Dance music is hard to define, which can pose a challenge when you’re trying to make it illegal. In a 1994 law aimed at clamping down on raves, the British government opted for: “music [which] includes sounds wholly or predominantly characterised by the emission of a succession of repetitive beats”. The government of Chechnya – a Russian republic in South East Europe – has made a far more specific attempt, introducing a new law which bans any music faster than 116 beats per minute or slower than 80 beats per minute.
This news has been widely reported as Chechyna banning techno music, to which you might think “good for them”: techno is a bit over-saturated at the moment anyway, and if the Chechyan Ministry of Culture is making more space for soulful house, that’s a forward-thinking initiative which should be applauded. Hell, I’d vote for that in London! But in reality, the ban goes much further, including not just techno but house, disco, trance, gabber, samba and a significant portion of modern pop music. If a DJ drops the Russian national anthem – a high-intensity banger which races along at a pounding 76 beats per minute – they could find themselves in big trouble. I don't really understand why they’re banning slow music as well – is dubstep still a big societal problem in contemporary Chechnya?
The new law stems from fears that Western music is “polluting” Chechnya, and luring young people away from its traditional culture. According to Musa Dadaev, the Culture Minister, “We must bring to the people and to the future of our children the cultural heritage of the Chechen people. This includes the entire spectrum of moral and ethical standards of life for Chechens.” He added that borrowing music from other cultures is “inadmissible”.
Artists have reportedly been given until June 1 to rewrite music that doesn’t meet the new criteria. If their song isn’t reworked, they won’t be allowed to perform it in public.
Attempts to ban dance music throughout history have rarely been successful (watch Footloose, if you don’t believe me). You cannot destroy techno, because techno is an idea. Give it six months, and Chechnya might just be the new Berlin.
