UPDATE: More On Eminem's Liability
UPDATE: More On Eminem's Liability
August 29, 2002
Some bloggers have commented that Universal may not actually be marketing Eminem when it releases clips from his tracks to file-swappers, who are potentially underage - but simply trying to prevent file-swapping. Well, sure, that's what they want you to believe. But if you really look into it, as this Salon report does you find quite the opposite.
Also, parents really have no idea what's in Eminem's lyrics. As the Eminem article says:
Judge Barry Woodward, who listened to the track with the jury, described it as "quite disgusting". Afterwards the victim's mother said: "My son likes Eminem but I have only let him listen to tracks that make the charts. When they played that awful song in the courtroom I felt sick."
What happens is, underage file-swappers try to download just so they can hear Eminem lyrics that they'd never hear on the radio, or on the censored CD their parents bought in Walmart's. And they're more likely to download, if they or their buddies see a bunch of Eminem marketing tracks that Universal is making available.
I agree with the comment that Shakespeare talks about sex, too. But the difference is, Shakespeare's publisher wasn't intentionally subverting consumer protections for underage children.
Thanks so much for the critiques. I can see now where Blogging really can encourage accuracy in media.
