I've heard that in America, it's not possible to censor an artist, is that true

A. It is true.�Artists' work is protected under law, under the Constitution to be accurate, artistic freedom is enshrined in the First Amendment.

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Q. So if that's the case, why do I see 'Parental Advisory' stickers all over albums in my local record shop

A.�Just because the law protects an artist, it doesn't prevent interested parties from trying to censor the purveyors and providers of that art, hence the censorship battle that has raged since popular music began.

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Q. So there's a history of censorship in music

A.� There is, quite a long, and occasionally amusing history, especially in the United States.

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Q. But censorship isn't a funny issue.

A. No it's not, no matter from which side you examine the issue�- either as someone who believes in the sanctity of artistic freedom, or a concerned parent trying to keep a level of control on the music to which children are listening.�The issue itself is totally serious, but some of the actions in the name of propriety do raise a smile, even through gritted teeth.

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Q.�OK, let's take a look.

A.�Back to 1956 then, when Cole Porter's famous line 'I get no kick from cocaine,' was muted into the rather less elegant 'I get perfume from Spain,' ABC also banned the novelty hit Transfusion by Dot and Diamond because 'There's nothing funny about transfusions.'

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In 1959, Link Wray's Rumble was banned because it might incite teenage violence, even though it's an instrumental. In 1964, Governor Mathew Walsh of Indiana asked for The Kingsmen's Louie Louie to be banned because its lyric may be pornographic. Given that almost no one can discern the lyrics on even the closest listening, and that when deciphered, they contain non-threatening sentiments about 'Jamaican moons', and 'having to go', maybe the Governor was being a little over-zealous.

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In 1968, a radio station in El Paso banned Bob Dylan's songs for a similar reason, they couldn't tell what Bob was mumbling about, and so they played safe in case he was inciting any kind of youthful misbehaviour. Artists covering Dylan songs with clear diction got their songs played. As recently as 1990, Frank Zappa's Jazz From Hell album was stickered, warning of 'dirty lyrics', and forbidding sale to minors, by a major record shop chain, even though the album is entirely instrumental.

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Q. That's all very well, but surely someone somewhere has to take a stand

A.�This is where the thorny issue of morality versus art comes into play. The Parents Music Research Group, founded by Tipper Gore wife of then-Senator Al Gore attempted to address the issue of obscenity in pop music and succeeded in introducing the famous 'Parental Guidance' stickers so loathed by musicians and music fans alike.

Q. Did it work

A. For a time, but this week news media in America advise that the US Federal Trade Commission is looking at action against the music industry because the Commission believes that the music industry is flying in the face of agreed conduct codes in order to sell more albums.

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Q. So where does it go from here

A. The debate will continue, as it has done since artistic expression began. There will always be those who believe that a musician has the right to sing about whatever he or she chooses. Similarly, there will always be those who believe that some level of regulation is necessary to maintain the moral values that make a society civilised. There will�be those who carry the extreme views of either side, giving rise to ever more intensive argument, but as The Federal Trade Commission are finding out, the notion of enforcement of a moral standard in a medium where serious money is to be made is always going to be difficult, if not impossible.

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