In the wake of the fourth China Gold Record Awards announced last week in Beijing, the country's record industry caught the world's attention during an international seminar.

China's record companies issued a total of 38 awards in 11 categories including bal canto, folk, pop, rock, local opera, story-telling and instrumental.

Aiming to build the event as China's Grammy Awards, record companies worked closely with the Ministry of Culture and the Chinese Phonographic Association to put together this year's event which was open to all albums published by the 293 publishing labels in China.

Award-winners spanned the range from popular tenors Dai Yuqiang and Wang Hongwei to pianist Li Yundi, conductor Zheng Xiaoying, pop singers Sun Nan and Na Ying, as well as Hong Kong stars Jay Chou, Fay Wong and Emil Wakin Chau.

Some 24 albums won awards.

Award-winners were selected using both sale volumes and artistic merit as benchmarks.

This years' nominees came from albums published in China between 1995 and August 2003. Organizers also said the event will be held every two years.

Meanwhile, the 2003 International Summit Forum on Chinese Phonographic Industry Development Strategy was held last week in Beijing.

More than 30 representatives from 10 countries including South Korea, Japan and Singapore attended.

Managers from the world's five largest labels such as Sony and Warner mingled with representatives from local labels including Zhengda and Rolling Stone.

Topics ranged from the Internet's influence on the spread of music, technical developments of music producing, anti-piracy and managing a local record company.

Giouw Jui-chian, regional director of the Asian regional office of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), commented that China's record industry has found an place in the international industry.

Giouw and his colleagues also organized the 2003 meeting of the Asian-Pacific Region of IFPI in Beijing.

Dominique Leguern, director of Midem, the leading trade show for the global music industry, said she was impressed by Chinese record company managers' willingness to enter the world market.

"I am impressed by their business-oriented management," she said.

Although she did much research on Chinese music, since she wants to invite Chinese record companies and performing arts agencies to participate in the coming Midem in January 2004, it was not until she arrived in Beijing that she realized that one has to go to a country to understand its music and culture.

"I learned a lot here and believe Chinese record companies will match the culture and industry better in future," she said.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Lifestyle News
+FM: Taiwan question to head Premier's US visit ( 2003-11-26) +Experts look into sequela of SARS ( 2003-11-25) +US urged to be fair in trade problems ( 2003-11-25) +Taiwan lacks sincerity over flight plan ( 2003-11-25) +Putting the curb on illegal custody ( 2003-11-25)		+Jackson lawyer fumes over secret taping ( 2003-11-26) +Record industry in world's focus ( 2003-11-26) +English premier league: Fulham beat Portsmouth to make top five ( 2003-11-25) +Helpers of Santa Claus chased after failed heist ( 2003-11-25) +Study finds greater rich-poor gap among minorities in New York state ( 2003-11-25)