Ofcom has imposed a sanction on Rinse FM after our investigation (PDF, 374.7 KB) found its London-based community radio station, Rinse FM, failed to comply with our broadcasting rules. It is required to broadcast a summary of our findings to listeners.
On 12 July 2020, Rinse FM broadcast a music programme which included the track “Better in Tune with the Infinite” by hip hop artist Jay Electronica, which contained antisemitic lyrics. In our decision published on 19 July 2021 in Issue 431 of the Broadcast and On Demand Bulletin (PDF, 374.7 KB), Ofcom found that the programme, through the inclusion of lyrics in this track, contained antisemitic hate speech and abusive and derogatory treatment of Jewish people, which was not sufficiently justified by the context, and was therefore also potentially highly offensive. We therefore found the programme had breached rules 3.2, 3.3, and 2.3 of the Broadcasting Code.
Ofcom has directed Rinse FM Limited to broadcast a statement of Ofcom’s findings on a date and in a form to be determined by Ofcom.