THERE are mixed views within TT's music industry when it comes to the recent decision by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ) to ban audio and video recordings that promote illegal drugs, scamming and illegal guns.
Last week, the commission – that country's regulatory body for radio, TV and cable – said its directive is “guided by and exercising the powers granted under the Television and Sound Broadcasting regulations.”
It called for an “immediate halt” to any audio or video recording, live song, or speech which promotes and/or glorifies scamming, illegal use or abuse of drugs, illegal or harmful use of guns or other offensive weapons, "jungle justice" or any other form of illegal or criminal activity.
“This includes live editing and original edits (eg edits by producer/label)" as well as similar-sounding words substituted for "offensive lyrics, expletives, or profanities.”
It said the commission is reinforcing its commitment to “keeping the airwaves free of harmful content given the important role traditional media still play as agents of socialisation.
It said using public airwaves to broadcast "songs that promote/glorify illegal activity" could give the wrong impression that criminality is accepted in Jamaican culture and society, inadvertently support "moral disengagement and further normalise criminality" among vulnerable, impressionable youth and young adults.
Its executive director, Cordel Green, said the ban is a result of “a wide-ranging process that included focused monitoring, decoding of subculture dialect and urban slangs (sic), deliberations on balancing free expression vis-a-vis protection from harm, and consultations with industry.”
He said while content regulation must always consider the right to freedom of expression, the ban was necessary.
“Any context in which criminality is presented through music or videos as normal behaviour, conflicts with the tenets of responsible broadcasting.”
Days after, the Media Association of Jamaica accused the BCJ of an "overreach" with the ban.
In a press release, it said it was never approached before the decision was announced.
However, it said its members "unanimously align with the intent of ridding the airwaves of music which is unfit for airplay and believes that all Jamaican stakeholders need to band together and do what is necessary to stem the stimulants of deteriorating social behaviours and a growing crime situation."
It said it is willing to meet with the BCJ to discuss further.
CEO of the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT) Cynthia Reddock-Downes told Newsday she was aware of the ban and that TATT supports it.
However, she said this country’s regulations, unlike Jamaica’s, do not allow for an outright ban on these types of songs.
She said, “We recognise that the current music can impact seriously on young people’s minds, so we are studying what Jamaica has done and determine, based on our current legislation (what can be done).
“What we do right now is, we ask providers, FM stations and so on, to not pl
