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POLITICS Making Marx in the Music: A HyperHistory of New Music and Politics Classical music and jazz seem to have a more long-term, measured, even sublimated approach to political protest, slower to react and more deeply embedded in the structure of the music itself 07 November 2003 Mixing Pop & Politics: Music Making Change Forthcoming conference on popular music’s important place in the struggle for human rights and democratic freedoms. Panel discussions will examine topics including: Music as a Human Right; Bridging the North / South Divide Through Music; and Musical Activism 20 September 2004 Zimbabwe: Complete control - Music and propaganda in Zimbabwe The Zimbabwean government records 'praise music' to replace critical songs. Extensive article on Zanu PF and their use of music as propaganda, past and present 20 September 2004 Book by John Street: 'Music and Politics' This is the first book to examine systematically music's political power. A guide to how musicians make politics and politicians manipulate music 26 October 2011 Roskilde Festival 2003, Damon Albarn on music censorship Damon Albarn, Tony Allen and Ty on self-censorship, corporate censorship, censorship in Africa, and music during wartime - video excerpts from the Freemuse organized press conference on freedom of musical expression, Roskilde Festival 2003 26 August 2003 Zimbabwe: Singing The Walls Down Protest music is alive and well in Zimbabwe, where the oppressed and the impoverished find hope and strength in the songs of Thomas Mapfumo and Oliver Mtukudzi. Extensive article, including interviews with Mapfumo and Mtukudzi, as well as with government officials 23 February 2003 South Korea: Protest music returns to be remembered Until the late 1980s, music that criticized the government was prohibited. Undeterred, students and laborers working outside the universities wrote songs and spread them remarkably from city to city by word of mouth. A new album traces the protest music of South Korea 10 November 2004 D.R. Congo: Ban on rap music In June 2004, the Committee of Censorship in the Democratic Republic of Congo censored all Congolese rap groups and foreign music. The reason given for banning rap is that it is 'obscene and violent, and causes the youth to behave badly' 21 June 2004 The Beginnings of Zimbabwean Protest Music Extensive background information on the political music of Zimbabwe - with artists like Mapfumo, Brown, and Mtukudzi - and also dealing with the Zanu PF governments use of music as propaganda 01 April 2003 Russia: Punk fans and bands claim to be persecuted and silenced Is the Russian punk band PTVP censored from radio and tv because of their anti-government stance, or simply because they play aggressive punk music? 24 August 2009 Pop lyrics and their censors "Political correctness has imposed a new restraint on free speech." Interview with Freemuse co-chair Martin Cloonan on explicit lyrics and music censorship today 15 January 2004 UK: Britain at War Extensive article on how music was "restricted" during the Falkland and Gulf war, with focus on UK legislation and corporate censorship. Presented by Martin Cloonan at the 1st World Conference on Music and Censorship, 1998 01 January 2001 Egypt and Tunisia: The artistic revolution in the Middle East An article about music censorship and the role of music in the Middle Eastern struggle for democracy was published in The Observer on 27 February 2011 28 February 2011 The music industry from the perspective of women About the music industry from the perspective of women, based on interviews with Myriam, a Senegalese rapper from the group ALIF and the singer Ajah Sy 27 May 2005 Middle East: Hip-Hop on the frontline The rap form allows a powerful voice for political invective, and is being used on both sides of the Israel-Palestine conflict. But for Arab countries and the Middle East, the influence and performance of hip-hop lights a few fuses 02 November 2004 9/11: Is protest music dead? Music used to be the dominant voice against war. Now it's easier to shut up and get paid. What's really going on? Extensive article on 9/11 effects and media concentration, by Jeff Chang 16 April 2002 3rd Freemuse World Conference on Music and Censorship 200 professional musicians, scholars, and composers from 22 