The Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) was a committee formed in 1985 by a group of Washington, D.C. wives of politicians, most notably Tipper Gore (wife of then-Senator Al Gore), along with Susan Baker (wife of Treasury Secretary James Baker), Pam Howar (wife of a wealthy real estate developer), and Sally Nevius (wife of former D.C. Council Chairman John Nevius). Their goal was to increase parental control over children’s access to music they deemed offensive due to explicit lyrics, particularly focusing on themes like sex, violence, drugs, and Satanism.
The PMRC’s Demands
The PMRC pushed for:
- Warning labels on albums with explicit content.
- Lyric sheets included with records.
- Pressure on retailers to restrict sales of “offensive” music to minors.
- Possibly reclassifying some music to make it harder to sell.
The 1985 Senate Hearing
On September 19, 1985, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on “Porn Rock,” where the PMRC presented their case. Key figures involved included:
- Tipper Gore – Spoke about her concerns over lyrics in songs like Prince’s Darling Nikki (which referenced masturbation) and W.A.S.P.’s Animal (Fuck Like a Beast).
- Susan Baker – Compared explicit lyrics to “cultural pollution.”
- Pam Howar & Sally Nevius – Also testified in support of censorship.
On the opposing side:
- Dee Snider (Twisted Sister frontman) – Defended heavy metal, arguing that lyrics were often misinterpreted and that parental discretion, not government regulation, was the answer.
- Frank Zappa – A fierce critic of censorship, he argued that the PMRC’s demands were a violation of free speech and compared their tactics to totalitarianism.
- John Denver – Surprisingly, the generally mild-mannered singer also opposed censorship, warning against moral panic.
Terry Rakolta’s Role
While not directly part of the PMRC, Terry Rakolta, a conservative activist, played a similar role in targeting media she deemed inappropriate. In 1989, she led a boycott against the TV show Married… with Children for its sexual humor, showing how the PMRC’s efforts paralleled broader 1980s conservative backlash against pop culture.
The Outcome
The hearing did not result in federal legislation, but it pressured the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) to adopt the “Parental Advisory” sticker in 1985. By 1990, the black-and-white warning label became standard on albums with explicit content. While the PMRC disbanded in the 1990s, its legacy lived on in debates over censorship and artistic freedom.
Impact & Legacy
- The PMRC’s campaign was part of the broader “Culture Wars” of the 1980s, where religious and conservative groups pushed back against perceived moral decline in media.
- Many artists, including Frank Zappa and Dee Snider, used the controversy to speak out against censorship.
- The “Parental Advisory” label remains on albums today, though it has been criticized for increasing sales through controversy (the “forbidden fruit” effect).