Age Regulation in Music Videos

The BBFC are the organisation who gives ratings to films and music videos. Their job is to make
sure that nobody can see any inappropriate content that may offend or upset them. This is so that
younger people dont see things such a sexual content or extreme violence in videos they
commonly watch. The ratings that the BBFC give out are broken down into 6 categories ranging
from U which everyone can watch to 18 were only people of ages 18 and over can watch.
U

PG

12

This is the lowest rating a music video can get. The

U stands for Universal, this means it is suitable for
all audiences from the ages 4 and up, because it is
inaccurate to predict what scares or upsets anyone
below the ages of 4, which is why they say suitable
for people above the ages of 4. U will allow
infrequent use of very mild language e.g. the words
damn and Hell. U may contain some kissing and
cuddling and minor references to sexual behavior,
but there is no over focused on sexual behavior at a
U. Violence at a U is very mild, it may contain a
short scene were the character is in a fight or in
danger but at a U rating it is quickly resolved and
with a reassuring ending. Characters known as
baddies may have a weapon but at a U grade the
baddie is very unlikely to use the weapon in a
scene. Typically the music videos that are graded a
U are aimed at children, but not all U films are for
children. Most U music videos focus on the
advantages of loyalty, friendship and honesty. Most
music videos that got rated came out as a U and
example of a U music video would be Pharrell
Williams Happy which was featured on the childrens
movie Despicable me
PG stands for Parental Guidance. This means a
music video is suitable for general viewing, but
some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.
A PG music video should not unsettle a child aged
around eight or older. Parents should consider
whether the content may upset younger, or more
sensitive, children. Some films are given a PG
certificate but have not been made with a young
audience in mind. A PG music video will not contain
any theme which is inappropriate for a child. PG
works can explore challenging issues such as
bullying, bereavement or racism. There may be mild
bad language such as sh*t or son of a b*tch in a
PG film, but the context and delivery are always
important. For example, if the language is used
aggressively or if there is a great deal of bad
language, a work may be passed at a higher
category. An example of a music video which got
given a PG was Bruno Mars and Mark Ronsons
Uptown Funk, this was given a PG because it had
mild language such as B*tch and references to
going out on the town and getting drunk.

15

18

An age 12 music video are for people of the ages 12

and above. A 12 music video would allow things
such as a dark and unsettling tone. Language in a
12 all depends on how it was used words such as
f**k can be seen in 12s as long as it isnt to offend
someone. Mild sexual scenes are in 12s meaning
that close to naked women and men could be seen
but nothing full on. An example of a music video
rated 12 would be Miley Cyruss wrecking ball which
features her naked swinging on a wrecking ball.
No-one under 15 is allowed to see a 15 music video.
15 rated music videos are not suitable for children
under 15 years of age. The things you are very likely
to see in a 15 rated music videos are strong
violence, frequent strong language, portrayals of
sexual activity, strong verbal references to sex,
nudity, brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal
references, discrimination and drug taking. The
reason there is a big difference between the
contents of a 12 and a 15 is because people believe
that the people who are aged 15 and above are
more likely to be mature and understand the
difference between wrong and right. An example of
a music video rated 15 would be Calvin Harris's
Open Wide, which has "strong bloody violence",
sexual references and language. The way to access
these rated music videos is only on trusted websites
such as Youtube and Vevo in which you must be
signed into an account that is the required to watch
the music video.
No-one under 18 is allowed to see an 18 music
video. No 18 rated works are unsuitable for children.
The contents of an 18 rated film are very similar just
that instead of it being brief scenes or strong
violence and language it is more very strong
language and it also involves things such as strong
horror and blood and gore. The difference between
the 15 rated and 18 is that 18 is viewed as an adult
and adults should be mature and able to understand
what is going on in the movie and not to take it the
wrong way. At a 18 rated video there isnt really any
limit to anything, this is because only adults are
allowed to view them meaning the audience is very
likely to understand and be mature about the
chosen subject. No one under the age of 18 should
watch an 18 film because it may contain strong
subjects that may offend or upset young viewers
who are less likely to understand what is going on.
So far only one music video has been able to be
labeled and that is Dizzie Rascals couple of stacks
which shows him going around brutally murdering
people with a knife. The way to access these rated
music videos is only on trusted websites such as
Youtube and Vevo in which you must be signed into
an account that is the required to watch the music
video.

In new laws made by the government websites such as Youtube and Vivo which are mainly used
for video streaming have partnered up with the BBFC to label all of their music videos, giving them
an age rating making sure that no one is seeing any inappropriate content. To watch music videos
that are above PG you now have to sign into an account which is of the age the video requires you
to be at the view it. Out of all the music videos that have been given a label only one has been
given the 18 sticker which is Dizzie Rascals couple of stacks which shows him murdering people
with a knife, he states that this music video was made for a Halloween treat.
My music video will be aimed at a PG as the song and video will contain no sexual content or any
abusive language. The only thing the video will contain will be the use of alcohol and the death of
a family member which may upset young children which is why I chose to aim for a PG rated
video.
I will make sure my video will not a surpass my target age range and fall into the brackets 15 or 18
by making sure my video wont contain any strong sexual references or strong violence that will
offend my target audience. I will also make sure that I keep to the guidelines or my target audience
and not breach it by using factors from other age ratings like 15 or 18.