Ethical Dilemmas: The Use of Profane Language in the Music Industry

This essay explores the ethical considerations of using profane language in music, examining both potential benefits and drawbacks. It defines profane language as offensive and disrespectful, arguing that its use can negatively impact listeners and undermine the relaxing and therapeutic qualities of music. The essay highlights the importance of meaningful lyrics and positive word choices in creating music that promotes well-being and ethical communication. While acknowledging that profane language might sometimes be used to address social issues, the essay ultimately concludes that its use should be avoided to maintain ethical standards and promote positive societal values through music. The essay references examples of songs with profane language and their potential impact on listeners, emphasizing the importance of ethical practices in the music industry.

Essay Writing

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Ethics is being defined as the moral principles which are used for governing the
behaviour of the person in better and good way (Diabah, 2020). For the people to work in better
and effective way it is very necessary that ethical working is being undertaken. The reason is that
if ethical working will not be promoted then this will result in ineffective working and objectives
will not be attained in proper way. Hence, in any of the business field or even in personal life it is
necessary for the person to have ethical working practices so that they can work in a better and
effective way. Along with this, in the media industry as well it is necessary that proper ethical
working is being ensured. The thesis statement for the present essay involves the
“The pros and cons of using the profane language within music affecting the ethical aspect.”
The profane language is being defined as the language wherein the television gets bleeped that is
no sound is being provided at time of saying the word. In simple terms the language which is
disrespectful and can affect the feeling of the person. The present essay will outline the
discussion relating to the topic that is profane language and its pros and cons with example.
MAIN BODY
Profane language is being referred to as the language which involves the use of offensive
language and words which might affect the emotions of the people listening. This is very
important because in case the profane language will be used then this might negatively impact
the working. Hence, in case the profane language will be used then this will demotivate the
people and as a result of this efficiency will be affected. Ultimately it will result in non-
accomplishment of the objectives of the business. Thus, it can be stated that the use of profane
language will create negative impact over the people and their thinking. The reason underlying
this fact is that in case the profane language will be used then this will be impacting the
sentiments and perception of the people.
Within the media industry especially the music industry the use of profane language will
be creating negative impacts. The reason is that in case the language of the songs will not be
good then this will be affecting the working of the person. The music is being listened in order to
relax and have some leisure time (Becker and Becker, 2021). In the current modern and
advanced working environment the interest of music is being increasing and this will result in
increasing popularity of the music. Hence, as a result of this, it is very important and crucial for

the musicians that they undertake and compose good music which has good lyrics. This is very
essential because in order to relax the person undertakes the use of the music and soothes
themselves. Thus, when the music will not be good and soothing then this will assist the person
in relaxing. Rather the person will feel agitated and this will be affecting their working capability
and capacity (Burland and Davidson, 2017). Hence this will affect their working efficiency and
will not be able to work in better and effective manner. The reason pertaining to the fact is that
the music relaxes the person’s mind and as a result of this they are in position to work in better
way.
Along with this, the music also assists the person in feeling better and in case of any issue
the person relaxes their mind. Hence, the music plays a crucial role within the working of the
person and this also helps them in getting new and innovative ideas. Thus, the role of music is
very good within the making of person happier and relaxed and undertakes their working. Thus,
it is very essential for the musicians and composers to have good music and some meaningful
lyrics. This is essential in case the language of the songs is such which is not understandable then
this will not motivate the people to work in better and effective manner. On the contradictory
note, in case the songs and lyrics will not be good then this might agitate the listener and they
can get furious (Huang, Sturm and Holzapfel, 2021). Hence, it is very crucial for the people to
develop good and relaxing music so that it outlines some meaning to the listener. In case some
meaningful data and information will be provided by the music then this will improve the
working efficiency in better and effective manner. Thus, it is concluded that the use of profane
language does not include the different types of meaning and good word in their working and
this affect the learning of other people as well.
Moreover, in addition to this, it is also very crucial for the people creating music that the
choice of words must be very good and effective. The reason underlying this fact is that in case
the word choice for the music will not be good and effective then this will be affecting the work
to a great extent. When the intended meaning of the music is not being understood by the listener
then this is not good. This is particularly because in case the choice of words and phrases will not
be good then this will not attract other people to listen to the songs. Thus, the language plays a
crucial role for attaining the objectives of the job. The reason pertaining to the fact is that in case
the songs will not outline the intended meaning then this will be impacting the working condition
of the person. Hence, the use of words, phrases, quotes and other related things is very essential

