Taken under advisory

Music censorship is nothing new to American culture. In fact, government officials and special interest groups have been trying to censor music since before the 1950s. From Elvis' appearances on the "Ed Sullivan Show" to Marilyn Manson concerts, popular music always seems to make someone mad.\nWith "Parental Advisory: Music Censorship In America," author Eric Nuzum, a pop-culture critic and program director of WKSU-FM at Kent State University, details and follows the evolution of music censorship in America.\nThe book is divided into two sections: themes and dates. With the first section, Nuzum confronts such controversial topics as sex, religion and drugs. With the second, Nuzum gives a year-by-year rundown of big events in the realm of music censorship.\nEasily the most powerful and compelling argument Nuzum makes is the relationship he finds between race and music censorship. Nuzum finds that far more black artists are stuck with the Recording Industry Association of America's "Parental Advisory" sticker than white artists. He also brings up many cases involving discrimination in music censorship and labeling. One example Nuzum brings up is that when Eric Clapton released his cover of "I Shot the Sheriff," few even raised an eyebrow, but 18 years later, Ice-T's "Cop Killer," which featured an almost identical theme (combating police brutality), raised cries from as high up as then-President George Bush for censorship of the song.\nIn "Parental Advisory," Nuzum manages to expose several conspiracies and shed light on murky topics related to music censorship. Nuzum explains the history behind the Parents Music Resource Center, founded in part by Tipper Gore. He points out that her husband, then-Senator Al Gore, took part in the Senate hearings of PMRC. That group is partially responsible for pressuring the RIAA's "Parental Advisory" sticker.\nNuzum also recognizes how musicians can become scapegoats for public tragedies. After the Columbine shootings, government officials and some media outlets were quick to put the blame on Marilyn Manson, despite the fact that the shooters disliked Manson's music.\nThe chronology section of "Parental Advisory" is strongest in its comparison of music censorship from 50 years ago to today. While the music has changed, the same arguments made by advocates of music censorship in 1950 are surprisingly similar to the ones being made today. Be it the Beatles or Eminem, the songs have changed but the critics have not.\nNuzum knows how to make his argument. "Parental Advisory" is a detailed and well-researched book that is a must-read for music censorship fighters and advocates alike.