countries met at the 3rd Freemuse World Conference on 25-26 November 2006 in Istanbul, Turkey 18 December 2006 Damon Albarn: Music is destroyed by censorship The record industry exerts a covert censorship, which makes it difficult for musicians to express themselves freely, was the message from Damon Albarn, Tony Allen and Ty at the Roskilde Festival 2003 01 July 2003 Senegal seminar 2005 video English Didier Awadi, Myriam and Ajah on self-censorship, taboos, and the importance of constructive criticism. Video excerpts from Kristina Funkeson's interviews with the artists during the seminar on Music and Freedom of expression in West-Africa, held in Senegal 2005. 09 May 2005 Zimbabwe: No end to music censorship in Zimbabwe Hosiah Chipanga and Raymond Majongwe speak about their recent experiences with music censorship in the “new” Zimbabwe under a coalition government. 07 September 2009 Zimbabwe: Musician asks: why do you ban my music? In an open letter, musician Leonard Zhakata asks the country's ruling party ZANU-PF: "Why do you ban my music from being played on ZBC tv and radio?" 11 August 2008 Tanzania: Political pressure and corruption silence musicians Interview with Tanzanian musician Muumin Mwinjuma who says political pressure and corruption lead to music censorship 08 April 2008 Radio Freemuse: 'Music censorship in Africa 2008' Listen to or download a 15 minutes radio report explaining about music censorship in Africa today. Hear what the African musicians have to say themselves about the topic 27 February 2008 Baktash Kamran Video interview with the lead singer in Kamran Music Group. He speaks about his experiences with music prohibition during the Taliban period in 1996-2001 25 February 2008 Generation Wave Audio interview with Generation Wave - a group of Burmese hip-hop artists and activists - about freedom of expression and censorship among musicians in their country 11 February 2011 Nakaaya Sumari Video interview with Nakaaya Sumari - a popular Tanzanian singer - about music censorship and the role of music as a tool for communication 12 August 2009 Pasajeros Video interview with Colombian rappers and protest musicians Don Vito and Medina explaining why their colleagues in the band Pasajeros were imprisoned and exiled 08 October 2008 Israel: Conference about 'music on troubled soils' Musicians, politicians and experts gather in Jerusalem, Israel, on 23-26 October 2008 to discuss the role of music in troubled regions such as Israel, Cyprus and South Africa. 22 September 2008 Kris Kristofferson Video interview with American folk singer Kris Kristofferson about his personal experiences with music censorship in USA - and in Russia 31 March 2008 Aiab Gul Delshad Video interview with the head of Afghanistan's Music Union, who is a famous folk singer. He was arrested once, and imprisoned and tortured another time, because of two songs 25 February 2008 New US study on cultural exchanges since September 11 U.S Homeland Security and State departments are encouraged to "work together to improve the current visa situation…so it is less of a barrier for foreign visitors, artists, and scholars, and for the presenters who invite them" 10 September 2004 Venue expels Linda Ronstadt after political remarks The singer was booed and removed from a Las Vegas casino for praising film-maker Michael Moore and his film Fahrenheit 9/11 during a show. Ronstadt called Moore a "great American patriot" and "someone who is spreading the truth" 20 July 2004 Commentary from South Africa: Music Freedom from self-censorship Day “Buying artists to advance some political party’s cause may not be censorship, but more often than not, it will lead to self-censorship,” writes Mike van Graan from South Africa 03 March 2011 South Korea: Ban on North Korean praise music upheld The Supreme Court in South Korea has ruled that possessing instrumental music with titles praising communist North Korea is a crime, reported Radio New Zealand 02 November 2010 Launch of Freemuse's new report on censorship of heavy metal music Mark LeVine is online, ready to communicate with you on Facebook and Skype, from 6 PM to 8 PM GMT on Monday 22 February 2010. 