Klass Act Productions - Hampton Roads Disc Jockeys (DJs) and Karaoke Service

Nov 2008
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Offensive Lyrics Policy and Disclaimer

Pop music lyrics have always been and likely always will be filled with innuendo and even blatant suggestions of sex. Top 40 music has evolved to include lyrics that glorify illicit drugs and violence. Never has this been more the case than with today's hip-hop/rap music. From the comparatively innocent 1960's when the Rolling Stones appeared on the Ed Sullivan show and were forced by the censors to change the lyrics of their song: “Let’s spend the night together” to a milder “Let’s spend some time together” and Elvis could only be filmed from the waist up, we have reached a time when four-letter words and "dirty dancing" are not only acceptable, but sought after.

For the disc jockey, these lyrics present a real "Catch-22." The DJ wants to provide a fun and busy dance floor for the client. Top 40 music, including hip-hop and rap, with its wild, often vulgar lyrics, are precisely what the bulk of people, particularly younger people, want to hear and dance to. Some of us, however, have failed to evolve at the same rate as the music and find it offensive. So what is the DJ to do? Certainly, I do not want to offend anyone, on the other hand, I must entertain to stay in business!

Klass Act Productions has resolved this issue to the extent possible by establishing the following firm policy and disclaimer:

Klass Act Productions will play the music that its adult clients have asked it to play through the use of its on line music database selection tools and/or paper planners.
Klass Act Productions requests a "Do Not Play List" from each adult client for adult functions. The "Do Not Play LIst" is defined as a list of songs which the client insists not be played at the function.
Klass Act Productions requires a "Do Not Play List" as defined above for events which are not "Adult" events; that is, events at which persons under the age of 18 years will be present.
Klass Act Productions will assist any client in preparing a "Do Not Play List" based upon that client's perception of what constitutes "offensive lyrics." However, our DJs and administrators are not infallible and do not know the lyrics to each and every song in our collection. Therefore, Klass Act Productions disclaims liability for any assistance provided in preparing a "Do Not Play List" with respect to offensive lyrics.
Klass Act Productions will stop any song being played in the presence of non-adults which a prudent person would deem "offensive." Moreover, Klass Act Productions will stop any song at the request of its adult client for any reason.
Klass Act Productions will always make every effort to stay abreast of the lyrical content of its library and exercise common sense and good judgment with regard to song selections; however, at any function, Klass Act Productions' liability does not extend beyond our guarantee to play nothing which appears on the "Do Not Play List" as defined herein.

It is my goal to create a fun, party atmosphere without offending anyone. This can only be done through good communication. So please take the time to make a list of any ‘No Play’ songs if this issue is a concern. If you are relying on Klass Act for music selection for your event as opposed to choosing your own music, we can provide a playlist of the popular songs likely to be played at your event for your review.

Respectfully,

Michael Barefield

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