After Tan Hong took home the only Lifetime Achievement Award at the Asian Chinese Music Awards, the ceremony continued, with various other honors such as the Media Recommendation Award, Best Music Video, Best Composition, and more being announced one by one.
"Up next is the announcement of the Best Newcomer Award at the Asian Chinese Music Awards!"
The host from CCTV, Xia Jun, spoke with energy and flair as his voice echoed throughout the venue packed with 5,000 attendees:
"Please direct your attention to the big screen!"
The giant LED screen behind the stage instantly lit up, split vertically into four panels. Each panel displayed a nominee for Best Newcomer, along with a shining caption of their representative work.
"First nominee: Zou Bei, with her song 'Blooming Petals'!"
Her graceful and melodious voice flowed out from the state-of-the-art sound system positioned throughout the hall. Zou Bei was the winner of Deep Sea TV's top-rated variety show "National Idol" in 2015. After signing with Starlight Media, she released her debut album Blooming Petals.
She was around the same age as Lu Chen, with striking looks and solid vocal talent. Known as a "music prodigy," she quickly became a darling of Starlight Media, receiving a flood of endorsements and bookings. Her follower count on Langchao Blog surpassed 5 million.
Notably, Zou Bei was the celebrity ambassador for StarryLive, where her every livestream drew over a million viewers, forming a subtle rivalry with Lu Chen, who had signed with Whale TV.
Their competition went way back. Their debut albums, Lu Chen's My Old Classmate and Zou Bei's Blooming Petals, were both released on WeChat Music, only days apart.
But in terms of sales, Lu Chen's album crushed hers.
Both were also nominated for Best Newcomer at Xiangnan TV's Chinese Music Chart Awards, but that time they both lost to Cui Zhengzhi.
As her name was announced, Zou Bei rose from her seat with a bright smile and bowed to thank the applauding audience.
She happened to be sitting in the row behind Lu Chen, no more than ten meters apart.
Lu Chen clapped while curiously glancing back, just in time to meet Zou Bei's gaze.
She held his eyes for a beat, then nodded slightly. Lu Chen responded with a polite nod and a faint smile. This was, in fact, their first time meeting face-to-face, and under the identity of competitors.
"Second nominee: Lin Chuxuan, with 'Burning Passion in the Night'!"
Lin Chuxuan was one of the most high-profile newcomer artists of 2015. Coming from a prestigious background, his father a music professor and his mother a dancer, he had studied music abroad after graduating middle school. He returned to China in 2014 and debuted later that year, releasing his first album in March 2015.
His representative track Burning Passion in the Night sold impressively well, its Western pop influences winning over many younger listeners. Commercial endorsements followed one after another.
His album's lead single, Dark Night, once topped the Original Sound Chart for two consecutive weeks.
Among the four nominees, Lin Chuxuan posed the greatest threat to Lu Chen. He had talent, a strong musical background, and his parents had connections in the entertainment industry, potentially enough to sway part of the jury panel.
However, he also had weaknesses. His personality was arrogant, and he had a temper. Once, he lashed out on his blog at a commenter who joked about his height, causing a public uproar.
Reportedly, Lin Chuxuan's height was 1.65 meters, though some claimed it was less than 1.60.
"Third nominee: Lu Chen, with 'My Old Classmate'!"
As his name was called, Lu Chen stood up and politely acknowledged the crowd.
"Fourth nominee: Xiao Bingbing, with 'If I Could Love Again'!"
Xiao Bingbing also debuted in the previous year. She was signed to Jiahua Entertainment, a major media conglomerate in China. However, she had yet to release a full album, only a few digital singles. If I Could Love Again was her only song that made it onto the Original Sound Chart.
Compared to Zou Bei, Lin Chuxuan, and Lu Chen, she was clearly weaker in terms of vocal ability, production, and experience. Her only strong suit was likely her looks, young, pretty, sexy, with a knack for dancing that helped her attract fans.
The general consensus in the entertainment industry was that her nomination owed everything to Jiahua Entertainment's powerful PR machinery. Winning the award, however, was next to impossible, after all, CCTV wasn't Xiangnan TV, and its reputation for integrity was relatively higher. It rarely did anything that would cause public outrage.
So realistically, the Golden Lark trophy would land in the hands of either Zou Bei, Lin Chuxuan, or Lu Chen.
Among them, Lu Chen and Lin Chuxuan were the two strongest contenders!
After listing all four nominees, Xia Jun announced loudly: "Now, please welcome the famous singer Chen Fei'er to reveal the winner of the Asian Chinese Music Awards' Best Newcomer Award!"
Just as he finished speaking, a spotlight shone down next to Lu Chen's seat.
With an alluring smile, Chen Fei'er lifted the hem of her dress gracefully and stepped out from her seat. Accompanied by enthusiastic applause, she walked onto the stage and took the envelope from another CCTV host.
The hall fell instantly silent, and every gaze locked onto Chen Fei'er.
After the impromptu Lifetime Achievement Award, the Best Newcomer Award was undoubtedly the first heavyweight award of the evening, especially at an event like the Asian Chinese Music Awards.
