The clip spotlighted the importance of the annual event in Mandarin-speaking society—a fact further illustrated by the 22,000-plus works vying for 27 GMA honors on offer this year.
Taiwan singer-songwriter Jolin Tsai, who won best song for “Womxnly,” was one of the biggest stars of the evening. Local news outlets reported TV viewership of the ceremony peaked when Tsai delivered her acceptance speech.
Taiwan singer-songwriter Jolin Tsai performs her latest offering “Ugly Beauty” at the GMA ceremony. (Courtesy of Taiwan Television Enterprise)
According to music industry sources, the lyrics of “Womxnly” helped raise awareness of gender equality and LGBTQ issues, and its recognition by GMA confirms the event’s status as a bellwether for societal development in Taiwan.
GMA was established in 1988 by the central government as part of local music industry development support measures. The inaugural ceremony, which took place two years later, saw 11 awards presented to Taiwan talents.
One of the most significant changes to the event occurred in 1998 with the inclusion of works released in Taiwan by foreign artists, mainly from Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore. The move was considered instrumental in expanding GMA’s diversity.
According to the Ministry of Culture, organizer of GMA since 2012, the awards encompass a broad spectrum of categories from recording package designs to albums produced in Hakka, Holo and Taiwan indigenous languages. The inclusiveness of the event reflects the MOC’s approach to fostering cohesiveness in society by celebrating and embracing cultural differences.
Sandee Chan, head of the 30th GMA jury, drew the curtain back on the philosophy of GMA in a post on her official Facebook account. The primary focus is to present the cultural context of Taiwan and document emerging trends in the local music industry, she said, adding that selecting jury members of various age groups and professional backgrounds reinforces this maxim.
Taiwan rapper Leo Wang delivers a heartfelt GMA acceptance speech after claiming best singer honors at Asia’s version of the Grammys. (CNA)
GMA is not the only arrow in the government’s music industry promotion quiver. The Golden Melody International Festival, staged in the same month as the awards, featured a lineup of forums, master classes and presentations.
Some of the leading professionals participating in this year’s festival included Grammy-winning producer Jeff Bova from the U.S. and compatriot Nora Felder, music supervisor for the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things.”
The MOC is bullish on the prospects of GMIF. It expects the festival to grow in stature as a valuable platform for artists, concert organizers and talent agencies from Taiwan and overseas to carry out exchanges and strengthen networking opportunities. (E) (By Oscar Chung and Chiang Pei-ying)
Local and overseas talents are all smiles during a GMIF news conference June 26 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of MOC)
Write to Taiwan Today at ttonline@mofa.gov.tw
(This article is adapted from Changing the Tune in the Sept/Oct 2018 issue of Taiwan Review. The Taiwan Review archives dating to 1951 are available online.)