China Media and Entertainment Weekly News Bulletin – ISSUE 17 Week of 23 September 2024
(1) UMG Muscles Into Hong Kong and Macau with ‘Universal Music China Greater Bay Area’
Universal Music Greater China has launched “Universal Music China Greater Bay Area” in Shenzhen as it aims to boost the local music scene and nurture talents within the region.
(2) TikTok to Close Music-Streaming Business in November Amid Tough Competition
TikTok will shut down its TikTok Music streaming service on 28 November 2024, as it struggles to compete with established platforms like Spotify and YouTube.
(3) Hong Kong Picks Action Movie Set in Kowloon Walled City for Oscars Race
Hong Kong has selected “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In,” directed by Soi Cheang Pou-soi, to represent the city at the Oscars on 2 March 2025, following its box office success of over HK$105 million.
(4) LI-NING Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships｜Axelsen captures first HK Open title Han Yue reigns over women’s singles
Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen won his first men’s singles title at the LI-NING Hong Kong Open, defeating China’s Lei Lanxi in straight sets, 21-9, 21-12.
(5) BLACKPINK’s Lisa to Hold Her First Fan Meeting in Hong Kong this November
Lisa from BLACKPINK will hold her first fan meeting in Hong Kong on 19 November as part of her Asia tour, starting in Singapore on 11 November.
(6) ‘Double Happiness’: New Pandas Join ‘Big Hong Kong Family’, Set for Christmas Unveiling
Hong Kong has received two adult pandas, An An and Ke Ke, from Sichuan, with plans for their public debut by Christmas after a 30-day quarantine at Ocean Park.
(7) Donnie Yen Strikes a Chord: Piano Tales and Star Power at the Silk Road Film Festival
At the 11th Silk Road International Film Festival in Xi’an, Donnie Yen shared memories of his past piano performance while also announcing plans for a promotional tour of his upcoming film.
(8) Chinese Actress Fan Bingbing Spotted at Hong Kong Jewellery Exhibition
Chinese actress Fan Bingbing was spotted at a jewellery showcase in Hong Kong, where she drew attention despite trying to go incognito.
(9) Dilraba Dilmurat Quietly Renews Contract, The Queen Stays on Her Throne!
Dilraba Dilmurat has renewed her contract with Jiaxing Media and showed support for the agency’s 10th anniversary despite earlier speculations of her potential exit.
(10) Daniel Wu’s Mixed-Race Daughter Shines as a Mandarin Maven After 10 Years of Chinese Lessons
Daniel Wu is dedicated to ensuring his daughter learns Chinese to strengthen her cultural identity as he reflects on his own upbringing.
(11) First Hypefest Festival in Hong Kong to Take Place in November
Hypebeast is launching “Hypefest” in Hong Kong on 9 and 10 November featuring live music and over 20 brands, and headlined by Grammy-winning duo JUSTICE.
(12) Japanese Fashion Icon Nigo Opens his First Overseas Venture in Repulse Bay Village
Renowned artist and icon Nigo has launched the first overseas branch of his own restaurant “Curry Up” in Hong Kong’s Repulse Bay Village, featuring Japanese and Indian-style curries and merchandise inspired by its mascot, Cumin.
(1) UMG Muscles Into Hong Kong and Macau with ‘Universal Music China Greater Bay Area’
(Photo Credit: Universal Music China Greater Bay Area)
Universal Music Greater China (“UMGC”) has launched a new label division –“Universal Music China Greater Bay Area” (“UMCGBA”), marking the first major music company establishment in the region. Headquartered in Shenzhen, UMCGBA aims to enhance the vibrant music scene of the Greater Bay Area (“GBA”), which includes Hong Kong and Macau.
Led by Gary Chan, the managing director of Universal Music Hong Kong, the division will focus on marketing and artist development, which seeks to nurture local talent while blending global music trends with the region’s music scene. The GBA, home to over 86 million people and accounting for 11.1% of China’s GDP, is a cultural powerhouse that has contributed nearly a quarter to the country’s music performance revenue. Timothy Xu, CEO of UMGC, emphasised the strategic importance of this expansion, and noted its potential to transfer the GBA into a creative hub for Chinese pop music.
News Source: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2024/09/23/umg-hong-kong-macau-offices/
(2) TikTok to Close Music-Streaming Business in November Amid Tough Competition
(Photo Credit: Shutterstock)
ByteDance’s TikTok has announced that it will shut down its TikTok Music streaming service on 28 November 2024, amidst the company’s struggle in competing with established music streaming platforms like Spotify and YouTube.
