--- title: "China grants singer exemption for unapproved concert song" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/media/china-grants-singer-exemption-for-unapproved-concert-song" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/china-grants-singer-exemption-for-unapproved-concert-song" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/china-grants-singer-exemption-for-unapproved-concert-song.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/china-grants-singer-exemption-for-unapproved-concert-song" category: "Media" area: "China" published: "2026-09-30T19:45:46.413Z" source_reported: "2026-09-30T15:44:22.000Z" updated: "2026-09-30T19:45:46.413Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 61 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-30T19:45:10.847303+00:00" --- # China grants singer exemption for unapproved concert song *Authorities in Chengdu ruled Na Ying's tribute performance did not require prior approval.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. One outlet provided a full report, while 27 others provided digests. - Craft 61 of 100, higher is better. The reporting clearly separates facts from comment and provides specific details. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is measured and proportionate, with no sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Authorities in Chengdu, China, granted singer Na Ying an exemption after she performed an unapproved song at a concert. - The Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism stated the performance was a brief rendition and did not require additional approval. - Na Ying performed the song "Curved Moon" in memory of her friend, musician Liu Huan, who died the previous day at age 63. - Content used in live performances in China, including songs, must typically be approved in advance by local authorities. Authorities in Chengdu, China, granted singer Na Ying an exemption after she performed an unapproved song at a concert. The Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism stated that Na Ying's performance was a brief rendition and did not require additional approval. This decision comes amid China's strict censorship of the entertainment industry, where content used in live performances must be approved in advance by local authorities. Na Ying performed the song "Curved Moon" at her concert in Chengdu on Saturday. She stated she wanted to sing a song her friend, the musician Liu Huan, had sung before, to pay tribute to him. Liu Huan, a well-known musician, died the previous day at age 63. ## Disagreement on the reason for exemption The Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism stated that Na Ying's performance was a brief, fragmentary performance during an audience interaction segment rather than a full rendition of the song, and therefore did not require additional approval, as reported by the Hindustan Times. Digests from other outlets, including the Marietta Daily Journal and the Jonesboro Sun, state that the bureau said her "brief rendition did…" without specifying the reason for the exemption. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated, centre-rated, or right-rated digests mention the specific details of Na Ying's statement to the audience about singing the song in tribute to Liu Huan, as reported by the Hindustan Times. ## Who covered it Shares of the 25 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 48% (12) - Centre: 40% (10) - Right: 12% (3) 3 of 28 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-30T19:45:10.847303+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 1 time; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-30T20:00:16.923Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports led on the exemption granted to Na Ying following her performance of an unapproved song. They highlighted that content used in live performances in China must be approved in advance by local authorities, a rule Na Ying's case drew attention to. These reports mentioned the song "Curved Moon" and that it was performed in memory of Liu Huan, who died the day before. The Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism's statement that the performance was a brief rendition and did not require additional approval was also a common point. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports focused on the exemption granted to singer Na Ying for performing an unapproved song at a concert in Chengdu. They noted that the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism stated her performance was a brief rendition and did not require additional approval. The context of China's strict censorship rules for live performances was also mentioned, as was the fact that the song was a tribute to her friend Liu Huan, who had recently died. ### Right - Right-rated reports highlighted that authorities in Chengdu granted singer Na Ying an exemption after she performed an unapproved song at a weekend concert. The Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism's statement that her brief rendition did not require additional approval was noted. The context of China's censorship rules for live performances was also present. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 2 - high: 12 - unknown: 3 - veryHigh: 11 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Independent Español](https://independentespanol.com/noticias/china-concede-a-cantante-rara-exencion-de-censura-tras-cancion-tributo-no-aprobada-b3059203.html) — China Grants Rare Singer Censorship Exemption After Unapproved Tribute Song · Global Voices - [Marietta Daily Journal](https://mdjonline.com/news/national/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_42b182f8-b610-5775-954b-7ed212f2a50c.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Beckley Register-Herald](https://register-herald.com/news/entertainment/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_5fff7e01-2a81-54ae-b3af-2638952f9c4d.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Chronicle Online](https://chronicleonline.com/news/national/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_1b141d0f-43ff-5087-b360-096a3551318b.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Rutland Herald](https://rutlandherald.com/ap/national/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_7b84be61-3616-5e8e-a776-5ddb0f9c42f6.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Henry Herald](https://henryherald.com/news/world_nation/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_a1164ad4-7d19-5492-8e14-786305d6978b.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Jonesboro Sun](https://jonesborosun.com/news/national/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_d9885aae-1a5b-506e-97d2-a5089657f6fb.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [The Sun Chronicle](https://thesunchronicle.com/features/stories/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_00bd1b93-7e7a-5693-9b6a-8965ca45d6f5.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/entertainment/11179727/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [IndexHR](https://index.hr/vijesti/clanak/kineska-pjevacica-izvela-pjesmu-koja-joj-nije-odobrena-nece-biti-kaznjena/2840087.aspx) — Chinese Singer Performs Song She Wasn't Authorized to Perform. She Won't Be Punished, Though - [Hindustan Times](https://hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song-101790707665169.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/chengdu-china-artists-radio-facebook-b3058555.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/chengdu-china-artists-radio-facebook-b3058555.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Richmond Register](https://richmondregister.com/ap/national/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_3b5f5371-828c-58f7-b35d-9fe08fa59ae0.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [The Washington Post](https://washingtonpost.com/national/2026/09/29/china-singing-entertainment-censorship-tight-control/1b569c64-bc2e-11f1-81fc-9b76f8343b6c_story.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [WBAL](https://wbal.com/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unappr - [Rocky Mountain Outlook](https://rmoutlook.com/lifestyle/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song-12835972) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Airdrie City View](https://airdriecityview.com/lifestyle/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song-12835972) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Bowen Island Undercurrent](https://bowenislandundercurrent.com/the-mix/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song-12836139) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2026/09/29/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [thealbertan.com](https://thealbertan.com/lifestyle/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song-12835972) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/entertainment/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Newsday](https://newsday.com/entertainment/china-singing-entertainment-censorship-tight-control-m67699) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/china-singing-entertainment-censorship-tight-control-d0d5347250f31a782543b3e7b1f2abdb) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [The Daily Sentinel](https://dailysentinel.com/anpa/us/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_7daf90a2-76a4-564e-8ffe-5af2c19bed69.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Bozeman Daily Chronicle](https://bozemandailychronicle.com/wire/lifestyles/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song/article_ed9d0982-9621-51b9-9189-bba9694b1dde.html) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/2026/09/29/china-grants-a-singer-a-rare-exemption-over-censorship-after-an-unapproved-tribute-song) — China grants a singer a rare exemption over censorship after an unapproved tribute song - [大纪元 Epoch Times](https://epochtimes.com/b5/26/9/28/n14859480.htm) — Mainland Singer Na Ying May Face Penalties for Encore Performance of a Song in Memory of Liu Huan at Her Concert. ## Questions **Why was singer Na Ying granted an exemption in China?** Authorities in Chengdu granted Na Ying an exemption after she performed an unapproved song at a concert. The Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism stated that her performance was a brief rendition and did not require additional approval, despite China's strict censorship rules for live performances. **What song did Na Ying perform and why?** Na Ying performed the song "Curved Moon" at her concert in Chengdu. She stated she wanted to sing the song in memory of her friend and fellow musician Liu Huan, who had died the previous day. **What are the rules for live performances in China?** Content used in live performances in China, including songs and scripts for stand-up comedy, must be approved in advance by local authorities. Artists who violate these rules can face fines or bans from future performances. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/media/china-grants-singer-exemption-for-unapproved-concert-song. 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