Vietnamese authorities take strong action against artists with inappropriate music, seeking to protect cultural values.
Experts strongly support the decisive actions taken by the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in guiding and rectifying musical activities that display signs of cultural deviation.
On October 25, the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee issued an official directive to the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, the city’s Music Association, the Council for Theoretical and Literary-Artistic Criticism, and local media agencies. The directive called for guidance and correction of musical activities that show signs of deviating from cultural standards.
On October 27, the Department of Performing Arts and the Department of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a working session following the recent spread of songs with offensive and culturally inappropriate lyrics being performed and circulated online.
The public has shown strong support for these bold actions by the regulatory agencies to correct culturally deviant musical activities. VietNamNet spoke to several experts for their perspectives on the matter.
Criticized for speaking out against offensive music
Singer Jack - J97 has demonstrated multiple acts considered culturally inappropriate. Photo: FBNV
Composer Nguyen Van Chung fully supports the decision made by the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
He said he had previously voiced concerns about lingering issues in the music industry, from offensive songs to nonsensical parody music being aired on television, believing that "speaking out honestly will help improve the state of music."
Back in 2021, Nguyen Van Chung warned that continued leniency toward songs with offensive titles could eventually lead to widespread creations with inappropriate lyrics and content.
However, his outspoken remarks brought him trouble and conflict within the industry, along with a wave of critical comments and ridicule on social media.
As a result, Nguyen Van Chung stopped making public statements, telling himself to "do what’s right, avoid what’s wrong." He felt his voice was too small to make any real change.
Today, the composer believes the recent actions of cultural management agencies will help shape audience taste and instill a stronger sense of social responsibility in artists.
He is confident that with public awareness and firm intervention by the authorities, things will gradually improve.
Nguyen Van Chung also proposed forming a review committee to evaluate songs with offensive or controversial content and assess their potential negative impact on the community.
Regarding penalties, he believes that depending on the severity of the violation, different forms of punishment should be applied, such as fines, bans from media platforms, or restrictions on public performances.
The harshest blow to offending artists
Rapper HIEUTHUHAI was called out for his diss track “Trinh.” Photo: Archives
With years of experience in the Ho Chi Minh City music scene, media expert Hong Quang Minh was not surprised by the government’s firm response, calling it an inevitable reaction.
"When the human body is injured, it instinctively responds to protect itself. Likewise, regulatory interventions in the cultural sphere are society’s way of self-defense when it feels that its values are slipping out of control.
We live in an era where music is not only entertainment but also a powerful force that shapes public language and consciousness.
When some artists, intentionally or unintentionally, abuse their influence to spread crude or even offensive language, the involvement of management agencies becomes necessary," he said.
Regarding timing, Minh noted that these actions were "late, but better than never." The trend of inappropriate language, vulgar implications, and ideologically deviant content among young audiences has long existed.
Many in the industry, including Minh, have spoken out, though they also understand that in the age of creative freedom and social media, what goes viral often overshadows what is right.
Rapper Pháo stirred controversy with her diss track aimed at her ex-boyfriend, streamer ViruSs. Photo: Archives
What he finds most concerning is why this issue has only now triggered a strong response. "Perhaps the ‘deviation’ has reached a level that simultaneously offends many segments of the public, not just older audiences or parents, but even educated young people, including those who once supported artistic freedom."
The media expert believes that when the market can no longer self-regulate through internal critique, society must temporarily apply the brakes.
In response to the question: "Does Ho Chi Minh City's proposal not to invite artists with culturally inappropriate songs to city events carry enough deterrence, given that these artists primarily earn income from brand events, lounges, and bars?" Minh said this move is more of a symbolic warning than an actual punitive measure.
This message serves as a wake-up call to the entire ecosystem of artists, organizers, brands, and audiences that it’s time to seriously reconsider the social responsibility of music.
"I don't think an artist will lose everything because of a few banned performances. Their main income still comes from brands, private events, reality shows, livestreams, and lounges. However, being excluded from official platforms, especially symbolic city-level events, will gradually make them less attractive to brands, because no company wants to associate with an artist 'under scrutiny,'" he analyzed.
Minh emphasized that the greatest impact is not in canceled shows, but in long-term damage to an artist’s image. And in the world of media, that is the harshest blow.
Songwriters must uphold professional ethics
Rapper MCK is known for his style of “cursing like singing.” Photo: Archives
In its official dispatch to members, the Ho Chi Minh City Music Association emphasized that composers must create with sincerity and heart, conveying positive messages to society while prioritizing national and community interests and respecting the law.
Music is the artist’s breath of life. A songwriter must possess professional ethics, spreading the values of truth, kindness, and beauty to the community.
There must also be efforts to engage artists and understand their ideological outlook, so that their works can serve the country, inspire the public to contribute to economic, social, and national development, and help identify and correct deviations in cultural and artistic activities.
The association also reminded members to uphold a sense of responsibility when speaking publicly and using social media, ensuring their activities align with official cultural and artistic guidelines.
It called for monitoring, reminding, and analyzing issues while promptly addressing cases where members' personal statements or actions could affect the organization’s reputation or the city's cultural policy, potentially causing public concern within the literary and artistic community.
It encouraged open communication and urged members not to share, comment on, or post unverified, misleading, or provocative information that could harm individuals or organizations.
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