17 February 2010 Freemuse report on censorship of heavy metal music Headbanging against repressive regimes - Censorship of heavy metal in the Middle East, North Africa, Southeast Asia and China. Freemuse report no. 9 25 January 2010 India: Political party promises to ban Western music The Bharatiya Janata Party in the Indian state Haryana has promised voters that the party will ban Western music if it comes to power 05 October 2009 China: Online music store blocked because of pro-Tibetan album Access to Apple's online iTunes Store has been blocked in China after it emerged that Olympic athletes have been downloading a pro-Tibetan music album 21 August 2008 Zimbabwe: Censorship does not silence music Many songs of Zimbabwean music star Leonard Zhakata have been blacklisted by the state broadcaster. This has not silenced him, though 03 June 2008 Nairez Video interview with one of the singers who were forced to sing praisal songs for the Taliban regime. He speaks about his problems with music censorship in this period 25 February 2008 Poland: Anti-sect organisation blacklists metal and rock bands A list of artists with a “dangerous message” will be distributed to the Polish authorities and will likely result in the artists getting banned from performing in Poland. 21 June 2007 Zimbabwe: Music central tool in election As campaigning for the 2005 parliamentary elections intensified, music became central to the contest 29 March 2005 Aung Zaw: Music censorship in Myanmar / Burma Video interview with journalist Aung Zaw about music censorship in Myanmar/Burma. Recorded in April 2004 26 October 2004 The world's all out of tune: Popular music after 9/11 "9/11 – The world's all out of tune. Populäre Musik nach dem 11. September 2001". New book - in German - on music after September 11, out October 2004 14 September 2004 Music during wartime An extensive collection of links to articles related to how the war on Iraq affected freedom of musical expression - from American country albums being burned to the rise in protest music 10 June 2003 The day protest music died Pop music played a crucial role in the national debate over the Vietnam War. By the late 1960's, radio stations across the country were crackling with blatantly political songs that became mainstream hits 05 March 2003 Pakistan: Under the censorship radar, anti-establishment songs flourish Using humour and satire, song writers increasingly enjoy a new sense of openness and freedom of speech in Pakistan nowadays, reported Times of India 02 November 2011 Darg Team Video interview with the Palestinian hip-hop group Darg Team about freedom of expression and their experiences with music censorship in Gaza 17 November 2010 Azagaia Video interview with Azagaia - a Mozambican hip-hop artist, rapper and sociologist - about freedom of expression and self-censorship among musicians in his country 25 August 2010 Nigeria: 11 songs banned by Kano State Censorship Board A chief magistrate in Kano has banned listening, sale and circulation of 11 Hausa songs, described as obscene, confrontational and immoral 18 June 2009 Bellavista Social Club Video interview with Colombian rappers and protest musicians Don Vito and Medina of Bellavista Social Club about their experiences of persecution 08 October 2008 Yemen: 18 months in prison for 'insulting the president' Singer Fahd al-Qarni was said to have 'insulted the president', and for this he recieved a prison sentence of 18 months and he must promise never to sing again 14 July 2008 Beate Slydal: About the Turkish Penal Code Article 301 Excerpt of political scientist Beate Slydal's presentation at the seminar 'Music - a human right', held in Oslo, Norway, on Music Freedom Day, 3 March 2008 28 March 2008 Zimbabwe before the elections: Airplay is only for the "patriots" While the radio keeps rotating songs that praise the current regime, opposition and dissenting voices are silenced, and things fall apart, writes Maxwell Sibanda from Harare 10 March 2008 Aziz Ghaznawi Video interview with an authority on music administration in Afghanistan. He talks about how music was censored within Radio Television Afghanistan 25 February 2008 Fazl-u-Rahman Wahdat Video interview with a Pashto folk singer and board member of Afghanistan Music Union. He speaks about the problems which a praisal singer faces when a regime changes 25 February 2008 Chiwoniso Maraire Video interview with Chiwoniso Maraire together with Chirikure Chirikure and Paul Brickhill about their personal experiences with music censorship