The Government of Grenada has denied performance work permits to popular Jamaican Dancehall artist Vybz Kartel and his band. The “red-hot” entertainer Vybz Kartel (real name: Adija Palmer), whose controversial lyrics have brought him lots of media attention both in and out of Jamaica, was scheduled to perform a “rap-it-up” …

When American pop singer Britney Spears’ hit song ‘If U Seek Amy’ risked censorship on radio stations because of a controversy over its use of a ‘sexually offensive’ double entendre in the chorus, she decided to rerecord the song and publish a less offensive version. Say it quickly: ‘If U …

In its human rights series, Duke University in North Carolina, USA, presented two censored musicians, Ferhat Tunç from Turkey and Roger Lucey from South Africa, and highlighted freedom of musical expression.          Roger Lucey Music censorship and music activism was in focus at Duke University in USA during March 2009. …

As the Taliban silence music in the Swat Valley in northern Pakistan, Freemuse ambassador and singer Salman Ahmad denounces the Pakistani peace accord with the Taliban.   American president Barack Obama has promised to listen to the Muslim world. He can start by listening to Pakistani artists who embody peace, …

Sweden / USA: Freemuse Award to American singer Pete SeegerVideo report from the award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on 3 March 2009, where Pete Seeger’s grandson, Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, received the award on his behalfBy Mik Aidt     Wimpy Wasp Player   Flash Player upgrade required   Read about Pete …

Singer and musician Tao Rodríguez-Seeger from USA speaks about his personal experiences with and opinion about music censorship Tao Rodríguez-Seeger was born in New York, USA, in 1972. He is a contemporary folk musician who plays banjo, guitar, harmonica, and sings in Spanish and in English. When he was 16 years old, in …

  Sweden / USA: Freemuse Award to American singer Pete SeegerVideo report from the award ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, on 3 March 2009, where Pete Seeger’s grandson, Tao Rodríguez-Seeger, received the award on his behalf By Mik Aidt     Wimpy Wasp Player   Flash Player upgrade required   Read …

The American singer, songwriter, activist, environmentalist, and peace advocate Pete Seeger is The Freemuse Award Winner 2009. He is awarded on Music Freedom Day, 3 March 2009, for his commitment to musicians’ freedom of expression in an illustrious career which spans over sixty years. “Pete Seeger’s voice has been one which …

PUBLICATIONS   TEN YEARS WITH FREEMUSE     IMPRESSIONS & DESCRIPTIONS   Stephan Said Musician and singer, Iraq / USA         Music brings us together in times of joy as well as in times of urgent need. Since the beginning of civilization, it has been a central …

PUBLICATIONS   TEN YEARS WITH FREEMUSE     IMPRESSIONS & DESCRIPTIONS   Gorki Aguila Musician and composer, Cuba         With respect to my trip to the Freemuse conference in Copenhagen in 2002:To me it was both eye opening to travel abroad and get to know such a …