Chapter 146: China Music Awards!

After the announcement of the Folk Music Newcomer Award came the Folk Music Achievement Award.

The winner representing the Hong Kong and Taiwan regions was a Taiwanese musician named Hu Defei, who rose to fame in the 1960s. When he stepped onto the stage to receive his award, he appeared frail with white hair, but his spirit was exceptionally high.

As for the mainland winner, the category went vacant once again this year.

This marked the third consecutive year that the Folk Music Achievement Award had remained unfilled.

In the current sluggish domestic music market, although newcomers dabbling in folk music emerged every year, none of them managed to endure for long. Lasting at most three to five years, they would either switch to other musical styles or quietly vanish from the music scene.

Meanwhile, folk musicians of the older generation had all retreated into obscurity; some did not even have contact information available, and those who could be reached were unwilling to show their faces in public. Consequently, not a single mainland folk musician qualified to win this award could be found.

As the awards ceremony drew near its end, the Musical Style Breakthrough Award was finally presented, which was also the second-to-last award of the evening.

"Distinguished guests, the award we are about to present now is a remarkably special one in tonight's ceremony. Forty-three years ago, when the S-RAO Chinese Music Charts were first established, this award was created for the purpose of encouraging musicians who bring new musical styles to the Chinese music scene and generate a widespread impact on society!"

The host spoke with deep affection, eyes brimming with tears, "However, over the past forty years, the musicians who have won this award number... only five. And tonight, the sixth musician to receive this award is about to be revealed!"

Thunderous applause instantly erupted from the audience, louder than for any of the previous awards.

Jiang Lun adjusted his seating posture; he knew that the name about to be called out was his own.

Just as the host had said, he was about to become the sixth musician to win this award.

Every time a new musical style emerged in the Chinese music scene, several iconic and pivotal figures would arise. Among these pivotal figures, the musicians capable of winning this award were those who had made breakthrough innovations within their original musical genres.

This year, Jiang Lun had introduced "pop rap" and "Peking Opera rock," especially the former, which completely transformed the once-entrenched landscape of rap music, bringing it out of the underground and into the mainstream public eye.

The S-RAO Chinese Music Charts had never previously featured a rap music chart, nor had they ever established awards for rap music. Yet, Jiang Lun's appearance prompted many domestic underground rap musicians to transition into the mainstream. Within a short span of half a year, numerous outstanding works had emerged.

His winning of the Musical Style Breakthrough Award today meant that in the next S-RAO awards, a separate category would be established specifically for rap music.

Jiang Lun stepped onto the stage, took the trophy, and grasped the microphone tightly.

Looking at the crowd below, he smiled gently. "I am merely someone who plays with music. I never expected to make such a big stir or to win an award like this. I believe that as long as one dares to try and dares to break through, new musical styles will continue to be born endlessly. Standing on this awards podium, I want to say to all friends who love music—you! Yes, you, do not give up your passions, do not suppress your nature, and seize every flash of inspiration! The next person to stand on this stage will undoubtedly be you!"

With that, Jiang Lun bowed, shook hands with the host and the presenter once more, and walked back down toward the audience.

Applause rang out once again, this time dedicated solely to Jiang Lun.

The final award, the Chinese Music Lifetime Achievement Award, was presented to a musician who had exerted a profound influence on the Chinese music scene. Musicians qualified for this award generally had a career spanning over thirty years in the Chinese music industry.

The recipient of this award was a mentor-figure in the Chinese music scene, Mr. Lu Zongjian.

To Jiang Lun's utter surprise, Lu Zongjian, who had never had any prior interaction with him, actually mentioned his name during his acceptance speech.

"...New generations constantly replace the old in the Chinese music scene, and this year a young friend named Jiang Lun has emerged. The reason I came to receive this award today is precisely because I listened to his songs. I felt that my musical journey should not stop here, and this Lifetime Achievement Award is not my destination; I should keep moving forward and create even greater glory!"

Jiang Lun listened to these words as if in a dream, initially daring not to believe them until Lu Zongjian looked directly at him and gave him a thumbs-up, confirming that the person being spoken of was indeed him.

"Master Lu Zongjian! He actually praised you!" Zhang Run whispered with a smile from beside him.

"He doesn't even know me; I never expected this!" Jiang Lun said bashfully.

"It doesn't matter, you'll know each other after today. I bet he'll definitely come looking for you later!"

"Not necessarily, not necessarily, a master like him is very low-key!"

"Shall we make a bet then?"