in Zimbabwe 05 November 2007 Sierra Leone: Interview with Daddy Saj Freemuse interviewed Daddy Saj in August 2007 to learn more about his imprisonment and about music censorship in the country 29 August 2007 3rd Freemuse World Conference - report Read all the speeches and testimonials from the 3rd Freemuse World Conference on music censorship, held in Istanbul in 2006 20 August 2007 USA: Dixie Chicks' triumph over censorship: Five Grammys It was a victory over censorship and death threats when Dixie Chicks 'swept' the most prestigious honours in the global music calendar, the Grammy Awards 12 February 2007 Shoot the Singer! Book 'Shoot the Singer! Music Censorship Today' is the first worldwide presentation of contemporary cases of music censorship 25 May 2004 Explicit Lyrics & Parental Advisory Tipper Gore, the PMRC, and the infamous black-and-white logo: Background material and news articles 01 February 2004 Freedom Highway - Songs that Shaped a Century The widow of Chilean activist Victor Jara will participate in Freedom Highway (London, 19. - 22. September), a festival focussing on the powerful role of music in the political struggles and liberation movements of the 20th century. 27 August 2003 1st Freemuse World Conference - the speeches All speeches held at the 1st Freemuse World Conference on Music and Censorship, in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1998. (PDF document, 98 pages). 01 January 2001 South Africa: Old anti-apartheid song banned on hate speech charges On 26 March 2010, a South African high court prohibited the singing of a controversial anti-apartheid song, ‘Ayesab'amagwala’ (‘The cowards are afraid’) 19 April 2010 Turkey: Pop star both condemned and praised for political statement A statement in favour of a new plan on how the Turkish government should approach the Kurdish issue turned fans of the popular Turkish pop diva Sezen Aksu up against her 14 September 2009 Colombia: FARC ideologue and musician killed Colombian military forces have killed a rebel organisation's revolutionary songwriter, Julian Conrado 13 March 2008 Clear Channel: September 11 & Corporate Censorship Corporate censor no. 1, or just the market leader? A collection of articles on Clear Channel - including the debate on the infamous list of 'potentially offensive songs', which Clear Channel suggested its 1.300 radio stations not to play following the September 11 terrorist attacks in the US 01 December 2002 Palestine: Rapper in Gaza struggles to make voices heard Sponsors, studio owners and party organisers shun Mothafar Assar's Street Band Rappers due to Hamas disapproval, reported The Guardian 22 October 2010 Afghanistan: Protest singer forced into exile after receiving threats Afghan singer Shakib Mosadeq dared sing songs of political protest, and was subsequently forced to leave his country, reported Global Post on 16 May 2010 17 May 2010 Russia: 'Government fights outspoken musicians, says rock singer Music censorship exists in full glory in Russia, the lead singer of the Russian rock group Televizor, Mikhail Borzykin, told SpinEarth.tv 24 August 2009 Zimbabwe: Radio ban on singer for attacking government officials The music of 56-year-old Sungura musician Hosiah Chipanga has been banned on national radio, Radio Zimbabwe, wrote the newspaper ZimDaily on 7 June 2009. 10 June 2009 Aziza Brahim Video interview with Aziza Brahim - a Sahrawi singer who was born in a refugee camp in Algeria - about music censorship in Western Sahara 07 December 2008 USA: Opera composer says he is 'blacklisted' by US authorities Composer John Adams told BBC he is now 'blacklisted' and followed by US security forces because he wrote the controversial opera 'The Death of Klinghoffer' 23 October 2008 Zhakfar Hussaini Video interview with a music censor. He worked as a censor in Afghanistan Writers Association in Balkh in 1986-1992 25 February 2008 Estonia: Banned choral singing became a Singing Revolution The documentary film 'The Singing Revolution' shows how choral music played an imporant role in the small Baltic country's struggle against its occupation 24 October 2007 Tanzania: Pressured to stop performing for opposition party Interview with Tanzanian composer and performer Mzee Seif Thabit who says he has been censored for his alignment with opposition political parties 22 October 2007 Sierra Leone: Death threats to musicians Two well-known musicians wrote a song in support of a political party. Soon after they received death threats from their political opponents and had to go in hiding. 