for the music developers that they must inculcate good meaningful words and this will assist in
better development of the work.
In the case of making the songs it is very necessary that the composer of music must not
include the profane language within the songs and other things. This is due to the fact that in case
the songs will be using the profane language and words then this will affect the working
efficiency of the people. This is particularly because of the reason that in case the language will
be offensive, bad and negative then this will develop wrong interpretation within the minds of
people (McArton and Niknafs, 2019). Hence, this simply means that this will be impacting the
working efficiency of the business and as a result of this the working will be affected. The use
and choice of words affect the working and relaxing of the person who is listening to the music.
This simply means that the use of the effective words and languages will be impacting the
knowledge and interest of the person within the music. In case the use of profane language is
being included than this will not grab attention of the other people towards the leisure time.
Hence, as a result of this, the people will not like the song and the meaning of it.
On the other hand, sometimes the use of profane language can also be beneficial for the
people. The reason pertaining to the fact is that in case the bad and offensive words are being
used relating to the bad issue then this might be liked by the people. This can be supported with
the fact that in case the bad words and other profane language is used for betterment or for some
good aspect then it considered by the people as good who listen the same (Calvert, 2018). But in
actual this is not good as even for highlighting any of the bad issue as well there is no need of
using any of the bad word. Thus, in support of this, it can be stated that the use of profane
language can violate and affect the feeling and emotions of the person to a great extent. Even in
case the bad word is used for good purpose then also, it will be affecting the working in negative
manner and will not be entertained by other people (Hong, Huang and Huang, 2021).
Hence, it can be stated that the use of profane language must be prohibited so that there is
not any problem and all the working is ethical. The reason behind this fact is that in case the
music will be composed in ethical manner then this will be result in proper communication of
good messages within the society (Chen, Leon and Nakayama, 2018). Thus, as a result of this,
the society will be getting good and healthy messages through the songs then this will be
improving the society and its outlook. Hence, the use good songs and better choice of words will
be improving the quality of songs and this will attract more of the people and they will like the

song and the music maker and composer (Bennett, 2020). The use of bad language and offensive
words does not attract the attention of the listener. For example, Dead Kennedy’s “Too drunk to
F**K” is a song which involve the bad word. But even in case the wrong word is present within
the title and the song then also it is within the list of top 40 songs which is not good. This simply
implies that the use of the bad words attracts the people and as a result of this, they start listening
to the songs. There are many different types of the songs which involves the use of profane
language like Eminem- the Real Slim Shady is also a song whose title body shames he slim
people which is not at all good (Johnson, 2021). In the present title the ethical aspect is not
present as the people who are slim are being body shamed which is wrong on social and ethical
grounds. The reason pertaining to the fact is that in case the body shaming is not a good concept
as it involves providing negative comments to the people based on their physical appearance
(Risch and et.al., 2018). Hence it can be concluded that the profane language affects the person
and their thinking in negative manner.
CONCLUSION
In the end the above essay concluded the fact that inculcating the ethical practices is very
important for the person whether be it personal or any other professional life. The reason
underlying the fact is that in case the working practice will not involve ethical working then this
will be affecting the completion of the work and quality as well. the above discussion analysed
that using the profane language is not good as this might create some of the negative impact in
the minds of people. Further, it also inferred that in case the profane language is used for
highlighting some issue which is good for society through music then it might be liked by the
listener. But in actual the person or the music composer must not undertake the use of the
profane language while making the songs.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Becker, J. and Becker, A., 2021. 14. A Musical Icon: Power and Meaning in Javanese Gamelan
Music. In The sign in music and literature (pp. 203-215). University of Texas Press.
Bennett, T., 2020. Towards ‘Embedded Non-creative Work’? Administration, digitisation and
the recorded music industry. International journal of cultural policy. 26(2). pp.223-238.
Burland, K. and Davidson, J.W., 2017. Tracing a Musical Life Transition 1. In The music
practitioner (pp. 225-249). Routledge.
Calvert, C., 2018. The FCC and Profane Language: The Lugubrious Legacy of a Moral Panic
and a Grossly Offensive Definition That Must be Jettisoned. First Amend. L. Rev. 17. p.147.
Chen, C.C., Leon, S. and Nakayama, M., 2018. Are You Hooked on Paid Music Streaming?: An
Investigation into the Millennial Generation. International Journal of E-Business Research
(IJEBR). 14(1). pp.1-20.
Diabah, G., 2020. Projecting masculinities or breaking sociolinguistic norms? The role of
women's representation in students' profane language use. Gender & Language. 14(1).
Huang, R., Sturm, B.L. and Holzapfel, A., 2021. DE-CENTERING THE WEST: EAST ASIAN
PHILOSOPHIES AND THE ETHICS OF APPLYING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
TO MUSIC. In International Society for Music Information Retrieval Conference, ISMIR.
Johnson, D., 2021. ‘Profane language, horrid oaths and imprecations’: order and the colonial
soundscape in the American mid-Atlantic, 1650–1750. Social History. 46(3). pp.255-277.
McArton, L. and Niknafs, N., 2019. “Something for All of Us”: Indie Ethics in Popular Music
Education. The Bloomsbury handbook of popular music education: Perspectives and
practices, p.351.
Risch, J. and et.al., 2018. Fine-grained classification of offensive language. Proceedings of
GermEval (co-located with KONVENS). pp.38-44.
Hong, X., Huang, Z. and Huang, X., 2021. Place references in Chinese music titles since 1912:
changing patterns across regions and time. Humanities and Social Sciences
Communications, 8(1), pp.1-12.