. . .
label to know that. That is part of their business and that is part of
their job, and they know exactly what they are playing.
So I would say that it is not going to be a help for the program
directors and DJ's. It is going to be a help for parents. We are the
ones that need the information. Those in the business know.
Senator HAWKINS. And do you have certain stations that you do
not allow your child to listen to in the home?
Mrs. BAKER. Well, it has not come to that in my house, with just
an 8 year old. The big ones, you know, that is another matter. But
most of them are grown and they can make their own decisions
about that.
This is for the young. She is not -- the heavy metals is not
something. It is others that she likes to listen to.
Senator HAWKINS. Well, it is my understanding it is no longer
possible to have a successful rock album without a video; that MTV
is widely viewed by children, whether their parents are home or
not.
Has your group met with representatives of the TV industry?
Mrs. BAKER. Yes, we have, and MTV was originally begun to
promote records. I mean, that is the whole purpose of it. And there
have been some really fun things done with MTV and some really
awful things done. So we have talked with them, but we will meet
with them again.
Senator HAWKINS. What was their response?
Mrs. BAKER. Well, their response was that they already had
standards in place. We had thought that their standards should be
a little tighter for younger viewing audience [sic]. But we will be asking
them to label videos that have violent or sexually explicit material
in them, so that parents will know, and also to consider clustering
very safe -- "safe" is not a good word, but I mean harmless -- videos
at a time when the young audience would be viewing. So that
would be our suggestion to them.
Senator HAWKINS. And when are you meeting with them again?
Mrs. BAKER. In the near future.
Senator HAWKINS. Thank you.
The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much for being here. I know
that for all of you it was not the most pleasant of experiences to
read some of the lyrics in public. But it was very helpful and we
appreciate your attendance.
John Denver is on the witness list. He has had to leave the hearing
room for another engagement. He plans to be back. So the next
witness will be Mr. Frank Zappa.
Mr. Zappa, thank you very much for being with us. Please proceed.
STATEMENT OF FRANK ZAPPA,
ACCOMPANIED BY LARRY STEIN, COUNSEL
Mr. ZAPPA. My name is Frank Zappa. This is my
attorney Larry Stein from Los Angeles.
Can you hear me?
The CHAIRMAN. If you could speak very directly and
clearly into the microphone, I would appreciate it.
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