Why China is creating a ‘blacklist’ of karaoke songs
The Chinese government is set to create a “blacklist” of popular karaoke songs that may contain “harmful content”.
According to rules outlined by the country’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, karaoke must not endanger national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity.
There are also strict guidelines around entertainment that may incite ethnic hatred or undermine ethnic unity, promote cults or superstition or violate the state’s religious policies.
Songs must not encourage obscenity, gambling, violence, drug-related activities or crime, nor should they insult or slander others, the ministry said.
The regulations have been put in place to “promote socialist core values, and maintain national cultural security and ideological security,” according to the ministry.
Companies who provide content to karaoke venues will be responsible for monitoring the songs, and making sure the rules are being adhered to by customers.
China has over 50,000 venues that cater to song and dance entertainment, as well as boasting a catalogue of more than 100,000, which could prove difficult to police
The ban will come into effect in venues across the country on October 1st.
The news comes after the country banned a catalogue of 120 songs in 2015 from the internet that were deemed inappropriate.
Censorship is common in China, with an increasingly hard line taken on entertainment content that is deemed inappropriate, or that criticizes the strict government.
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