New must get time to show its worth

OPERATORS OF THE SMALL KARAOKE BOOTHS inside malls and supermarkets in some Chinese cities are not required to obtain the licenses that apply to traditional karaoke venues, according to a recent notice issued by the Ministry of Culture. Thepaper.cn commented on Wednesday:

By not including the mini karaoke booths among "entertainment properties", the Ministry of Culture has made it clear that it is tolerant of youngsters warbling an after-school song or two in the pay-as-you-go booths. It even specifies in its notice that teenagers' right to sing should be respected.

According to the notice, those operating the karaoke booths only have to register them with the local cultural affairs authorities instead of applying for entertainment licenses. Which is right, as the booths, which house a karaoke machine with a touch screen, two bar stools, two pairs of headsets and two microphones, do not resemble mini karaoke bars. Payments can be made via a smartphone and the recordings sent to users, who are free to share their voices via social media.