Age Ratings For UK Music Videos

By October 1, 2014Music

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Age ratings are now being introduced and will come into force from 3rd October into music videos to help protect children from unsuitable content.

BPI and three of the UK’s top music labels (Sony Music UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK) have been working with the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) to ensure the new regulations are approved and upheld. Vevo and YouTube are also working to introduce and test age-ratings as well as offering guidance as to the creation of new music videos which will be released online in the UK.

Geoff Taylor, the Chief executive of BPI, says “We want to give parents the information they need to make more informed decisions about the music videos they are happy for their children to see.  That’s why we introduced the Parental Advisory Scheme almost 20 years ago and why we are now working with the BBFC and with video platforms to pilot age ratings for UK music videos.  We hope that if the pilot is successful, video services will consider introducing parental filters as a key next step.”

Where appropriate the BBFC will rate the videos PG, 12, 12A, 15 or 18, the same as the BBFC Classification guidelines.

The first phase of the campaign will commence 3rd October which will see the music video ratings put into practice and ensure that both the Digital Service Providers have all the necessary ratings/guidance information. The second phase is yet to be announced but will see to it that the two DSPs display the guidance on-screen.

BPI explain that they have estimated around 20% of music videos released within the pilot are likely to be subject to a rating – the vast majority are unlikely to contain content that would be rated 12 or greater.  This estimate is based on a previous video catalogue audit of one of the companies taking part in the pilot.

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