China is now planning to censor even karaoke rooms to strengthen social control.
On the 11th local time, Xinhua News Agency of China reported that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism announced the 'Temporary Regulations on the Management of Karaoke Music Contents' to manage the prohibited songs in karaoke.
The Chinese government has cited the fact that songs that have been banned from karaoke since 2006 still remain as a reason for tightening regulations.
According to the new regulations, songs sung in karaoke rooms must follow the purpose of 'protecting the socialist ideology and national culture'. It is said that songs that may harm the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, or songs containing content such as obscenity, gambling, or violence will be completely banned from karaoke.
On the other hand, the so-called 'main melody' song that propagated the party and the state was encouraged.
In the past, Chinese authorities have banned songs that violate the 'one China' principle or promote nihilism, such as 'I like Taiwanese girls', 'Beijing hooligans', and 'I don't want to go to school' as 'non-one songs'.
In 2018, the censorship of pop culture contents has been strengthened, such as deleting thousands of K-pop, Taiwanese and Hong Kong music.
There are about 50,000 dance and dance establishments in China, and the number of songs registered in the karaoke system reaches 100,000.
Local media reported that the new regulations will come into effect from October 1.
This is a 'news pick'.