Radio stations told to clamp down on explicit content

The BBC and commercial radio broadcasters will soon be warned over sexually explicit lyrics and inappropriate content, as part of Ofcom's crackdown on material that could be harmful to children.

The media regulator last week met the BBC's editorial policy unit and representatives from the commercial radio industry to discuss the subject of harmful content on the airwaves.

Ofcom is particularly concerned about offensive lyrics, often in rap or R&B songs, aired at times when children could be listening, such as early mornings or after school.

Further guidelines are expected by the end of the year, with the regulator likely to significantly strengthen current rules that prohibit inappropriate or offensive material from being aired at times children could be listening, reports The Guardian.

Ever since an influential report on the commercialisation and sexualisation of children was published in June, Ofcom has been on the offensive against potentially harmful material, such as raunchy music videos.

The forthcoming new radio guidelines will follow the recent introduction of more stringent rules for TV broadcasters about material aired before the 9pm watershed.

There have been various instances recently of radio broadcasters breaking the rules on inappropriate material, including Scottish community station Brick FM falling foul over a song called 'My Punany', by Dr Evil.

Despite the station attempting to claim that "punany" referred to an "Italian sandwich", Ofcom noted that it "was clearly used in this song as an urban slang word meaning 'vagina'".

In May, BBC Radio 1 was criticised for airing a concert by the Black Eyed Peas as part of the Big Weekend event that was filled with expletives.

However, the problems do not just occur with music programming, as Radio 4 was criticised after comic Mike McShane used the F-word during a live show on a Sunday morning.

An Ofcom spokeswoman said: "Ofcom takes its role in protecting children from offensive language on the radio very seriously. We are concerned that there have been a number of recent cases where offensive language was broadcast, some at times when children were particularly likely to have been listening.

"That is why we held a meeting with the radio industry this week to discuss the issues. We intend to publish guidance by the end of the year to clarify the rules in the broadcasting code."

In a statement, a BBC spokesman added: "The BBC, along with all radio broadcasters, sent a representative to discuss the matter and, while we have had no complaints upheld for bad language for more than three years, we will work with Ofcom to ensure we continue to deal with language in a responsible way."