Music
Music recordings, printed music lyrics and music videos all fall under the definition of publication in the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993, and can be classified by the Office of Film and Literature Classification.
When is music classified?
Music recordings do not have to be classified and labelled before they are sold, but music can be submitted to the Office for classification.
How is music classified?
Like any other publication, music can be restricted or banned because of its treatment of sex, horror, crime, cruelty or violence. It can also be restricted because of highly offensive language.
Most of the labels you see on music CDs (such as 'content may offend' and 'parental guidance recommended') are put there by music retailers or distributors. Music recordings that have been classified by the Office (after 2005) will carry the same type of label as films.
What music has been classifed?
You can see what sound recordings have been classified by searching the NZ Register of Classification Decisions and selecting the medium 'CD sound recording'.
Search for classification decisions on music on the NZ Register of Classification Decisions
Music videos
The Classification Office can classify music videos that are sold on video or DVD. It is the responsibility of the person or the organisation making the video available to the public to make sure it is properly labelled. For physical products like a DVD, in most cases this will be the distributor or the retailer. In the case of clips downloaded from the internet, it depends on where the site is hosted. If the site is in New Zealand, then it must comply with the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act. If it is outside New Zealand, it is governed by its own local law. Someone downloading a restricted clip in New Zealand from a site in America is not committing an offence under the Classification Act unless they then send it on to friends.
music on radio or tv
Television and radio broadcasts of music are governed by the Broadcasting Act 1989. Individual broadcasters are responsible for their own censorship, but there is a complaints authority set up under the Broadcasting Act. If you have a complaint about an item on television or radio, the appropriate body to contact is the broadcaster in the first instance (for example, ZMFM or TV3), then the Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA).
While the Classification Office considers whether or not a publication is objectionable or should be restricted under the Films, Videos, and Publications Classifcation Act, television and radio broadcasters are guided by codes of practice. Each of these codes has standards, such as 'Good Taste and Decency' or 'Children's Interests'. Broadcasters and the BSA can make rulings for or against complaints, something the Classification Office cannot do.
Two decisions on music videos by the rapper 50 Cent illustrate the differences between the decisions of the Classification Office and the decisions of broadcasters and the BSA.
Go to the BSA's decision on the 50 Cent music video Candy Shop
Some Music Video classifications
Blink 182 – The Urethra Chronicles (2001) |
R16, Contains offensive language |
Blink 182 – The Urethra Chronicles II (2002) |
R13, Contains offensive language and sexual references |
Derty Sesh – Let Me Introduce Myself/Forever (2010) |
R18, Contains graphic violence and offensive language |
Eminem – Stan (2001) |
R16, Contains violence, sexual references, and offensive language |
Eminem – All Access Europe (2002) |
R16, Contains drug use and offensive language |
Eminem – The Eminem Show (2002) |
R16, Contains drug use and offensive language |
50 Cent – The New Breed (2003) |
R16, Contains violence, sexual references and offensive language |
50 Cent – The Massacre (2006) |
R16, Contains violence, sexual references and offensive language |
Marilyn Manson – God Is In The TV (2000) |
R18, Contains offensive language and anti-social behaviour |
Marilyn Manson – Guns, God, And Government World Tour (2003) |
R16, Offensive language and content that may offend |
Snoop Dogg - Bo$$ Player A Day In The Life Of Snoop Dogg (2003) |
R16, Drug use, sex scenes, and offensive language |
Snoop Dogg – Snoop Dogg's Doggy Style Volume 1 (2004) |
R18, Contains explicit sex scenes |
Snoop Dogg – Welcome To The House The Doggumentary (2003) |
R16, Offensive language, drug use and sexual themes |
Tupac – Thug Angel The life Of An Outlaw (2002) |
R13, Contains offensive language and sexual references |
