I Got Ish Wrote:
For radio promo and music videos, television and (less so) film licensing, and basically any other major marketing initiative (even as an independent artist), if you make an explicit record, you as the artist are shooting yourself and your work in the foot by not making an edited version. Get creative with it and do it yourself. Don't rely on someone detached from the creation of the project to do simple vocal dropouts or otherwise obscure the offending vocabulary. I can't stress this enough.
pretty much what ishy said. for majority of big releases, there is always an edited version, mainly due to the fact that a lot of companies do not want to be associated with anything that can be posed as a negative (ie: swearing). also, that whole fcc b.s. (in regards to radio/tv/film sync & licensing - they'll be held liable for any "offensive" material the listener deems is inappropiate) and if it's a major artist working with a brand or such, same deal.