Photo Courtesy of People Magazine

According to a CNN blog, some popular radio stars are now being banned in China. The Chinese government has been releasing blacklists that will force websites (personal or otherwise) to remove the songs by artists like Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and even Mandarin and Cantonese pop songs by September 15th.

The Ministry of Culture has posted the list on their website and has said “Certain websites have been allowing users to play, listen to and download the listed songs. Such actions have disturbed the online music market order and endangered national cultural safety.”

Chinese radio, like many other countries like it; allow both Chinese and Western music to be played on their airwaves, but some of the songs have clearly caused the government to step in and take action that could result in serious punishment. They find the songs to be in “poor taste and [contain] vulgar content.”

Photo Courtesy of Cliff Watts

Songs include Lady Gaga’s “Born this Way”, Katy Perry’s “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” and Beyoncé’s “Run the World (Girls)”; among others. This is not the first time that the ministry has banned songs from American pop artists. Christina Aguilera, Eminem, and Britney Spears have also faced a similar fate.

College student Jesslon Liu said of the blacklist “This ban is really over the top. But the authorities have never liked Gaga’s songs or style for ideological reasons.”

Photo Courtesy of MTV.com

The ministry told CNN that “Our targets this time are online music products that we have not registered or reviewed. They don’t necessarily contain illegal content.” Apparently this ban also doesn’t take into account when the song was released, because the Backstreet Boys’ twelve-year-old hit “I Want It That Way” has just been added to the list.

Be thankful that you can still hear us every week on Wednesday 12-3 AM 90.3 FM WHCR, Thursday  10PM- 1AM  on nitelineradio.com and Sundays 3-6 PM on partyradiousa.net. ~Phylis J.