Explicit Walk Up Music

[pbyebye]

New umpire here. Question for umpires and coaches. I was base ump at a U14 tournament yesterday. One team was playing batter introduction walk up music (perhaps 5-10 seconds long.) As one batter was walking up to the plate her music came on and it was very explicit (I’m no choir boy) enough to generate a collective gasp among the parents I was standing by. The music was immediately stopped but allowed to continue for the remainder of the game. My question is what would you have done? If I were the plate umpire I would have at the very least ended the walk up music for the remainder of the game. As a brand new base ump with a veteran behind the plate I let him handle it. He had a brief comment to the coach from afar. In hindsight after they’re at bat I should have at least asked him his thoughts and what he said to the coach. Thanks.

 

[HunterMO]

If you're going to have walkup music, keep it clean. I zero issue with cursing or whatever lyrics within songs themselves, but they need to be kept out of walkup songs for obvious reasons. There are tons of young kids (outside of the players themselves) at the game. There's no need for it. This specific instance is on the coach, parents, and even the player. Have some common sense. There are plenty of songs in existence that something better could be found.

As far as "rules" or umpire involvement, that's outside my realm. I'm speaking strictly from opinion as a coach/parent.

Now, I'm not "anti-fun".....but my opinion of walkup music for softball tournaments did change recently. It never really bothered me until two weekends ago a team we were playing had walkup music (and it was loud) while a team playing on a field directly behind us also had loud walkup music. Often playing at the same times. It got irritating real quick.

 

[Lance Steckler]

i'm 100% old man screaming 'get off my yard' with walk up music.

But it normally cut off real quick if the score is say 5-0 after 1st inning.

 

[Rolling Hard]

If you're going to have walkup music, keep it clean. I zero issue with cursing or whatever lyrics within songs themselves, but they need to be kept out of walkup songs for obvious reasons. There are tons of young kids (outside of the players themselves) at the game. There's no need for it. This specific instance is on the coach, parents, and even the player. Have some common sense. There are plenty of songs in existence that something better could be found.

As far as "rules" or umpire involvement, that's outside my realm. I'm speaking strictly from opinion as a coach/parent.

Now, I'm not "anti-fun".....but my opinion of walkup music for softball tournaments did change recently. It never really bothered me until two weekends ago a team we were playing had walkup music (and it was loud) while a team playing on a field directly behind us also had loud walkup music. Often playing at the same times. It got irritating real quick.

Common Sense. That is not going to happen and you cant have the ump or TD policing every songs lyrics or volume. SO remember the good ole days when tournament rules didn't allow for amped music? That's the only solution. I hear racial slurs, sexual acts and violent lyrics at every tourney. Here is a popular one you will hear at every tourney. And there is much worse.

Woo! Bring 'em out, bring 'em out— Bring 'em out, bring 'em out—
It's hard to yell when the bar-rel's in your mouth
that other nigga got a hit, but shawty, he not me (Naw)
Who set the city on fire as soon as he got freed
The King back now, hoes don't even know how to act now
Hit the club, strippers getting naked 'fore I sat down

 

[Rolling Hard]

I know, I know, you say they just like the beat.

 

[LEsoftballdad]

I remember the days of the PMRC attacking heavy metal as if they had bad lyrics. The cRap out there now is just disgusting.

Personally, I can't stand walk-up music in HS and tournaments, but I guess I'm old. My local HS doesn't allow it because the opposing teams were using songs with lyrics that would make Tipper Gore's hair curl.

 

[murphdog]

DD used the same walk up song most of her college career. There were definitely explicit lyrics in the song but they cut it to a few non explicit lines and only played that.
This is what was played
“Get out the way
Pretty boy comin' through
Me and my crew we swaggin' in the room”

She was lead off batter

 

[Dabears17]

I don't have time for a deep dive into this so I might eventually email a friend who is a patent attorney, but technically using walk-up music without a license is a copyright violation, especially if the game is being streamed.

Copyright Laws for 30 Seconds of Music

It's a popular myth that you can use 30 seconds of any piece of music without restriction and without permission from the copyright holder. While there are some cases where fair use permits an exemption, it's unlikely this would apply to music used by your business for commercial purposes.

smallbusiness.chron.com

Copyright Compliance with Music and Sporting Events

The NFHS is the national leader and advocate for high school athletics as well as fine and performing arts programs. Within our 51 member state associations, we serve 19,500 high schools and more than 12 million young people.

www.nfhs.org

 

[CoachJD]

I don't see how this is in any way under the purview of an umpire. 5-10 seconds isn't enough time to be delaying the game. Let the parents deal with what type of music their kids listen to.

 

[chinamigarden]

Umps have enough on their plate. They don’t need to be morality police