During a heated debate in the Senate of the Republic, Sonia Bernal, of the Historic Compact, and Karina Espinosa, who belongs to the Liberal Party, announced their intention to present a bill called “reasonable letters”. The initiative seeks to control the content of song lyrics in the country, imposing sanctions on composers and performers whose creations include references that can be interpreted as violent, misogynistic references or that promote overt sexual behavior.
This project comes in response to the recent controversy surrounding the song +57, in which the participation of famous Colombian artists such as Maluma, Feid, Ryan Castro, J Balvin, Blessd and DFZM, has been strongly criticized by the political and social sectors because of one of the phrases of the song: “mamacita desde los fourteen (14)”.
Some sectors considered the phrase an incitement to violence and an example of how music lyrics can have a negative impact on society, especially young people: “Reggaeton is not a hobby, it is not harmless, it is not innocent,” said Senator Espinosa in a plenary session of the Senate. “Their sphere of influence can elevate sexuality, and these lyrics encourage excess. Here it is clear that music with misogynistic lyrics is creating violence in us,” he said.
The proposed “reasonable lyrics” law directly sanctions not only artists, but also production and distribution companies that market songs with explicit content. According to Espinosa, The law will also require singer-songwriters and authors to “repair the damage and promote good music,” referring to productions that do not promote or justify abuse or violence against women, children and adolescents.
During the debate, Espinosa presented studies that support the relationship between the consumption of music with sexual content and the adoption of premature and risky sexual behaviors in adolescents: ”In a study conducted with 278 adolescents, it was found that listening to lyrics of songs with sexual content Sexual activity is associated with future sexual behaviors among male adolescents. These results suggest that boys may be particularly vulnerable to lyrical messages about sexuality. which may be due, in part, to gender expectations of sex,” Espinosa explained.
The bill also recommends that the State, through educational campaigns, promote musical content that promotes respect and gender equality. This approach would seek to establish a clear distinction between freedom of speech and the promotion of harmful behavior in society.
According to the Senators who promoted the project, “reasonable letters” do not aim to limit creativity or censor art, but to establish parameters of social responsibility for those who, with their letters, influence the thinking and behavior of young Colombians .
“We are generating violence by creating an environment conducive to attacks on women, children and teenagers; “It is time for us to act now and we cannot remain silent in the face of this situation,” said Espinosa, asking his colleagues to join in signing this legislative proposal.
On the other hand, a group of delegates in the House of Representatives asked the Family Welfare Institute of Colombia (Icbf) to summon the authors of the song to participate in an awareness workshop on sexual violence against minors. The aim of this call, according to the representatives, is to raise awareness among artists about the impact their lyrics have on youth. The initiative is also intended to hold a political control debate to address the effect of songs with explicit content on the behavior of young people.
Interview Between Time.news Editor and Music Policy Expert
Time.news Editor (E): Welcome to Time.news. Today, we’re diving into a hot topic emerging from the Colombian Senate—the proposed “reasonable lyrics” bill. We’re joined by Dr. Ana López, a music policy expert and cultural studies scholar. Dr. López, thank you for joining us.
Dr. Ana López (L): Thank you for having me! It’s a pleasure to discuss this important issue.
E: Let’s start with the basics. What exactly is the “reasonable lyrics” bill aiming to accomplish?
L: The bill seeks to establish regulations for music lyrics, particularly targeting those that contain foul language or incite violence and misogyny. It aims to impose sanctions not just on artists, but also on production and distribution companies involved in creating and marketing these types of songs.
E: That sounds significant. The recent controversy surrounding the song “+57” has sparked much of this discussion. What was the specific issue with this song that caught the Senate’s attention?
L: The criticism centered around a lyric referencing a young girl with sexual undertones—particularly the phrase about the age of “fourteen.” Many political and social figures argued that lyrics like this can normalize and perpetuate harmful behaviors and attitudes, especially among young listeners.
E: Senator Karina Espinosa was particularly vocal during the Senate debate. She stated that “reggaeton is not harmless.” What evidence did she bring up to support her claims?
L: Senator Espinosa referenced studies suggesting a correlation between the consumption of music with sexual content and the adoption of risky sexual behaviors among adolescents. For example, in a study of 278 adolescents, it was found that those who listened to such lyrics were more likely to engage in premature sexual activity.
E: That’s alarming. How will the bill impact artists and their creative expression?
L: The proponents of the bill argue that it’s not about censoring art but establishing social responsibility. They believe that artists influence young minds and that this oversight could encourage more positive and respectful messages in music.
E: Interesting. There’s often a delicate balance between artistic freedom and societal responsibility. How do you think the industry will respond to these proposed regulations?
L: The response could be mixed. Some artists may see this as an infringement on their creative freedom, while others might support the initiative, recognizing the impact that lyrics can have on societal norms. It will be crucial for there to be a dialogue between policymakers and artists to arrive at a balanced approach.
E: The bill also proposes educational campaigns to promote musical content that fosters respect and gender equality. How effective do you think these campaigns could be?
L: Educational campaigns can be powerful, especially if they are integrated into school curricula and community programs. They could help develop critical listening skills among young people, enabling them to understand and question the messages in the music they consume.
E: As this bill moves through the Senate, what do you think will be the most significant challenges it faces?
L: The biggest challenge will likely be the pushback from the music industry and advocates for artistic freedom. Additionally, determining the criteria for what constitutes “reasonable” lyrics could lead to contentious debates. It will be important for lawmakers to establish clear guidelines that resonate with artists and society alike.
E: Thank you, Dr. López. This is certainly a complex issue, and it will be fascinating to see how the conversation unfolds in Colombia. Your insights are invaluable!
L: Thank you for having me! I look forward to seeing how this evolves and the impact it will have on Colombian music culture.
E: And thank you to our audience for tuning in. Stay with us for more updates on this and other important topics!
