Music of Hong Kong

The Music of Hong Kong is an eclectic mixture of traditional and popular genres. Cantopop is one of the more prominent genres of music produced in Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta regularly perform western classical music in the city. There is also a long tradition of Cantonese opera within Hong Kong.

History

In colonial Hong Kong, pipa was one of the instruments played by the Chinese, and was mainly used for ceremonial purposes. Western classical music was, on the other hand, the principal focus amongst British Hong Kongers with the Sino-British Orchestra being established in 1895. In the beginning of the 20th century, Western pop music became popular. Mandarin pop songs in the 1920s were called Si Doi Kuk (). They are considered the prototype of Chinese pop songs.

In 1949 the People's Republic of China was established by the communist party. One of the first actions taken by the government was to denounce popular music as pornography. Beginning in the 1950s massive waves of immigrants fled from Shanghai to Hong Kong. Along with it was the Pathé Records (Hong Kong) record company, which ended up becoming one of the most significant popular record companies in Hong Kong.

The Western music was popular since 1950s as the official language was English at that time. Also, listening to Western music showed a person's good taste. Cantopop was not popular in 1950s to 1960s since the production of Cantopop was shoddy. During the late 1960s and 1970s, Mandarin pop songs were getting more and more popular and became the mainstream of Hong Kong pop. In the 1970s, Hong Kong audiences wanted popular music in their own dialect, Cantonese. Also, a Cantonese song Tai siu yan yun () became the first theme song of a TV drama. Cantopop was getting popular after that.

Mandarin pop

After the Communist takeover in mainland China in 1949, the Mandarin pop music and entertainment industry shifted to Hong Kong. Mandarin also dominated the language of cinematography until the emergence of Cantonese counterparts in the mid-1970s. Many singers from Taiwan came to Hong Kong creating a spectrum of Mandarin pop. The period ended in its height with Teresa Teng. Her songs were popular even in mainland China. One of the TV series that emulate the 60s/70s mandopop club scene in Hong Kong is the TVB series Glittering Days.

English pop

The term English pop in Hong Kong does not mean pop music from England, but western style pop songs sung in the English language. In the 1950s, popular music of Hong Kong was largely dominated by pop songs in the English language until the Cantopop's emergence in the mid-1970s. Many well-known Cantopop singers of today, like Sam Hui and Alan Tam, began their early careers singing in English. Western culture at the time was specifically a mark of education and sophistication. Inspired and influenced by imported popular music from the West such as Elvis Presley, Johnny Mathis and The Beatles, Meanwhile, local electronic music musicians such as dannyshoinz, Zight and XTIE seek to collaborate with foreign artists, connecting and bridging Hong Kong's electronic music industry to the outside world. DJ King of C AllStar solo works are electronic music. EDM composers in 2020s: dannyshoinz, JNYBeatz, VAL and CK of STRAYZ, Claudia Koh.

Festivals

Rockit Hong Kong Music Festival

Music recording certification

IFPI Hong Kong certifies music recordings in Hong Kong. Like some other Asian countries, the sales requirements of domestic products are higher than foreign products and certifications are usually based on sales. The sales requirements are 25,000 and 50,000 copies for gold and platinum, respectively, before 2006. It was lowered in 2006 and 2008, due to declining sales. The sales requirements are 20,000 and 40,000 copies for releases between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2007. Currently, the requirements are 15,000 copies for Gold and 30,000 copies for Platinum. International repertoire requires only half of the Gold and Platinum awards from the domestic ones, same as classical music albums. (Before 2006, 15,000 and 25,000 copies for gold and platinum for foreign repertoire, respectively).

National anthem

Hong Kong has never had a separate national anthem to the country that controlled it; its current official national anthem is therefore that of China, March of the Volunteers. The song Glory to Hong Kong has been used by protestors as an unofficial national anthem.

Platforms in 2020s

Music Streaming Services

KKBOX, MOOV, Spotify, Apple Music, JOOX and YouTube Music. KKBOX holds music award every year.

Radios

Commercial Radio Hong Kong, Metro Broadcast Corporation and RTHK. They reveal music charts every week and hold music awards every year.

TV

ViuTV has music show "Chill Club" and reveal music chart every Sunday. It holds "Chlll Club Awards" every year. TVB has music show "JSG" and reveal music chart every week. It holds "Solid Gold Best Ten Music Awards Presentation" every year.

Music Videos

YouTube, ViuTV's "Chill Club " (Chill Club Song Promotion): 30 minutes from Monday to Friday, TVB's "".

Buying Music

Retail Stores: "CD Warehouse" has 12 shops in shopping malls.
Online Store (CD): YesAsia, CD Warehouse
Online (Audio): iTunes

Paid Concert Online Streaming

Mifashow, MakeALive

Concert Venues

Indoor: Hong Kong Coliseum; AsiaWorld-Expo; Kowloonbay International Trade & Exhibition Centre, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and Macpherson Stadium, Hong Kong
Outdoor: Central Harbourfront and West Kowloon Cultural District

Singers post their updates on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.

References

External links

Guide to Classical Music in Hong Kong – about the classical music scene in Hong Kong
Youtube: The plight of rock and roll in Hong Kong part 1.
Youtube: The plight of rock and roll in Hong Kong part 2.