STATEMENT FROM THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF RECORDING MERCHANDISERS
SUPPORTING
THE RIAA PARENTAL ADVISORY PROGRAM
The National Association of Recording Merchandisers has
long supported the industry’s practice of affixing parental advisory notices to
recordings with explicit lyrics. NARM
continues to support this voluntary program because it serves as a useful tool
to parents in their decision-making process regarding what music they deem
appropriate for their children.
As the national trade association of retailers,
wholesalers, and distributors who sell recorded music of all kinds in
tremendously diverse communities, NARM has found that our member companies use
the RIAA Parental Advisory Program in a variety of ways. Some companies choose not to purchase
recordings which carry the Advisory; some let the Advisory speak for itself;
others restrict the purchase of these titles by teens and young children and
still others place the responsibility in the hand of store managers who must
then decide what is best for that store in that community. Despite the diversity of approaches, the
common theme which unites NARM members is support for the Parental Advisory
Program.
Over the years, NARM has worked closely with the RIAA to
find ways of making the existing tool even more effective. The language and look of the logo have been
standardized; guidelines for application and for advertising have been
developed; posters and counter cards
help publicize the program to parents.
Today we are working with RIAA to assist our members in taking the
Advisory Program onto the Internet.
No Advisory Program can ever perfectly match the wide
array of consumer views concerning what is appropriate for them or for younger
listeners in their families. However,
NARM believes that more and more parents are learning how to use the Parental
Advisory much as they also use the information systems in place for other forms
of entertainment. Most importantly,
focus groups of parents have confirmed that they prefer this voluntary
information system over one of censorship and government regulation.