Seinfeld26 wrote:
I think the whole issue of mainstream vs. underground music also has a lot to do with it. Often, the more mainstream albums are the ones that will get Parental Advisory stickers since the people who slap those on figure those are the albums all the kids/teenagers will be buying. And, of course, twelve/thirteen year olds will see these albums with their "Parental Advisories" and rebelliously be like, "Awesome!!! I must buy this!!!"
For example, there are quite a few black metal bands not getting Parental Advisory stickers. But Marilyn Manson is getting them. Despite the fact that these BM bands have far more offensive lyrics.
Agreed with this point. In the UK, it does seem that the more mainstream or mainstream intended the artist the more likely Parental Advisory sticker will be used. If you compare say an album which has the PA tag on it like KORN - Untouchables against Anal Cunt albums that don't get jack, the way the PA rating is handed out is inconsistent and ridiculous! (Besides, you really don't need a PA tag on an Anal Cunt record to realise that it may offend young kids!)
It is, simply put, all about marketing and enticing mainly young teenage kids to do this 'rebellious thing' and buy something that parents may not approve. For example, when I was a young teenager, Guns N Roses were 'publicly recognised' as the most 'dangerous band in the world' and look how many sales they had because of it. I bought 'Appetite' on it's notoriety rather than musical content; therefore because it said 'f*ck' loads of times I played it loud to piss people off. It was when I developed musically, bought 'Reign in Blood' and learnt the words to 'Angel of Death', did I realise how tame GNR were.
It's the same for every generation of young Metalheads as their taste grows (or opposed that the phase passes and they return to popville!). Therefore I think that Parental tags aren't a bad thing as on a minor scale they may help introduce kids to metal and keep the music alive. However the downside is that the bands that normally have them are perhaps more concerned about sales over artist integrity (especially if they have censored versions out there)!
Besides, i don't buy cd's, i buy LP's 
... which is why i don't buy music in denmark, unless it's from a small distro on the web.