Tuesday 6 March 2018

INDUSTRY: BBFC Age Ratings

HOW I CAN APPLY THIS RESEARCH:
After doing this research I started to think what the BBFC age rating would be for my music video for the track 'Bloodstream' by Astrid S. I am swerving towards a 15 age rating because of the frequent intimate couple shots which verge on being sexual + inappropriate for an audience younger than 15 and the shots of the female main protagonist in a club - teens aged 15/16-24 would relate with the activity of clubbing or partying. However, you could say that since these shots are only fleeting (have short takes) on screen and that the activities that the characters' in the video do together are quite innocent such as going to fast food restaurants together, the cinema and sitting on a bench together talking. 

BBFC AGE RATINGS:
I have done some research into the BBFC Age Ratings on music videos. I looked on the BBFC's website and I found a page on Online Music Videos.  


To improve consumer awareness about the content of certain music videos, and to improve child protection online, Vevo and YouTube, working in partnership with the BBFC, are making permanent a pilot scheme to age rate all music videos by artists signed to Sony Music UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK that are unsuitable for younger children (under 12s). On 18 August 2015, Government also announced that independent UK music labels will take part in a further six month phase of the pilot.



The ratings appear on Vevo online and on YouTube, both online and on smart phone Apps.

On Vevo, the BBFC ratings symbol appears in the top left hand corner of the video player for the first few seconds. The rating will reappear when you move the cursor. You may also click the 'i' icon to see the ratings information.



On YouTube, look for 'Partner Rating' label on the YouTube website; or a 12, 15 or 18 in a square box on the smartphone app underneath the video.


The record labels submit to the BBFC any music video by their artists for release online in the UK which they would expect to receive at least a 12 rating. The BBFC then classifies each video, watching it through in its entirety and then assigning an age rating and bespoke content advice (BBFCinsight, for example, strong language, sex references or sexualised nudity) on the basis of the BBFC's published Classification Guidelines. The sort of issues the BBFC considers in classifying music videos include:
  • drug misuse 
  • dangerous behaviour presented as safe
  • bad language
  • sexual behaviour and nudity
  • threatening behaviour and violence

Basically, to summarise, BBFC are working in a partnership with Vevo and YouTube to improve child protection and consumer awareness. They are doing this by making a permanent pilot scheme to age rate all music videos by all artists signed to the big 3 music record labels (Universal Music UK, Warner Music UK and Sony Music UK), for children under the age of 12. The ratings would appear on YouTube, Vevo online and online smartphone apps. The record labels submit the music videos for their artist that expect a 12 age rating, to the BBFC for release online in the UK. The BBFC then classifies the video into an age rating and gives it content advice (e.g. strong language, sex references) based around the BBFC published Classification Guidelines. Here are some of the issues the BBFC considers when classifying music videos:
  • drug misuse
  • dangerous behaviour
  • bad language
  • sexual behaviour and nudity
  • threatening behaviour and violence

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