28 August 2007 Selda Bagcan: speech - November 2006 Video of Turkish singer Selda Bağcan's testimony at the third Freemuse World Conference where she speaks about her personal experiences with music censorship in Turkey 15 May 2007 Grup Yorum Video interview with three members of Istanbul-based Grup Yorum about their personal experiences with music censorship in Turkey 09 February 2007 Freemuse report on censorship in post 9/11 USA ’Singing in the Echo Chamber’. Music censorship in the U.S. after September 11. New report published by Freemuse 13 February 2006 Lebanese singer Marcel Khalife banned in Tunisia The Lebanese singer is "no longer welcome" in Tunisia and his songs are banned from state controlled medias 02 January 2006 UK: Banned group returns to stage They were censored on Top of the Pops and infuriated the National Front in the late 70’s. Now the Gang of Four returns to the stage for a few gigs. Vocalist Jon King claims Gang of Four was banned more than the Sex Pistols 11 January 2005 Musical responses to 9/11: From Conservative patriotism to radicalism This article poses the question: What would a suitable American popular music response to the events of 9/11 sound like? Read the chapter by Martin Cloonan, from the book "9/11 – The world's all out of tune" 09 December 2004 CRAG Report: The Missing Cuban Musicians No Cuban bands have been admitted entry into the U.S. since November 2003. New report on the situation for cultural exchange between Cuba and the U.S. 05 October 2004 Elton John attacks new 'era of censorship' in America The British singer has attacked what he calls a McCarthy-like "era of censorship" in America. Entertainers who speak out against the Bush administration or its policy on Iraq, he claimed, risk scorn and damage to their livelihood 17 July 2004 Ukrainian nationalists: Russian pop hits off buses Politicians fear that their culture and language are under threat from Russian pop songs 18 June 2004 Hip-Hop as a Political Tool Five steps to using hip hop within a political framework and to developing a viable political constituency in the hip-hop generation 08 June 2004 USA: 'Crash into me, baby!' America’s implicit music censorship since September 11. Read the chapter from 'Shoot the Singer!', by Eric Nuzum on how the September 11 terror attacks have affected freedom of musical expression 03 June 2004 Songs of Cuba, silenced in America "We may think we are isolating Cuba with our embargo and our travel restrictions, but it is we Americans who are becoming isolated," said singer-songwriter Jackson Browne on the US - Cuba visa conflict 22 March 2004 Cultural Boycott - of any use? Freemuse Conference The recent initiative to boycott Israel is controversial, so is the Arab initiative to boycott cultural events which include Israeli artists. Yet the cultural boycott on apartheid South Africa did have an effect. And what about Cuba? Listen to the panel discussion from WOMEX 2003. 30 November 2003 Cuban musicians criticize new U.S. travel rules A group of musicians has criticized new U.S. regulations that will further limit travel to Cuba, urging the United States to build bridges to the island instead of tearing them down. The musicians tied their comments to the release of the album: Bridge to Havana 02 July 2004 Iran: Petition in support of 26 year-old Iranian musician On 1 October 2010, an online petition in support of Iranian singer Arya Aramnejad was started. He was imprisoned for singing his famous song ‘Ali Barkhir’ (‘O Ali raise up’) 13 October 2010 Nigeria: Proceedings against composer of banned song The singer Ala was arrested in Kano on 4 July 2009 for his song 'Hasbunallahu' which was banned by a mobile court judge linked to the Kano State Censorship Board 09 July 2009 Czech Republic: Bizarre attack on Scottish rock band Primal Scream Scottish rock band Primal Scream has been accused for “promoting fascism” by the Czech Radio Council in regard to the song 'Swastika Eyes' 25 March 2009 Georgia: Song 'too political' for Eurovision Song contest Georgia has pulled out of the Eurovision Song Contest after organisers banned the country's song for 