THE BROADCASTING Commission has remained steadfast in its decision to place a ban on certain lyrics deemed inappropriate for airplay.

At the same time, the broadcast watchdog has asked the Government to urgently amend the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations.

During a press conference held yesterday at the Knutsford Court Hotel in New Kingston, Chair-man Dr Hopeton Dunn said the agency was determined to reverse the "intolerable increase of problematic content that has overtaken our public airwaves".

Ban on bleeping

On Friday, the commission announced a ban on all 'daggerin' songs, which in the dancehall sphere is a popular reference to the simulation of aggressive or violent sex. The commission also imposed a ban on bleeping and beeping, which are editing methods used to expunge material thought unfit for airplay.

The commission's actions drew applause from various sections of society and the ire of others who said it was an attack on dancehall.

However, the commission said while the directive was generated in response to the proliferation of daggerin' and related output on the air, its regulatory axe would also be swung at "all types of musical broadcast output, including soca music and carnival music".

Vulgar content

Cordel Green, executive director of the commission, said he was convinced that artistes do not have to produce explicit lyrics for public consumption.

"This is not about dancehall or any genre. It is about lyrics that are inappropriate for broadcast, whether you want to call it soul music, hip-hop music or dancehall music," Green said. "Our artistes have demonstrated the capability to deliver whatever we require of them and we are now saying that the radio stations must demand and transmit content that is created for that space."

Meanwhile, Dunn said the proposed amendment to the Television and Sound Broadcasting Regulations would allow the commission to place further restrictions on materials to which children are exposed on the air.

Among the proposed changes are regulations governing the non-transmission of songs that condone or encourage hostility or violence.

The commission also wants the regulation amended to give it power to rein in material which encourages or glamorises the use of illegal drugs or misuse of alcohol.

"The force of the regulation that we want to be changed urgently is to give children a better chance of becoming part of the public audience and that they ought not to be misused or abused in the course of our broadcast transmission," Dunn told The Gleaner yesterday.

Dunn added that the commission would like Parliament to give it the right to have media houses designate someone who is responsible for the selection of music played on radio and television.

Meanwhile, the commission said it would be recommending that Parliament repeal the Broadcasting and Radio Re-diffusion Act of 1946 and have it replaced by modern legislation.

"Until there is agreement on the need for a new act and its new provisions, we have sought an early amendment of an existing act to provide the commission with the authority to impose financial sanctions, with a parallel provision for an appeals mechanism.