Do I need the Parental Advisory Explicit Content label?
Ever wonder "What is the Parental Advisory Explicit Content label? and do you need one? Let's dig in.
How many times have you seen this label on a CD or Vinyl and wondered if you need one too? Well, legally you’re not required to place the logo on your release. So why do artists put them on? There’s actually a certain marketing benefit to including this logo on your printed album artwork.
What is Parental Advisory Explicit Content?
It’s a warning label introduced by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1985 and adopted by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2011. Interestingly, the first album where the black and white Parental Advisory label featured was ‘2 Live Crew‘ in 1990.
This brought the attention of many fans wanting to hear more “strong language”, “violent content”, or “sexual content”. Since then thousands of albums with this label have been released and found extra ears just because of the Parental Advisory Explicit Content logo.
Is the Parental Advisory logo necessary?
| Topic | Information |
|---|---|
| Definition of Parental Advisory Label | A warning label introduced by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 1985 |
| Adopted by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in 2011 | |
| Indicates explicit content that may not be suitable for all audiences | |
| Criteria for using Parental Advisory | Explicit language: Use of profanity, racial slurs, or derogatory terms |
| Sexual content: References to sexual activity or explicit descriptions of sexual acts | |
| Violence: Descriptions of violent acts or glorification of violence | |
| Drug and alcohol references: Descriptions of drug or alcohol use | |
| Use of Parental Advisory Label | It is not necessary to use the label, but it is up to the artist and record label’s decision. |
| Legal consequences may occur if explicit content is sold to minors without the warning label. | |
| Retailers may require censored versions of music. | |
| The standard black and white version of the label can be downloaded from the RIAA website. | |
| Impact on album sales and airplay | The label may restrict the artist’s reach on some radio stations. |
| Certain age groups, especially teenagers, may be attracted to explicit content. | |
| Higher censorship can impede the chance for success. | |
| How to get the Parental Advisory Label | The label can be downloaded from the RIAA website. |
| What happens if the label is not used | Radio stations could face hefty fines for playing explicit content without the warning label. |
| Retailers may face legal consequences for selling explicit content to minors without the label. | |
| Placement of the Parental Advisory Label | The label can be placed on the front cover, disc, or shrink-wrapped CD or vinyl. |
| Anyone can use the Parental Advisory logo | There are no restrictions on the use of the l |
The Parental Advisory logo is not necessary. It’s completely up to you if you want to put it on your artwork. It’s not mandatory to use the label and it’s your decision to use it unless your music meets below criteria:
There are a few criteria’s where using Parental logo should apply:
Explicit language: The use of profanity, racial slurs, or other derogatory terms may result in an album receiving the Parental Advisory label.
Sexual content: References to sexual activity or explicit descriptions of sexual acts may also result in an album receiving the label.
Violence: Songs that contain descriptions of violent acts or glorify violence may also warrant the Parental Advisory label.
Drug and alcohol references: Songs that describe drug or alcohol use may also result in the Parental Advisory label.
Some retailers, especially in the United States, will not distribute uncensored music and will require musicians to supply censored versions.
Although it’s ultimately up to the artist and record label whether or not they want to add a Parental Advisory Label, keep in mind that if you choose not to use the label there may be some legal ramifications. Especially when selling an album containing explicit content to minors.
If you decide to use the label, it must be the standard black and white version which you can download from our website.
What impact does the Parental Advisory label have on album sales and radio airplay?
The Parental Advisory label may restrict the artist’s reach in some radio stations, but research has demonstrated that certain age groups are actually attracted to this type of music.
Specifically, teenagers have been shown to purchase songs with explicit content even more than those without; thus giving labels an advantage when marketing their catalogues.
Nevertheless, higher censorship can also impede the chance for success since a few broadcasters will avoid playing these tracks altogether.
How do I get the Parental Advisory label?
You can get the Parental Advisory label from our website by clicking on the image and saving it on your drive. It’s that easy.
Parental advisory png download
You can download parental advisory png here from our website.
What happens if an artist chooses not to use Parental Advisory label?
Artists that choose to omit the Parental Advisory label on explicit content are taking a risk.
The Federal Communications Commission strictly regulates which broadcasts can be aired during hours when children may be listening, meaning that radio stations could face hefty fines for playing songs with explicit language without the proper warning label.
When in doubt, it’s best practice to mark material as having parental advisory and avoid any legal repercussions from FCC regulations.
Also, retailers may experience lawful repercussions for peddling music with explicit content to minors.
Certain states and countries forbid the sale of such material to individuals less than a stipulated age limit, and if an album or song does not feature the Parental Advisory label but comprises explicit content, then vendors might be meted out hefty fines or worse – legal action!
Taking into account the legal consequences of not using the Parental Advisory label, it is significant that artists and record labels make a conscious decision to include this label.
By doing so, they are demonstrating responsibility when marketing their music and ensuring its accessibility solely to those who can adequately process its content.
Where does the Parental Advisory label go?
Usually artists decide to place the black and white Parental Advisory label in the corner of the front page of the artwork. It doesn’t really matter in which corner you choose to place it. Some artists will feature the label on the disc as well.
It’s also popular to print stickers of the label to attach to the shrink wrapped CD or vinyl, rather than in the artwork design itself.
Can anyone use the parental advisory logo?
Absolutely anyone can use the parental advisory logo. There’s no restrictions when it comes to use of the logo. The logo aim is to warn public from the adult/profanity content.
Hope that was helpful!
Tom
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Hey, I’m Tom, and I’ve been involved in the music industry for over two decades now! I help bands produce top-notch records by lending my expertise in CD manufacturing, music business and mastering. But that’s not all – I also have a soft spot for writing and sharing knowledge with others. I hope you’ll find the content I create enjoyable to read and that it provides some valuable insights into the world of music.
