Music Industry Makes Killing on Marketing Violence to Kids
The Honorable Sam Brownback
In response to legislation I sponsored and at President Clinton's request, the Federal Trade Commission today released yet another report documenting widespread, aggressive, and deliberate target-marketing of violent, adult-rated products by the recording industry to children.
The report found that while some progress was made in the movie and video game industries, the music industry has made no effort whatsoever to curtail this exploitive practice, and has even failed to enact any of the reforms it announced to Congress and the public.
Just before the issuance of the September 2000 report, the Recording Industry of Association of America had recommended that recording companies not advertise explicit-content labeled recordings in media outlets with a majority under-17 audience. Shortly after the release of the September 2000 report, however, it withdrew the recommendation.
Free Newsletter
Get the scoop on important legislation, Congressional action, election updates, hard-hitting political commentary, the latest developments in the War on Terror...and more! Just enter your email address below.
Privacy: Your name and email address will be confidential - never rented, never sold.
The music industry continues to make a killing off marketing violence to kids. This is irresponsible and wrong. They owe America's parents an apology.
There has been zero progress among retailers in restricting adult products from purchase by children. The FTC's 'undercover "mystery" shopper survey' found that movie houses and music retailers have made few changes since the first survey -- 48 percent of the theaters sold tickets to R-rated movies to the underage moviegoers; 90 percent of music retailers sold explicit content recordings to underage shoppers; and 78 percent of electronic game retailers allowed underage shoppers to purchase M-rated games. ...
We know there is a direct causal link between violent entertainment and aggressive behavior in some children. At an unprecedented summit last year, our nation's most prominent and prestigious medical and public health organizations released a joint 'Statement on the Impact of Entertainment Violence on Children.' This statement reveals exactly what the consensus of the public health community is: that violent entertainment is a public health hazard. This statement is simply an encapsulation of common sense: what we see, hear, and experience shapes our attitudes, our assumptions, and our perspective, which in turn, affects our behavior. We know that the typical American child spends an enormous amount of time each week watching television and movies, listening to music, and playing video games. By some estimates, the average child spends more than 30 hours a week being entertained.
We are not here to dictate to Hollywood what they can or cannot do. I do not believe that is the role, or the right, of Congress. But the public has the right to know the truth about the public health risks and dangers of exposing their children to violent entertainment. The impact of violent entertainment merits more public discussion – because it affects the public. Our goal is the reduction of marketing adult-rated material to children because of this public health risk. ...
We must continue to examine industry marketing practices to ensure that progress continues. And we encourage parents to exercise their power as consumers and to pay close attention to the content of the entertainment their children consume.
Sam Brownback, a Republican, is a U.S. Senator from Kansas. The above commentary has been adapted from remarks Sen. Brownback made at a Capitol Hill news conference, December 5, 2001. To contact him, Click Here.
The above column has been distributed by PoliticsOL.com.
