China bans Lady Gaga and Katy Perry
China’s Ministry of Culture has ordered music download sites to delete songs by Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys and other pop stars within two weeks or face punishment.
The ministry posted a list of 100 songs that had to be purged from the Chinese sites because they had never been submitted for mandatory government screening.
The songs include Lady Gaga’s 'Judas' and Perry’s 'Last Friday Night'.
The ministry said the rule was meant to preserve China’s “national cultural security”.
Sites were told in the August 19 announcement that they had until September 15 to delete the songs.
It said violators would be punished, but did not outline the penalties they would face.
China strictly controls the internet and arts.
