China's top copyright regulator National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) announced stricter music streaming rules in July, asking online music service providers to remove unlicensed products by the end of July. Music websites that continue to offer unlicensed music after July 31 will be "severely punished".

It added that with strengthened enforcement and supervision on service providers, the administration hopes to better protect copyright holders and improve online music copyright order and market environment. The measure is part of this year’s Jianwang Operation, an annual nationwide campaign against online IP infringement, jointly launched by a number of agencies including the NCAC.