What is the Parental Advisory Explicit Content logo?

The 'Parental Advisory Explicit Content' logo can be shown on an audio CD if there is 'strong language or depictions of violence, sex, or substance abuse to such an extent as to merit parental notification' on the disc.

If you are producing an audio disc that contains such content then you may wish to include it in your artwork, however this is an optional item and is not a legal requirement. This standard was created by the Recording Industry Association of America, although it is also used in the United Kingdom and in other countries throughout the world.

The logo looks like this:

Please click on above logo for larger version.

The Parental Advisory Explicit Content logo is also known as the 'Parental Advisory Logo' or PAL. The logo must be displayed in black and white (if being used) and should ideally be included on the CD artwork and also on any disc case artwork. The logo can be positioned wherever suitable, but is typically included in one of the bottom corners of the disc cover artwork.

It is a recommendation by the RIAA that the Parental Advisory Explicit Content logo measure no less than 1” by 5/8”, although this is not a legal requirement.

Further information can be found on the Recording Industry Association of America site.

In some countries and record stores, discs with the Parental Advisory Explicit Content logo are banned from sale, this is also true of Wal-Mart in America where only the 'clean' versions of albums are sold.