Ministry launches speedy music approval system
- Source: Global Times
- [03:31 September 10 2009]
- Comments
By Yin Hang
Website owners could use a "fast track" system to request permission to upload songs and videos to the Internet under a recenly announced censorship rule, the Ministry of Culture told the Global Times Wednesday.
The ministry announced last week that starting December 31, every piece of foreign and Chinese music posted on a site in China needs prior approval.
The measure also stipulates that foreign music providers must translate the lyrics of each song into Chinese, and file related images and an introduction with the government.
The goal, the ministry said, is to remove vulgar music from the Internet including those that are in poor tastes and are illegal.
Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University, said the move could protect students from negative influences.
"The measure will ward off the negative influences of foreign pop culture," he said.
In written responses to questions from the Global Times, an unnamed official from the ministry said those who use the "fast track" system could receive a decision within three days.
"Since our measures on regulating the online music market was announced last week, we have received positive responses from many online music providers," the ministry said.
"In order to improve efficiency, we have already adopted an innovative reviewing approach to streamline the review process."
He said that every step of the process could be done online.
The ministry would not review Internet user-generated content including songs composed, recorded or uploaded by individuals, according to the spokesman.
It is unclear whether the new policy would change how Google, Yahoo and other foreign-based sites offer music on their sites.
However, some music and industry professionals said things wouldn't change too much.
Zhang Jin, 25, a Shanghai DJ, believes listening and enjoying good Western music will not be hindered.
"It's a regulation we should all welcome if we realize that teenagers are a dominant part of the audience for pop music,"Zhang said.
"We don't want to see our audience, young people in particular, influenced by some music that's poor in taste," he added.
Statistics from the China Internet Network Information Center shows that 91 percent of Internet music users are between 10 and 29, and more than 90 percent of users are students.
