Online music event will lift spirits as stars are set to shine

Chinese songwriter Gao Xiaosong is uniting famous music stars in the country to put on an online event, titled Believe in the Future, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The event is expected to be held in early May.

On April 20, Gao, one of the most famous songwriters in China, announced the news on his account on China's social media platform, Sina Weibo, which has over 45 million followers. As the curator, he is dedicating the three-day online event to people who are recovering from the viral outbreak. Online music streaming services, NetEase Cloud Music and Xiami, along with Tencent Music Entertainment Group and online ticketing platform, Damai, are the co-organizers of the event.

"People from all over the world are going through a tough time because of the viral outbreak. We are touched by the brave medical staff, who work hard on the front lines against the virus. Ordinary people have been doing extraordinary things to help in the fight. We are united and believe in the final victory…" Gao said in the proposal released to the media. "We hope that musicians get together with their musical instruments and their music works to comfort and inspire people."

He adds that the online event will not be involved with commercial elements and will be shared online.

Two days after the announcement, Gao released the list of the first group of stars who will join in the online event, including established singers Faye Wong, Na Ying, Lao Lang, Zheng Jun, pianist Lang Lang as well as young pop stars, Kris Wu and Zhang Yixing. As of Saturday, nearly 100 Chinese singers and bands have signed up to participate in the online event. Record companies have also joined in, including Modern Sky and Taihe Music Group. TV hosts, Bai Yansong, Wang Han and Hu Qiaohua, known as Hua Shao, will act as hosts.

Fans have reacted warmly. "Music provides us with joy and the power of healing, especially during difficult times like this," commented a fan on Sina Weibo after Gao released the news.

"Now we return to work and try to have our lives back to normal. This is hard but we are not alone," wrote another fan.

"We want to encourage people whose lives have been affected by the viral outbreak. Indie musicians are facing difficulties because the performing arts market is heavily affected. Shows have been canceled and many of them find it hard to make a living. The record companies and online music platforms will announce their plans to help and support indie musicians," Gao said on Sina Weibo on Friday.

The 50-year-old Gao, who was born and raised in Beijing, dropped out of Tsinghua University in 1991. He is recognized for introducing "campus folk music style" to Chinese music lovers in the 1990s by writing popular hits, including My Deskmate Girl and No Regret Youth. In 1996, he, along with Song Ke, a guru in Chinese music circles, launched a record company, Taihe Rye Music. Besides music, Gao also has a talk show, directs films and publishes books.