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THE REVOLUTION? NOT ON THESE AIRWAVES June 20 2001 On 14 May 2001, the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a $7,000 fine to KBOO-FM, a tiny noncommercial listener-supported radio station in Portland, Oregon. The station's crime? Playing "Your Revolution" by DJ Vadim and Sarah Jones, on the Ninja Tune label. The song was one of a number of tracks from KBOO's rap programme examined by the FCC after it received a complaint from an offended listener way back in October 1999. Ironically, out of all the songs broadcast, the station manager was convinced that "Your Revolution" would be passed by the FCC without question; its lyrics form an articulate critique of misogyny in hip-hop culture and the media in general. In the end, however, the FCC declared that Sarah Jones' poem featured "unmistakable patently offensive sexual references" "...designed to pander and shock". The Commission has passed similar judgements before, recently fining a station for playing an expletive-filled Eminem track. But "Your Revolution" is no Eminem. Take a listen yourself: Alternative mix in downloadable MP3 Read the lyrics direct from the FCC report If the song's out to provoke anything, it's out to provoke thought. Jones keeps returning to the phrase "Your revolution will not happen between these thighs", drawing on Gil Scott Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", a song which has come to be perceived as a starting point for the rap genre. She's asking us to examine how far feminism has really come in the culture, making a protest against the degradation of women, not - like Eminem and countless others - using indecency as a unit-shifting shock tactic. Because the FCC ruling sets a precedent, other stations are likely to stop playing the song, something which amounts to censorship and stifling of an important debate. To English readers this may seem strange, not only because the USA has a reputation for protecting free speech, but also because "Your Revolution" has been played on radio stations over here without any ado - notably on XFM and on Radio 1's "Breezeblock" show. It should be fairly clear that the FCC's ruling is simply wrong. KBOO is a powerless community station which surely cannot afford to throw away $7,000. Sarah Jones is a poet who spends much of her time speaking in schools and other educational facilities- she cannot afford to have her name tarnished with allegations of sexual indecency. And so I urge you to assist in attempts to get the Commission to reverse its decision. - Airbubble.com has created an information centre with links to relevant press articles. - Buy the "Your Revolution" CD from Amazon via this link and you'll be supporting Airbubble.com's campaign as well as the artists. - E-mail Michael Powell, Chairman of the FCC, via his website or at mpowell@fcc.gov and ask him to withdraw the fine. - And finally, fill in this online petition. PS: in December 2001 I received an e-mail from someone on behalf of Sarah Jones asking me to link to the official Sarah Jones website. So here it is: www.sarahjonesonline.com comment on this article e-mail this to a friend start a discussion  thought index Problems? Questions? Suggestions? Contact me: mail@tobyslater.com back to top back to home page |
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