China seeks to ban karaoke songs in new crackdown on music that ‘harms national unity’
- In 2020 China banned more than 100 songs it identified as being harmful
- Songs previously banned include ‘I love Taiwanese Girls’, ‘Fart’, ‘Beijing Hooligans’ and ‘Don’t Want to Go to School’
China’s Ministry of Culture is planning a major crackdown on karaoke songs that it deems subversive or pose a threat to national unity.
The ministry has proposed creating a centralised list of forbidden songs and it will expect karaoke venues to comply, according to a draft policy document published on the ministry’s website late last week.
Under the plan, karaoke venues would be responsible for policing their song lists and deleting any songs that: “endanger national unity, sovereignty or territorial integrity, or harm national security, honour or interests”. It will also ban songs that “incite ethnic hatred”.
A central song list would be created by the ministry for karaoke venues and their operators who would then be responsible for deleting banned songs. Only “healthy” songs that “promote positive energy” will be allowed, and venues are encouraged to promote songs seen as championing the government’s agenda.
