China to crack down on karaoke piracy -paper

BEIJING, July 19 (Reuters) China's warbling masses could soon have access to fewer of their favourite karaoke hits after a government crackdown on pirated songs.

The new rules also require that the Ministry of Culture ensures that all songs ''accord with relevant national rules and policies'', the Beijing News said, implying the long arm of China's censor will now reach into karaoke lounges.

''This action is aimed at preventing unhealthy songs from becoming karaoke and will gradually solve the copyright contradictions between record companies, artists and karaoke operators,'' it quoted a government official as saying.

Three cities will trial-run the new scheme, the paper said.

Certain songs are already banned on China's airwaves -- many from freewheeling Taiwan, whose pop stars are massively popular in the mainland but whose music is sometimes viewed by Beijing as subversive.

However, such songs are often belted out by hip youngsters in China's karaoke bars.

Taiwan aboriginal singer Chang Hui-mei -- better known as A-Mei -- was briefly banned from the mainland in 2000 for singing the island's anthem at President Chen Shui-bian's inauguration. Yet she is as popular as ever in karaoke bars.

REUTERS DKB HS0942