Foreign affairs enthusiasts will know that on October 1 China celebrated its 60th anniversary as the People’s Republic of China. The Chinese authorities also used this opportunity to extol their country’s cultural “purity” by cancelling all foreign acts at an upcoming indie music festival.
Bands including Buzzcocks, British Sea Power, and International Noise Conspiracy (sorry guys the word ‘conspiracy’ really just doesn’t go down well in perennially-insecure China) were scheduled to play at the Modern Sky Festival in Beijing from October 4-7. Foreign acts were due to comprise “over a quarter of the festival's performers.”
China’s Ministry of Culture made it clear that “the city's cultural administration authorities and the cultural and entertainment businesses will redouble their efforts to ‘focus on enforcement, to ensure safety’ in order to eliminate all kinds of security risks... in order to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding [of the People's Republic] in a safe, cultural atmosphere."
China clearly feels that Beyoncé is conducive to a “safe, cultural atmosphere” when it was confirmed that she will be able to bring her “‘I Am...Sasha Fierce’ tour to the Chinese capital for a single show on October 23.”
So it’s official then: indie constitutes a “security risk,” while pop ensures a “safe, cultural atmosphere.” The staff at Tiny Mix Tapes are incensed and begin their boycott of China today with a freeze on all purchases of Chinese food (TMT writers’ staple diet). We hope our fellow indie-lovin’ Americans will follow suit.