'mocking' the Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin 13 March 2009 Zimbabwe: Song banned for allegedly criticising ruling party A song composed by Tongai Moyo, a popular Zimbabwean musician, has reportedly been denied air play by the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, ZBC 26 January 2009 Israel: British musician defied death threats by militants Paul McCartney defied death threats by religious militants in the Middle East before his concert in Israel where he performed for 40,000 fans on 25 September 2008 25 September 2008 Farhad Darya Video interview with Afghanistan's star singer who gives examples of songs which were censored in the period of communist parties in Afghanistan, starting from 1979 25 February 2008 Safdar Tawakoli Video interview with a Hazara folk singer who explains about his problems as a musician during the Mujahidin period where power in the capital of Afghanistan was fragmented 25 February 2008 USA: The US rock group Pearl Jam’s anti-Bush statement censored on webcast Parts of a Pearl Jam live concert webcast was left out by the main sponsor AT&T. When the lead singer sang “George Bush, leave this world alone” transmission was interrupted 15 August 2007 Sierra Leone: Musicians stopped from entering the political arena A performance of Sierra Leone artist K-Man was stopped due to an on-going debate as to whether it should be forbidden for musicians to be politically active in campaign rallies 14 February 2007 Uzbek singer on trial for song about massacre World-wide campaign launched in support of the popular Uzbek singer Dadakhan Khasanov who is on trial for having written a song about the Andizhan massacre in 2005 07 August 2006 USA: Anti-Iraq war rock song claimed blacklisted by US government American rock musician Mick Star claims that his anti-Iraq war song 'Jets' is not getting air time due to pressure on radio stations from the White House 25 October 2005 Musical responses to 9/11: List of allegedly 'banned' songs A list of "lyrically inappropriate" songs banned from some US radio stations in the wake of the World Trade Center attacks in 2001 09 December 2004 Repression against musicians of Belarus Open letter from Belarusian musicians concerning political pressure being placed on musicians who allegedly oppose President Aleksandr Lukashenko 08 October 2004 Cat Stevens denied access "on national security grounds" US officials identified that the singer, whose name is now Yusuf Islam, was on one of their "watch lists". After an interview, the singer - who converted to Islam in 1977 - was denied entry into the US 22 September 2004 USA: Politician seeks musician Bruce Springsteen boycott Upset with Bruce Springsteen's effort to oust President Bush from the White House, the New York Conservative Party's candidate for the U.S. Senate is launching a "Boycott the Boss" television commercial 16 August 2004 Hip-Hop Cops: US put Hip-Hop under surveillance A collection of articles on the latest developments in a nationwide effort to place every aspect of hip-hop culture under state surveillance 08 July 2004 Singer 'strips' over censorship Wearing a "nude suit" on stage to complain about censorship in the US, Alanis Morissette criticised a radio station for forcing her to change strong language in one of her recent songs 06 April 2004 Singer Lee Jones attacks Bush American singer Rickie Lee Jones has attacked the policies of the Bush administration on her latest record - despite the potential risk to her career. “I usually reflect things totally internally. But I think what is happening in America is so disturbing to me, it becomes internal” 07 January 2004 Rania Elias: Cultural boycott on Israel? Video Interview with Rania Elias from Palestine - recorded at the WOMEX trade fair in 2002 13 November 2002 Public Enemy vs MTV MTV will not show the video for 'Gotta Give the Peeps What They Need' 14 October 2002 Limits of Musical Freedom Which kinds of limits are there to the freedom of musical expression in the world today? 07 February 2002 Malawi police shoot protesters A riot erupted when officers tried to break up a protest against the death in police custody of the outspoken reggae musician Evison Matafale 13 December 2001 Musician dies in police custody Malawi's outspoken reggae musician Evison Matafale dies in police custody 13 December 2001