The culture ministry the Russian republic of Chechnya has made a rule what speed of music people can listen to. The ministry has banned songs that are too fast or too slow. It made an announcement about the tempo songs allowed. It said: "From now , all musical, vocal and choreographic works should correspond to a tempo between 80 to 116 beats per minute." The new standard, which starts 80 beats per minute, is much slower than a lot modern-day pop music. However, the Russian national anthem is usually played 76 beats minute. There has been no word from the culture ministry whether the anthem can be played. It seems likely the anthem will be an exception to the new rule.
The ban music that is too up-tempo or too down-tempo is to protect Chechnya's culture and traditions. The Moscow Times said it was, "to root any hint of Westernization". Chechnya's leader, Ramzan Kadyrov, said the ban was to make music, "conform to the Chechen mentality". He added: "Borrowing musical culture other people's is inadmissible." Musa Dadaev, Chechnya's culture minister, said: "We must bring to the people and to the future our children the cultural heritage the Chechen people." Local artists have June the 1st to rewrite their songs to follow the new tempo. People Chechnya will no longer be able to listen to techno music, or many songs Beyonce, Drake and Taylor Swift.
