Lawmakers’ Wives Take Aim at Sexually Explicit Albums : Record Firms Balk at Warning Labels

The Parents’ Music Resource Center, a coalition of congressmen’s wives that has campaigned to label records it considers sexually explicit, violent and drug-related, said Wednesday that its controversial efforts have had “varied” results.

While several record companies have begun labeling albums with potentially offensive lyrics, several major companies, among them Warner Bros., Capitol and CBS, have not followed guidelines on the size and placement of warning labels, Parents’ Center President Sally Nevius told a press conference here.

Some record industry officials denounced the coalition’s efforts. “The PMRC has contributed a blacklisting climate to the music business,” said Danny Goldberg, president of Gold Mountain Records and a vocal opponent of the group’s campaign.

Predicts Group Will Fail

Goldberg predicted that the group will fail in its efforts to rein in the recording industry. “The great tradition of American music is not going to be trampled on by this,” he said.

The Parents’ Center signed an agreement with the Recording Industry Assn. of America in November, 1985, calling on 20 record firms to label albums containing material it considers objectionable with this phrase: “Explicit Lyrics--Parental Advisory.” The agreement, which is not binding on individual companies, offers the option of printing lyrics on the back covers of albums.

Tipper Gore, wife of Sen. Albert Gore Jr. (D-Tenn.) and a Parents’ Center member, said that “we do applaud the companies for having some type of label” but said that the labels should be of standard size and placement to be effective.

Members of the Parents’ Center met recently with officials of five record companies to request that they adhere more closely to the guidelines. Elektra-Asylum, a New York-based company, informed the group Tuesday that it had “reconsidered” its position, and would begin printing potentially offensive lyrics on the back covers of its releases.

‘Freedom of Expression’

Goldberg, whose company is one of several smaller firms that rejected the recording association’s recommendation for warning labels, said that, although the “threat to freedom of expression continues to plague the music business,” the industry is “resisting” the labeling campaign.

Goldberg played down the Parents’ Center report, saying that record companies have frequently chosen to use warning labels. “The PMRC didn’t invent this,” he said. Goldberg added that he supports printing lyrics in some cases, but “I absolutely object to interpreting lyrics.”

Nevius said the Parents’ Center delegation has also met with officials of MTV, the 24-hour cable music network, to suggest that they “cluster” sexually provocative or violent music videos after children are in bed. Noting that “the visual interpretation of a video can completely change the interpretation of the lyrics,” Gore said that MTV should consider airing warnings similar to those on network TV before showing such videos.

Ann Kahn, national president of the PTA, which co-sponsored the warning label campaign, said that the Parents’ Center has had “to fight a battle of disinformation” against opponents who argue that warning labels constitute censorship. “I think some of the fears that have been expressed by the record industry have proved to be unfounded,” Kahn said, adding: “We have not had the kinds of censorship people feared would happen.”