FEDS BUST RECORD-BIZ CHOPS

Completely ignoring the bitter irony of issuing yet another report deriding the marketing practices of a business in one of its most serious periods of decline ever, the Federal Trade Commission released a second follow-up report yesterday on the marketing of violent entertainment to children.

While commending both the film and video game sectors for taking steps to limit ads for violent movies or games in media outlets frequented by teens and for including their ratings in ads, the Commission criticized the music business for failing to change the way it markets product carrying “explicit content” stickers. Such product is currently advertised to all ages, and while certain labels’ inclusion of the warning labels in their ads is seen as a good thing, the Commission admonished music marketers that a more concerted effort must be made to insure more widespread adoption of this policy.

The report decries a “lack of serious attention by the music industry and retailers to the Commission’s recommendations in its two earlier reports” and urges “Congress, parents and the general public to persuade the music industry to change its behavior.” If “change its behavior” means getting things back to the way they were in the Roaring ’90s and selling buttloads of records, we’re in.

“The Recording Industry has made tremendous progress in our campaign to inform parents about the Parental Advisory,” said RIAA President/CEO Hilary Rosen. “Surveys show that public education is what parents care most about, and we are confident in our success in this area. We are heartened that the Federal Trade Commission's report did reflect the many steps we have taken and the progress we have made to strengthen our program.”

Of course, those running the record might be finding the issue of remaining profitable a little more compelling right now than expanding their social conscience. Let’s hope they succeed, or the FTC will have no one left to chide.