FEATURE:
On the C-List
PHOTO CREDIT: Róisín Murphy
Do Radio Stations Need to Set Guidelines When It Comes to Who They Play and Who They ‘Cancel’?
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SOMEONE on my Twitter feed…
PHOTO CREDIT: Pixabay/Pexels
trained my eye to an article from The Times that revolved around Róisín Murphy not being including on radio playlists for the likes of BBC Radio 6 Music for her views on puberty blockers and their impact on kids. It was perhaps not a fully informed comment she made, yet the upshot has been severe. Even though her new album, Hit Parade, has been met with acclaim, there is always a subtext or out-right statement. Reviewers love the music, yet they feel it is blighted or stained somehow. Below is the opening words from The Times’ article about Murphy and her being ‘cancelled’:
“A couple of weeks ago, Róisín Murphy posted concerns on a private Facebook page about puberty blockers. For those unfamiliar with Murphy, she’s a singer who has long supported the trans community, having performed at queer gigs such as Homobloc and Mighty Hoopla. On any reasonable interpretation, then, her post was an expression of concern for children, not bigotry. The backlash, though, was acute. “Trans allies” attacked her on social media and her name trended for days. A Guardian review of Murphy’s new album appeared under the headline “ugly stain”. The critic said that while she loved the music, she would “never” be able to hear it the same way again and sympathised with fans for whom the album was “DOA” (dead on arrival)”.
I cannot quote the whole article, as it is paywalled. It does seem that the BBC is refusing to play Róisín Murphy’s music at the moment. I don’t think she will be banned or has been cancelled. Her album is being reviewed, and she can still play live. It does appear that there is this temporary block at the moment. It does also seem that there are double standards when it comes to who is on a radio playlist and who is not. There is another article from The Times that highlights how a song that seemingly promotes violence against women has been included on a radio playlist – whilst Murphy’s music, which has no political message or controversy, is banned because of something she shared on a Facebook post (and then apologised for):
“The BBC has defended playing a song encouraging listeners to “kick” women with gender-critical views, while the singer Roisin Murphy battles for Friday’s No 1 spot after she criticised puberty blockers.
Listeners complained after BBC Radio 6 Music played They/Them by the band Dream Nails, which includes the lyrics “kick terfs all day, don’t break a sweat”. The term “terf” — trans-exclusionary radical feminist — is a pejorative term against women who oppose transgender people using female-only spaces.
The BBC dismissed objections to the song. A member of the complaints team said: “People will interpret songs with any element of nuance or ambiguity differently.”
The complaints came after 6 Music was accused of refusing to play songs by Murphy following her public criticism of puberty”.
PHOTO CREDIT: Min An/Pexels
It does seem that a piling-on has happened which means radio stations like BBC Radio 6 Music have buckled. So many positive reviews for Hit Parade have come out, whereas they always have this warning or reservation saying that Murphy has been causing controversy and consternation. This is part of Laura Snapes’ review for Hit Parade:
“In the last two weeks, the sincerity of that expression has become compromised for many fans. A screenshot of Murphy decrying puberty blockers as “big pharma laughing all the way to the bank”, expressing concern about “mixed-up kids” and characterising “Terf” as a misogynist slur in a Facebook comment was circulated online. (A US study which followed 104 trans and non-binary youth over 12 months at a gender clinic found that those who received puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormones or both had 60% lower odds of depression and 73% lower odds of self-harm or suicidal thoughts. Puberty blockers have also long been used to stall precocious puberty in cisgender children. As of June, the NHS has paused their availability to young people outside exceptional circumstances and for research studies.) Murphy’s comments dismayed many within her vast LGBTQ+ fanbase, who she has embraced by performing at queer events such as Homobloc, NYC Downlow and Mighty Hoopla and aligning herself with drag culture. When she finally commented a week later, notably she didn’t apologise for her original assertion, only the division she had sowed, and claimed she had never targeted any particular demographic. (Also perhaps telling: Murphy has been her own manager for more than two years.) Naturally, the division only worsened, with some fans who felt betrayed cancelling their album preorders. Other supportive fans, and those with an interest in amplifying Murphy’s original views, as well as anti-cancel culture bandwagoners, made the hashtag #IStandWithRoisinMurphy trend on Twitter”.