"Alright, what are we betting on?"

"A meal; whoever loses treats everyone back in Beijing!"

"No problem..."

As for their wager, Jiang Lun ended up losing.

Lu Zongjian indeed came to find him right after the awards ceremony concluded.

This grey-haired mentor-level master, sporting a matching white beard, left Jiang Lun his phone number, but said only one sentence: "Drop by my place for a visit when you have time, I'll host you!"

Jiang Lun nodded repeatedly. "Certainly! Certainly!"

...

At half-past one in the afternoon.

Jiangnan Television.

Rehearsals for the gala had already begun a week prior.

Except for the singers, virtually all other programs had already run through rehearsals several times. Acts like acrobatics and large-scale dance numbers had undergone their sixth rehearsal that very morning.

Meanwhile, there were also several singers, like Jiang Lun, who had rushed over for their first rehearsal only this afternoon.

At this moment, the program rehearsing on stage was a cross-talk routine performed by two heavy-set comedians. Even during rehearsal, they exerted every ounce of effort to deliver their comedic beats, striving for perfection even in practice.

Jiang Lun was currently sitting in the audience, endlessly amused by the cross-talk. The actors sitting around him, all scheduled to record the New Year's Eve gala that afternoon, were reacting just like him.

After waiting through two more programs, an on-site executive director in charge of musical acts walked over. "Teacher Jiang, it's your turn to rehearse next!"

"Alright!"

Jiang Lun nodded and stood up to follow him toward backstage.

Singers differed from other performers; their rehearsals did not require stage makeup, and casual clothes sufficed.

Although it was already winter, nearly a thousand large stage lights were blazing overhead, creating heat that surpassed the hottest days of summer.

Jiang Lun wore only a single shirt, yet sweat was still beading on his head.

The first song for rehearsal was Until the End of the World, which could be considered a new song. Its style suited the lively stage atmosphere, and it was also the only song Jiang Lun had chosen himself.

Once the song concluded, the host came on stage to interact briefly with Jiang Lun, exchanged some New Year blessings, and then moved on to the subsequent songs.

The entire rehearsal was completed in eighteen minutes.

After stepping off the stage, the executive director approached Jiang Lun again. "Teacher Jiang, the production team just discussed it, and we hope you can swap the order of your first and second songs for tonight's New Year's Eve broadcast!"

"Fine by me!"

Jiang Lun had no objections and readily agreed.

"Alright then, sorry for the trouble, Teacher Jiang!"

"Don't mention it!" Jiang Lun smiled. "And stop calling me Teacher Jiang, just call me A-Lun!"

"That won't do, those are the rules on our set!"

The executive director smiled and waved his hand. "Every celebrity who comes here has to be addressed this way!"

Hearing this, Jiang Lun said no more, though he truly found it awkward to have someone over a decade older than him call him "Teacher."

The program recording began at three in the afternoon and lasted for a full four hours, with an estimated conclusion around eight in the evening.

Around five-thirty, it was time for Jiang Lun to take the stage.

There were plenty of audience members present. As soon as the comedy sketch actors preceding him left the stage, the host immediately appeared on a separate hosting platform.

"That sketch just now was hilarious!" the male host began.

"You bet!" the female host chimed in. "They are professionals at comedy. This group of sketch actors, including Fan Bao and Zhao Wu, are regulars on the Spring Festival Gala!"

"Our Jiangnan Television New Year's Eve Gala this year has put in tremendous effort. Not only did we invite regulars from major galas, but we also brought in several newly debuted popular sensations. Among them is someone who, right upon debut, was bestowed with various titles such as musical talent and folk poet... Furthermore, in less than a year, he has amassed a massive fan base, and tonight quite a few of those fans have come to our live studio audience!"

As the male host spoke, he pointed toward a corner of the audience. "Audience members over there, please tell me his name out loud—what is he called?"

"JIANG LUN!"

The fans' cheers, sounding as though they had been pre-rehearsed, were uniform, in unison, and earth-shattering.

After the hosts stepped off, a grand piano slowly rose from the center of the stage. Sitting before the piano was none other than Jiang Lun.

The first song, whose order had been swapped, was Jiang Lun's hidden secret weapon for this New Year's Eve gala—piano self-accompaniment and vocals!

The moment the gentle yet crisp piano intro rang out, the audience instantly erupted into enthusiastic applause.

"Baby! You are my only one, both worlds have changed their hearts, turning back is easier said than done..."

Performing the entire song The Only while accompanying himself on the piano, Jiang Lun thoroughly showcased his piano proficiency on this stage.

