On Valentine’s Day, Miley Cyrus began her Bangerz tour in Vancouver to mixed critical reviews. However, one thing is certain: the 21-year-old pop star is pushing the limits of appropriate behavior for her age. Her performances include sexually suggestive video montages, mocking oral sex with a man in a Bill Clinton mask, on-stage masturbation, and grinding with her backup singers. This type of behavior is a nightmare for parents of young fans.
Following the negative experience some parents had during one of Miley Cyrus’s concerts, they have been leaving the show with their 9-year-old children and complaining to her record company, calling for the entire tour to be cancelled. Although it’s unlikely that the tour will be cancelled, Cyrus’s team has been discussing ways to tone down the show. If they fail to do so, this could lead to the implementation of a concert-rating system, similar to what currently exists for albums, movies, and video games. Many parents are upset by Cyrus’s seemingly abrupt transformation from wholesome Disney star to provocative and sexually suggestive performer. While she has been gradually transitioning towards a more mature image over the past five years, her hiring of former Britney Spears manager Larry Rudolph in 2013 marked a significant shift towards a more explicit and drug-influenced persona.
Although some parents may have been unaware of the controversy surrounding Miley Cyrus when purchasing tickets for her concerts, it is important to recognize that in today’s world of constant media exposure, the responsibility falls on media makers to inform consumers of potential issues. This is not a new concept, as movie ratings have existed since 1930 and video games have had ratings since 1994. The Entertainment Software Rating Board assigns these ratings in response to violent and sexually explicit content. In contrast, the “Explicit” Parental Advisory Label for music is not required and is left up to the discretion of the label. This labeling system was first adopted in 1985 with Prince’s “Purple Rain” album being the highest selling album that year to receive the warning.
A concert rating system would likely use a binary designation similar to the record industry. Nowadays, concerts are highly produced and lack the unpredictability of past decades. Shock performers like GG Allin, who practiced self-mutilation onstage and promised a live suicide, are a thing of the past. In Todd Phillips’s documentary on Allin, his brother noted that finishing a tour with GG was unlikely due to either prison or hospitalization. Some parents are vocal about wanting Miley Cyrus’s Bangerz tour to end early, and the secondary market prices for the tour continue to drop. The average price for remaining dates is now $179, down from $225 two months ago.
When PAL was introduced on records, it had an unintended consequence of increasing the demand for records with the label, mainly because of the label itself. While it is uncertain whether issuing an “explicit” warning to those purchasing tickets for Bangerz would have a similar effect, it would undoubtedly clarify that Miley Cyrus is not just a more adult version of Hannah Montana. For those who may have missed her very public transformation, it would also serve as a fair warning.
