Multiple Chinese singers aim to challenge foreign competitors

▶ No need to exaggerate perceived disparity: expert

Iconic Chinese singer Han Hong issued a challenge to other artists to compete against her on Singer 2024, a competitive music variety show from Mango TV, on Sunday.

Han’s announcement was quickly followed by declarations from multiple singers such as Ji Minjia, Jiang Yingrong, Zeng Yiming, Wang Xi, Luo Qi and Li Jiawei, expressing their desire to join the fray.

After a four-year absence, the show returned on Friday night with a “live-broadcast” format, which has sparked heated debate online, triggered reflections on the performances of Chinese singers and exposed the clear disparity between China’s music industry and its international counterparts.

Friday night marked the commencement of Singer 2024 on Hunan TV’s streaming platform Mango TV. The inaugural competition featured US vocalist Chanté Moore, and Moroccan-Canadian

singer Faouzia, alongside Chinese artists Na Ying, Wang Sulong, Second Hand Rose band, Taiwan-born singer Rainie Yang, and Hailai Amu, reflecting the endeavor by the production team to cater to the varied musical preferences of different demographics.

Despite being an icon in the Chinese music industry, Na only managed to secure the third position, with the top two places claimed by the only two foreign singers.

Sun Jiashan, an associate researcher at the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration who watched the competition live, told the Global Times on Monday, “The ranking is objective. Chanté Moore’s vocal prowess and technical proficiency, including her tone quality, are undeniable facts.”

Compared with previous seasons, Singer 2024 has adopted a “live broadcast” format, emphasizing authentic vocal performances without any postproduction edits.

Since its premiere, the show has dominated the trending list on Sina Weibo. Some netizens are speculating about which talented singers will fill the vacancies on the show and challenge the established competitors. Some even began speculating about the future of the Chinese music industry, questioning who could potentially rescue its current state.

Sun said there’s no need to exaggerate any perceived disparity between China’s music industry and its international counterparts. “Live, unedited performances are more common in the Europe and US music industry, meaning the two foreign contestants are more accustomed to such rhythms, enabling them to deliver stable performances,” said Sun.

However, he acknowledged a gap in China’s broadcasting standards in the music industry compared to the West.

“It is necessary for the Chinese music industry to adapt to the pace of development of live broadcasts, leveraging its advantages and setting higher standards for itself,” he noted.