This was a genuine acoustic piano, not a keyboard synthesizer or an electronic keyboard. Unlike his performance at the Central Academy of Drama carnival night, the force behind every key pressed by his fingers and every sustain pedal under his feet required real technical skill.

Inside the broadcasting hall, the piano and vocals complemented each other. While some listened intently, others whispered among themselves.

"Is he singing live?"

"Yes, but his vocal skills have improved a lot compared to before!"

"I heard Jiang Lun is studying at the Central Academy of Drama now!"

"The Central Academy of Drama? That's a school for acting, not vocal music!"

"That's because you don't know the details. A friend of mine said his audit slot is attached to the musical theater department!"

"The musical theater department? Is he planning to perform in musicals in the future?"

"Not just that, guess what other classes he sits in on?"

"Acting? Directing? Wasn't he filming a TV series recently?"

"That's related indeed, but none of what you guessed—it's scriptwriting!"

"Oh my god! Really?"

"Could that possibly be false..."

On stage, after finishing his self-accompanied rendition of The Only, Jiang Lun stood up amidst the audience's applause, walked to the front of the stage, and was swiftly met by the approaching hosts.

"Hello, Jiang Lun!"

"Hello to both hosts!"

Jiang Lun shook hands with them one by one and greeted the audience members. "Hello everyone! I'm Jiang Lun!"

"Ah!"

A wave of cheers erupted from below.

The male host smiled and said, "Everyone knows you!"

"Thank you! Thank you everyone!" Jiang Lun said with a smile.

"A new year has arrived, Jiang Lun, do you have any New Year wishes?" the female host asked.

"My New Year wish is very simple: I hope to give back to everyone with even more great works!"

"Many audience members share the New Year wish of hearing your new works as well. We know that not long ago you released a single, which is also the theme song for the animated blockbuster Basketball Soul. This movie is set to be released during the Spring Festival, and I heard you even voiced one of the characters?"

"Yes!"

Jiang Lun nodded. "I also hope everyone will give plenty of support to domestic animation while supporting Chinese music as well!"

"Then the song you are bringing everyone next is..."

"Until the End of the World!"

With that, Jiang Lun looked toward the audience below, thoroughly satisfied with their reaction.

After singing the second song, he performed an eight-minute medley without stopping, and finally concluded his set with Jiangnan before leaving the stage.

...

When the Jiangnan Television New Year's Eve Gala ended, it was already six o'clock.

Jiang Lun could not afford to pause; he hurried off to his next battlefield—Shanghai.

The most important music awards ceremony of the year-end—the Chinese Music Awards—was being held in Shanghai.

Compared to S-RAO, the Chinese Music Awards carried far more prestige within the Chinese pop music scene.

Although it was only established as a music awards ceremony in 1993 and had a much shorter history than S-RAO, its grandeur made it arguably the premier awards ceremony in the Chinese music industry.

Also known as the Beijing Pop Music Awards, its first six ceremonies were small-scale early events without formal presentation galas. After 2000, award ceremonies began to emerge, though they initially honored only mainland categories without overseas Hong Kong and Taiwan awards. It was not until 2004 that Hong Kong and Taiwan sections were added, and in 2007 it was officially renamed the Beijing Pop Music Awards.

The biggest difference from S-RAO was that S-RAO exclusively presented awards centered on musical technique and was organized by the Nanjing Musicians Association.

In contrast, the Chinese Music Awards encompassed categories such as Best Male Singer, Best Female Singer, Best Newcomer, Best Album, and a series of awards related to record sales and popularity.

Notably, the Chinese Music Awards were founded by Beijing Music Radio, making it a music ceremony that rivaled and contended with S-RAO for supremacy in the north.

Additionally, S-RAO did not require singers to perform songs on stage, and during the presentation of awards, winners were uniformly referred to as musicians—a unique rule of its own. The Chinese Music Awards, however, had no such rigid rules; winners could be addressed as either singers or musicians.

Although it was the Beijing Pop Music Awards, starting in 2012, the host city alternated each year, being held successively in cities such as Taipei, Hong Kong, and Shenzhen.

This year, the Chinese Music Awards finally landed in Shanghai, marking its 24th iteration.

At eight o'clock in the evening, the flight touched down in Shanghai. The moment Jiang Lun stepped off the plane, he hurried into the van sent by his company.

His accompanying team immediately began reciting the schedule for the following day in his ear, while he had to commit all of it to memory over the course of that single night.