CEOs Defend Music, Video Content Choices
Viacom’s Dauman, Warner Music Bronfman Tell House Subcommittee That Creativity Shouldn’t Be Stymied
By R. Thomas Umstead -- Multichannel News, 9/25/2007 9:34:00 AM
Viacom, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group executives today defended their respective companies’ often-controversial video and music content during the opening remarks of Congressional hearing on stereotypes and degrading images in media.
Viacom CEO Philipe Dauman, speaking before the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, said the company strives to balance its content from such networks as MTV and BET to entertain and reflect the full spectrum of diverse audience interest – even if some of that content maybe objectionable to some viewers. MTV and BET have been criticized for offering music video programming that objectifies women and portray negative images of people of color.
Each show and video on all of the programmer’s services is viewed by a diverse group of employees before it airs on the networks and the company continues to review its standards, according to Dauman.
“We also have a responsibility to listen to both fans and critics and engage in a constructive dialog to help fulfill all of these missions,” he said.
Dauman added that that shows like BET’s three-part series Hip Hop vs. America, debuting tonight, also provides an open forum for both critics and enablers of controversial content to discuss the issues.
While admitting that Warner has a responsibility for the content it distributes, Warner Music Group CEO EdgarBronfman, Jr. said such creativity should not be silenced just because it may be offensive to others. He noted that Warner Music is very careful to consider any potentially offensive content, including maters or race, national or ethnic origin, religion age, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability.
“We’re required to protect and defend an artist’s freedom of expression … that’s an activity that we see as supporting our own interest but also our nation’s principles,” he said. “At the same time, we know we have to very carefully consider the impact on our society of the content we’re offering that we’re offering to the public. Striking the appropriate balance among these often conflicting values, interests and concerns is an often complex and ongoing challenge.”
When asked by one congressman whether any words are off limits for any of its recordings, Universal Music Group president and CEO Doug Morris said that he would not tell an artist what to say or not say on their recordings: “This is free speech and it’s not my place in this life to tell [artists] what to say,” he said.
Alfred Liggins, III, president and CEO of Radio One said the discussion regarding negative images and messages in music – particularly some forms of rap music – instead should focus as much on society and its obsession with celebrities and the pop culture world.
“In financial markets, consumer markets tend to regulate themselves ... hip-hop sales are tailing off and the tastes of the community is waning off the current state of hip hop,” he said. “But if you want to police the impact of [today’s media], you should analyze America’s overall pop culture phenomena.”
BRIEFS
04/08/2001MSG Buys Interest In Music Manager
06/11/2008Bronfman Gets Warner Music for $2.6B
11/23/2003
