MCA Records drops 18 acts from their record label because they believe the performers promote hard drugs in their songs.
Under the direction of President Richard Nixon, Vice President Spiro Agnew ignites widespread interest in censoring popular music by making statements concerning drug imagery in rock music.
Claiming that he fears the song "Ohio" will incite further violence on college campuses following the killing of four students at Kent State University, Governor James Rhodes attempts to order Ohio radio stations to ban the song.
Concerns over drugs and rioting cause a wave of protests of large rock festivals. Citizen groups in Chicago, Houston, Tucson, and Atlanta rally to cancel large, outdoor rock festivals in their cities.
Country Joe McDonald is fined $500 for uttering an obscenity during a concert performance of his song "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag."
Janis Joplin is fined $200 for violating local profanity and obscenity laws for her performance after a concert in Tampa, Florida.
1971
Several radio stations alter the John Lennon song "Working Class Hero" without the consent of Lennon or his record label.
Radio stations across the U.S. ban Bob Dylan's single "George Jackson" over concerns about the song's political theme and the word "shit" in its lyrics.
In May, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sends all radio stations telegrams threatening their licenses for playing rock music that glorified drugs.
In April, the Illinois Crime Commission publishes a list of popular rock songs that contain drug references, including Peter, Paul and Mary's "Puff The Magic Dragon" and the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine."
Chrysalis Records changes the lyrics to Jethro Tull's "Locomotive Breath" without the band's knowledge or consent. Label executives fear radio stations will not play the original, which contains the lyric "got him by the balls."
1972
In January, the Senate Internal Security Subcommittee issues a report on John Lennon and Yoko Ono, advocating the termination of Lennon's visa to live in the U.S. The report calls the couple "strong advocates of the program to 'dump Nixon'."
After Indiana Attorney General Theodore Sendak calls rock festivals "drug supermarkets," Hoosier legislators adopt legislation meant to "get tough" on large rock concerts. In the process, the regulation accidentally outlaws the Indianapolis 500 and other large outdoor gatherings
John Lennon's song "Woman is the Nigger of the World" is banned by radio stations across the country.
Radio stations across the country ban John Denver's hit song "Rocky Mountain High," fearing that the song's "high" refers to drugs.
Article comments
1 - Chris
There are several examples in there of real Censorship, but the rest of the list is not. Only when the Government supresses speech in some form can it be truly called censorship. The rest are examples of people/businesses exercising judgement about what they will/will not release and/or play. There is no right to a record contract, and there is no right to radio play. Ask David Allan Coe.