Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 17, 1990 TAG: 9005170576
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A/6 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: ST. LOUIS LENGTH: Medium
Bowing to pressure from politicians and parents over what they consider objectionable lyrics, some stores have begun to card youngsters.
In some places, no one under 18 can buy products by rap and heavy metal acts that carry a warning label affixed by record companies.
"This stuff is addictive," says state Sen. Jean Dixon, a fan of Christian music whose attempt to force record companies to label albums with explicit material failed in committee. "I had a kid write and tell me he's addicted to this bad music."
Whether record companies and retailers agree with her premise or not, some are complying. Among them: Dallas-based Sound Warehouse Inc., which has 137 stores in 14 states, and Streetside Records, which has 19 stores in Missouri and Kansas.
Camelot Music, the No. 2 company in the country, carded minors for several months before going to a money-back guarantee last month for dissatisfied parents.
"We've been carding kids for about two months, ever since Jean Dixon started her spiel," said Jim Varvaris, manager of a Streetside store in St. Louis County. "Some of her comments show that she's kind of hogwash."
Targets of the measure agree.
"It's a crock," said 17-year-old Matt Lauman of St. Louis, standing outside a Camelot outlet.
"We talk about this stuff in social studies all the time," said 14-year-old Megan Engbert of St. Louis. "It's not fair."
The number of albums and tapes that carry warning labels and necessitate carding is small. Varvaris said that of 75 new releases his store received Monday, only two needed stickers.
Profanity and references to suicide, abortion and sex are on Dixon's hit list.
Four years ago, the Recording Industry Association of America, under pressure from the Parents' Music Resource Center headed by Tipper Gore, added warning stickers to certain albums.
by CNB