Industry veterans talk on the subject of star-making in the Internet era at a salon held in Beijing on Jan. 9, 2015. (Photo : China.org.cn )
Saturday, Jan. 9, saw Chinese music industry insiders in Beijing sharing their perspective that China will soon enter an era whereby new musical stars would emerge from cyberspace platforms.
The general manager of Image Music, Li Sirui, asserted at the salon held at One Way Space that music competition reality shows like "Super Girl" had moved the nation's music industry, according to China Entertainment News. The advent of these new shows compels the Chinese music firms to abandon old patterns of presenting new music stars.
Sirui added that the Internet has grown so fast in China that the TV competition period has soon passed, and star Hua Chenyu may become the last super idol from the TV shows. However, the new teenage power TFBoys indicates the strength of the direction of star making from Internet platforms, and it reveals how such idols can generate huge buzz and stardom from the cyberspace.
During the salon themed "How to make stars in the Internet era," music critic Zhang Zhaoyi said that the Internet has the ability to integrate products and entertainment. The latest hit Internet drama "Go Princess Go" indicates that star making on Internet sites can give the audience that feeling of intimate participation, which is an advantage.
Meanwhile, Ma Hua, a senior entertainment executive, shared that Japan has a system that can train artists and idols from as early as 4 years old. The system comprises of art schools, music company programs, and the students' rise to stardom when they are 14-16 years old, in case they are well groomed. However, China lacks such a system, and at the same time, it has many restrictions for teenagers to train as idols from a tender age.
There is hope for China to ultimately and earnestly create their own idols especially when "Super Girl" was launched in 2005, China Org noted. The teenage group TFBoys as well presented the likelihood of Chinese star making system. Evidently, star making on the Internet is the latest exciting system of the music industry and it is time for Chinese idols to be born and blossom.
