As we read in the electronic edition of Rolling Stone a verse and a complaint from a listener was enough to ban the broadcast of the original version of the hit by Dire Straits "Money for Nothing". The Canadian Broadcast Standards Council ruled that "Money for nothing", a hit by Dire Straits since 1985, is too offensive for Canadian airwaves. The song was "singled out" for his repeated use of anti-gay censure "that little faggot" in the second verse.
But this has not stopped some Canadian rock radio stations from broadcasting the song. Since the day of the decision, stations in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Edmonton, Alberta are protesting the decision by having "Money for nothing" in repeat for a full hour!
Guy Fletcher of Dire Straits shared the view of Mark Knopfler in his website's forum, writing "Mark told me that because of the ban, he now has replaced the word" faggot "with the word" fudger".
Although "Money for nothing" is being heard by rock radios for more than two decades, the ban to the song was the result of a complaint from a listener in St. John's, Newfoundland. The decision does not preclude a definitive ban to the song - edited versions not containing the offending word are considered "safe" for broadcast.
The news may not surprise many, but it troubles us and we're wondering what is ultimately the limit of artistic creation (if there is one) and, finally, is a group of people fit to decide what should be available for our ears ( or our eyes ) and what is not?