Music censor of the day: AT&T
Update: David Isenberg talks about AT&T and censorship.

AT&T says that it was simply a mistake that their content monitor cut a bit from Pearl Jam's performance of "Daughter" during the Lollapalooza webcast last Sunday. The fact that the lines discussed George Bush had nothing to do with it:

George Bush, leave this world alone.

George Bush find yourself another home.

In the world of Bush criticism, this is tame. No obscenities, for example. But AT&T, (in a fit of patriotism?) decided it was too much for the audience. And not even their audience. They are protecting all citizens that might want to listen to the webcast whether AT&T customers or not.

Read Pearl Jam's take on it.

Labels: ATandT, censorship, music, politics

- posted by Peter Fleck @ Permalink 11:16 PM |

 
Internet radio won't be here Monday
Update. Long live Internet radio.

In what could be seen as one of the first major shifts towards corporatizing the Internet, the Copyright Royalty Board will begin imposing onerous fees on Internet radio stations beginning Sunday.

Shaken Internet Radio Stations Face Specter of New Fees Sunday - washingtonpost.com

Labels: music, policy, politics, radio

- posted by Peter Fleck @ Permalink 8:56 AM |

 
Alanis does Peas
Confession: Before this morning, I wouldn't know a Black Eyed Pea from a garbanzo bean. (I thought Fergie was former royalty currently working for Weight Watchers.) I do listen to some modern music (loved MIA) but I'm way on the periphery of hip-hop and rap. (Is there a hyphen in hip-hop?)

Today I caught the Alanis Morissette parody of Pea song My Humps (via Unapologetic Nonsense ). I remember the song, released in 2005. Never thought much of it and never really listened to the lyrics until I watched Alanis. Luckily this wonderful web had the original available and it's sexist as hell not to mention equating breasts with "lumps" and the link of that word to cancer.

Morissette turned it on it's head. She brought some drama to it. She makes you think about issues like objectifying women and mainstream music promotion of sex. I like it.

The version I link (there's several at YouTube) has had 2M hits since 4/2. Comments are worth browsing too. No matter what you think of the Morissette version or the Pea version, it has started a conversation. That's good.

Original by Black Eyed Peas

Labels: music, youtube

- posted by Peter Fleck @ Permalink 7:14 AM |