Since the turn of the new century, the domestic entertainment industry has grown at a breakneck pace. While the scale of the industry continues to expand, the pop music scene, crowded with ever more vagabond singers (independent, non-conventionally trained or managed artists), has shown a noticeable decline in overall quality.
Mandarin pop (C-pop) is heavily influenced by Western, Japanese, and South Korean music. Many entertainment labels and record companies, driven by short-term profit, have neglected original songwriting, favoring covers, imitation, or even outright plagiarism of foreign works. As a result, high-quality original compositions have become increasingly rare.
This trend has caused great concern among industry veterans, prompting passionate appeals for change, and even caught the attention of government authorities.
As a state-backed initiative, the Asian Chinese Music Awards, co-hosted by CCTV and China National Radio, naturally took on the responsibility of promoting positive values and raising the prestige of its awards.
Take for instance the Best Newcomer Award, which wasn't particularly valued in earlier years. In recent years, however, its significance has grown immensely, the most concrete example being that, since 2010, every recipient of the Best Newcomer Award has been granted eligibility to apply for a performance slot on the following year's CCTV Spring Festival Gala.
The Spring Festival Gala, China's most-watched annual TV program for decades, with viewership ratings consistently above 85%, has made stars overnight. Many celebrities rose to prominence after performing on that stage, marking their entry into A-list status.
So even just being eligible to apply for a performance slot is enough to make artists scramble for the opportunity, even if it's nearly impossible to obtain.
Now that the Best Newcomer Award is linked to the Spring Festival Gala, its weight and prestige are self-evident.
Among the last five winners of the Best Newcomer Award, three successfully made it onto the Spring Gala stage and became household names overnight.
Back at the awards ceremony, just as Chen Fei'er opened the envelope and pulled out the card bearing the winner's name, a dramatic drumroll suddenly burst out, pounding like a storm against the hearts of the audience.
Even Lu Chen, despite all mental preparation, couldn't help but feel a rush of nervous energy!
Chen Fei'er unfolded the card, and her eyes widened in surprise, as though she found the result incredible.
The drumbeat cut off.
This pop queen, whose beauty remained dazzling even in stillness, looked forward solemnly and spoke into the mic:
"The winner of the 16th Asian Chinese Music Awards' Best Newcomer Award is…"
Her lips curved into a breathtaking smile:
"Lu Chen!"
Lu Chen!
Having officially debuted for barely half a year, with no contract under any entertainment agency, and having risen like a miracle in the pop music scene, Lu Chen had just won one of the most significant awards of his career.
The 16th Best Newcomer Award at the Asian Chinese Music Awards!
Although he had mentally prepared himself for this moment, when Lu Chen heard his name from Chen Fei'er's mouth, a hot surge of emotion still raced to his head, his face flushed with excitement.
He had finally received the recognition he deserved for the journey he had walked so far.
Chen Fei'er smiled and said, "Congratulations, Lu Chen!"
Thunderous applause erupted across the venue.
With very few exceptions, the majority of guests and audience members were not surprised or skeptical about Lu Chen winning. Their congratulations were genuine and enthusiastic.
Looking back at 2015, Lu Chen's rise in the C-pop scene had been a true highlight. To date, he had already composed over 20 original songs, each meticulously produced and well-received, several even considered classics in the making.
Such talent, such productivity, such brilliance!
One could say that thanks to Lu Chen, the second half of 2015 in the Chinese pop scene was infused with new life and vitality. His success inspired a new wave of original talent, especially those creating campus folk music, reviving nostalgic styles and helping cleanse the industry of its increasingly impetuous, superficial trends.
Based solely on his musical contributions, Lu Chen absolutely deserved this award.
Who could compare?
Zou Bei? Out of the question.
Lin Chuxuan? Also out of the question.
Xiao Bingbing? Not even close.
Lu Chen's only disadvantage was that he lacked a strong foundation in the entertainment industry's power structure, he hadn't signed with any major talent or media company, choosing instead the challenging path of establishing his own independent studio.
Previously, when he was snubbed at the Chinese Music Chart Awards hosted by Xiangnan TV, this was largely due to his lack of industry backing.
But on the flip side, this also proved just how formidable Lu Chen was!
"Will you still remember tomorrow, the diary you wrote yesterday… Will you still be thinking of…"
The music began to play, Lu Chen's own song, 'My Old Classmate'.
A spotlight shone down on him as he walked toward the grand stage, now the center of everyone's attention. At that very moment, among the guest seating: As a defeated competitor, Zou Bei bit her lip and applauded. Though unwilling to lose to Lu Chen again, she still maintained her composure.
By contrast, Lin Chuxuan looked far less graceful, giving only a few perfunctory claps before putting his hands down.
As for Xiao Bingbing, who had likely known she had no chance from the beginning, she smiled with careless cheer, clapping with the most enthusiasm of anyone.
Meanwhile, outside the venue, online, and among the countless viewers watching the live broadcast of the Asian Chinese Music Awards, The world was celebrating alongside Lu Chen!
(End of Chapter)
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