China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song

Authorities in Chengdu, southwest China, recently granted a rare exemption to a singer who added an unapproved song to her set list at a weekend concert. This decision has drawn attention to China's increasingly strict censorship controls over the entertainment industry.

The exemption allowed singer Na Ying to perform "Curved Moon" in memory of her late friend and fellow singer Liu Huan, who passed away the previous day. Na, a renowned female singer in China, performed the fragmentary rendition during an audience interaction segment of her concert, rather than a full rendition of the song.

According to the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, such performances do not require additional approval because they are brief and fragmentary. Despite the exemption, some netizens criticized the performance as "expensive" and expressed concerns about potential fines for Na.

Liu Huan, a well-known musician for nearly four decades, passed away on Friday at the age of 63. He had previously performed with soprano Sarah Brightman during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Liu's death was mourned by fellow musicians and the public, with tributes pouring in from across the globe.