China tightens control on online music from January 2016
As of January 1, companies such as Alibaba, Tencent and Baidu, will have to police the content of their online music before making it available to the public, says the Ministry of Culture; the firms also have to submit information about their music to the government from April 1.  This move is the latest strike by the Communist Party to "cleanse" and keep tabs on the Internet, as music streaming gains rapid popularity with its growing and influential middle classes.

Beijing: China's ministry of culture has urged internet companies to increase tougher regulations over online music content, the media reported on Monday.

According to a ministry statement, music providers should check the content before songs go online and music information should be submitted to cultural administrative offices above provincial level, Xinhua news agency reported.

The ministry also called on cultural administrative organs to deal with misconduct over laws and regulations and blacklist violators for credit management.

The circular will be put into effect on January 1, 2016 and online music providers should submit information on music-examination starting from April 1, 2016.