The BPI-run Parental Advisory logo is an extension of a scheme that saw warning labels on CDs and DVDs, but will now apply to companies selling downloads and streaming services.
According to the scheme’s Parental Advisory website, the logo “helps to inform parents that the music is for an older audience and that songs or music videos contain explicit lyrics or images which might be considered offensive or unsuitable for children”.
Retailers including Apple, Amazon, HMV, Napster UK, eMusic, 7digital and Tesco have signed up to the programme, although it's unclear how many parents actually shop online with their children.
The logo will be displayed if content contains "strong language, images of violent, dangerous, criminal or sexualised behaviour, physical or mental abuse, or racist, homophobic language," the scheme claims, without explain who decides which content to flag as inappropriate.
Part of a wider scheme to encourage people onto legal music sites, the BPI cited research by Harris Interactive that said when using unknown sites four out of five users encountered problems, with one in three complaining about explicit material they had downloaded instead of the track they had requested.
This article originally appeared at pcpro.co.uk
