The government-backed Myanmar Music Association (MMA)’s general secretary and well-known singer Phyu Phyu Kyaw Thein said that artists are now allowed to publish their music without prior approval from the state censor board.

The Lyrics Scrutiny and Registration Committee, a department under the MAA that will function as a rating system, will scrutinise song lyrics.

Shwe Gyaw Gyaw, a songwriter and committee member, said songs will be categorised in three different groups. Music that is deemed suitable for a general audience will be given a Group A rating, while Groups B and C will be categorise music that is more appropriate for mature audiences over the age of 18.

The move comes after the Burmese government announced in late August that it has abolished pre-censorship of its media. However, but the media must still follow a strict list of guidelines that forbids them from criticising the state.

Under the military dictatorship, song lyrics were heavily censored.