I do wonder why there has been such a harsh punishment for Murphy. I have seen a lot of high-profile people in the industry – such as D.J. and label owner Pete Paphides – who have said that Twitter and social media is not the world. That there is a difference between a core on social media and general reaction in the wider hemisphere. It seems opinion from people there and pressure from social media has forced the hand of stations. Why has Róisín Murphy been handed quite a big punishment?! I do not agree with what she said about puberty blockers being given to mixed-up kids and this being pharma companies doing wrong. I think the subject and argument is more complex. Many people did take to social media to argue against her. That said, I have always been a fan of Murphy and her music. She has done exceptional on the album chart. Hit Parade has reached a heady position in spite of the fact that her label, Ninja Tune, stopped promotional duties. Maybe a sense of fans defying stations or merely showing their love, this whole debacle and tense situation needs resolving. I can understand how artists who have been accused of sexual assault or racism for example are taken off playlists. If we look historically, so many legendary artists who have committed crimes and assaults in the past are played and celebrated. There is no real consistency or explanation as to why stations feature those artists but ban Róisín Murphy. I don’t think an artist can be cancelled.
PHOTO CREDIT: Oriel Frankie Ashcroft/Pexels
Her music exists in the wider world. It is radio stations removing her from playlists. Songs are played on stations that feature violence against women. There are tracks that seem to highlight very questionable messages and attitudes. That seems far worse than what Róisín Murphy has expressed, so you wonder whether BBC stations have been overly-cautious. If they continued to play her, would they be accused of supporting a perceived anti-trans agenda? This feeling that Murphy is anti-trans was refuted by her in an apology. She walked back her comment – which she did not need to do - and there is this genuine regret. After all of this, it has not made a difference. Many have said that this is a case of misogyny and sexism. That is hard to argue against! If it was a male artist, would they receive the same outcome?! In fact, as I have written before, Alice Cooper came out recently and said he feels trans people are engaging in a ‘fad’. He lost a cosmetics deal, though his music is still widely played. Compare the two situations and you find it hard to argue against the misogyny argument. What is clear is that there needs to be more love and respect given to the trans community. More artists talking about it and showing their support, rather than questioning or (maybe without meaning to) complex things. If they have concerns or a point, perhaps this is something that could be addressed in music. You might say that this is as bad as putting it on social media, though I think songs are a platform where you can talk about things like trans rights and children and it would be healthier and can lead to artists celebrating and promoting the trans community and defending their rights.
PHOTO CREDIT: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels
In general, it is all a bit of a mess where it seems like Róisín Murphy has been singled out. I am not sure when she will be reinstated on the playlists of BBC Radio stations such as BBC Radio 6 Music – who have championed her through the years, yet cannot forgive her for this. It is not the decision of D.J.s to exclude her music. These decisions come from station bosses. BBC Radio 6 Music’s Samantha Moy need to set guidelines or issue an explanation as to why Murphy has been taken off the playlists, and yet more problematic and seemingly dangerous artists remain. All radio stations need to do this. It does seem like singling someone out if the same standards are not applied to every artist. I can understand why stations would not play Murphy’s songs a few days after her post. Perhaps as a compromise or way of not getting too much hate. It has been nearly a month since she issued an apology - and, with a new album out, this is a time when she is losing out on air play. The fact Hit Parade has been met with universal acclaim and is one of 2023’s best demonstrates her importance, the faith and loyalty fans have, in addition to the fact that she has won new fans. My views about trans rights are very different to some other people. When it comes to artists, it is only fair those who criticise and attack the trans community should be banned or tackled. I hate the world ‘cancelled’, as it implies they will forever be banned. In terms of definition, Róisín Murphy’s intention of defending children and showing concern has been viewed by some as a slam against the trans community. Without Murphy being able to sort of plead her case, she has been taken off radio playlists.
PHOTO CREDIT: drobotdean via Freepik
The trans community have enough to deal with in terms of ignorance and hatred. They are subjected to abuse and misunderstandings TERFs undermining them and showing vile attitudes. If anyone in music did that, then they should not be given a platform. Whilst Róisín Murphy’s Facebook post might not have been completely embracing and supportive or the trans community, neither was it an attack against them and their values – more of pharmaceutical companies and profiting. In any case, what should have been fixed with an apology has instead resulted in a ban across various stations. Will male artists get the same treatment?! Can stations explain why they are spinning tracks with very problematic and concerning messages?! There is a lot that needs to be answered. There needs to be discussion so that very important subjects such as trans rights are brought into the spotlight. So that there is better understanding and more positivity towards them at a time when thy are being abused and threatened. This situation around Róisín Murphy has brought a new wave of hatred and ignorance against the trans community. Definitely not what Murphy wanted. I am not going to get into a freedom of speech/censorship debate - as I don’t think it applies here -, though it is clear that there is misogyny and sexism at play. Let’s hope that Murphy is reinstated on radio playlist and the excellent Hit Parade is heard further and wider than it is at the moment - top five is pretty good going! Radio stations need to ask themselves some questions and explanation their rationale for banning some artists and including others. Otherwise, as we can see with Róisín Murphy, it appears that some artists are rather unfairly getting…
A raw deal.