Rev. Al Sharpton asks FCC to punish violent rappers

Jet, April 11, 2005

The Rev. Al Sharpton, upset about violence in rap music, has asked the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to punish artists and radio stations connected with violent acts.

Artists connected to such acts should be denied airplay on radio and television for 90 days, he told reporters after his meeting with FCC Chairman Kevin Martin and two other commissioners.

He also urged the agency to fine and review the licenses of radio stations "that encourage a pattern of this, including allowing employees to do on-the-air inciting of violence."

Sharpton said: "The outrage of the pattern of violence that has occurred at radio stations requires some action. What has been absent is some kind of government move to stop these actions happening on federally regulated radio stations."

Sharpton has been especially vocal since a bitter feud broke out between artists 50 Cent and The Game. A member of The Game's crew was wounded during a shooting outside a New York hip-hop radio station while 50 Cent was on the air criticizing The Game. The two artists have since ended their feud (JET, March 28).

Sharpton also met with Democratic FCC members Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein and sent letters to the major radio and TV conglomerates seeking meetings with the CEOs to demand a moratorium on the airplay and promotion of music from artists that engage in violence. Sharpton said he also is seeking meetings with major advertisers who support artists who engage in bloodshed.

The founder of the National Action Network emphasized in the letter: "We cannot sit silently by while young Americans feel that shootings and bloodshed is now synonymous with success and celebrity. We understand you're in the business of making money, but it cannot be at the expense of polluting the cultural outlook of young Americans."