While TikTok did not provide specific reasons for the shutdown, it previously ended its music service “Resso” in India due to a ban from the app stores. The competitive music streaming market is characterized by slim profit margins and high royalty fees, with major companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon heavily investing in their offerings. TikTok plans to refocus its efforts on enhancing music promotion within its main app. Earlier this year, the company resolved a brief dispute with Universal Music Group regarding restoring access to popular music on its platform. As streaming services face challenges in differentiation, companies are increasingly engaging in price competition to attract users.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/tech/big-tech/article/3279801/tiktok-close-music-streaming-business-november-amid-tough-competition
(3) Hong Kong Picks Action Movie Set in Kowloon Walled City for Oscars Race
(Photo Credit: “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In”)
Hong Kong has officially selected “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” to represent the city at the upcoming Oscars on 2 March 2025, following its acclaim at the Cannes Film Festival where the film received a standing ovation. The Hong Kong Motion Picture Industry Association announced that the film garnered the most votes to compete for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards.
Directed by Soi Cheang Pou-soi, the film stars Louis Koo and Raymond Lam and is set in the 1980s, just before the demolition of the notorious Kowloon Walled City. It follows the journey of a young undocumented immigrant who navigates friendships and rivalries while defending his new home from feuding crime lords. Since its premiere on 1 May 2024, the film has achieved significant commercial success, grossing over HK$105 million at the box office. The Federation of Motion Film Producers of Hong Kong is responsible for submitting one entry each year for the Oscars, based on votes from its selection committee members. The contenders for the Academy Awards will be announced on 17 January 2025, as “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” aims to make a mark on the international stage.
News Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3279462/hong-kong-picks-action-movie-set-kowloon-walled-city-oscars-race?module=perpetual_scroll_0&pgtype=article
(4) LI-NING Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships｜Axelsen
captures first HK Open title Han Yue reigns over women’s singles
(Photo Credit: Li-Ning Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships)
The LI-NING Hong Kong Open Badminton Championships has wrapped up at the Hong Kong Coliseum, featuring standout performances from Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen and China’s Han Yue. Axelsen secured his first men’s singles title in Hong Kong by defeating world number 33 Lei Lanxi in straight sets, 21-9, 21-12. He expressed his excitement and gratitude for the support from the crowd during the finals, which he considered to have played a crucial role in his victory.
In the women’s singles, China’s Han Yue claimed her first gold medal in Hong Kong by overcoming Indonesia’s Putri Kusuma Wardani with a 21-18, 21-7 scoreline. Han praised her opponent while also emphasizing the importance of her own preparation for the match. Meanwhile, in the women’s doubles, Malaysia’s Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan made history by becoming the first Malaysian duo to win the Hong Kong Open, defeating China’s Liu Shengshu and Tan Ning with two 21-14 games. The championships also saw South Korea’s Kang Min Hyuk and Seo Seung Jae take the men’s doubles title over Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama and Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, while the mixed doubles crown went to China’s Jiang Zhenbang and Wei Yaxin, who beat top seeds Feng Yanzhe and Huang Dongping. The tournament showcased remarkable talents across all categories and from players around the globe.
(5) BLACKPINK’s Lisa to Hold Her First Fan Meeting in Hong Kong this November
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Lisa from BLACKPINK will hold her first fan meeting in Hong Kong on 19 November as part of her Asia tour. The announcement was made on 24 September via her label LLOUD. The tour will kick off in Singapore on 11 November, followed by Bangkok, Jakarta, and Kaohsiung, before concluding in Hong Kong.
While specific details about ticket prices and the venue are yet to be revealed, fans can expect an engaging event featuring performances of her solo hits, including “Money” “Rockstar” and “Woman” featuring Spanish singer Rosalía. Additionally, Lisa will perform at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in October and will make her acting debut in the third season of The White Lotus. To add to her accolades, Lisa has also recently won the Best K-Pop Award at the MTV Music Video Awards for the second year in a row.
(6) ‘Double Happiness’: New Pandas Join ‘Big Hong Kong Family’, Set for Christmas Unveiling
(Photo credit: The Standard)
Hong Kong has welcomed two adult pandas, An An and Ke Ke, from Sichuan province, with plans for their public debut by Christmas this year. The pandas arrived on 24 September and were greeted by Hong Kong’s No. 2 official, Eric Chan Kwok-ki, as part of celebrations for National Day.
These five-year-old pandas will undergo a 30-day quarantine before settling into their new home at Ocean Park, where they will be renamed through a public competition. Ocean Park chairman Paulo Pong Kin-yee expressed optimism about the pandas generating tourism and revenue for the park, while also noting the potential for breeding next year. The arrival of An An and Ke Ke marks the third pair of pandas gifted to Hong Kong by Beijing and coincides with the 75th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. The pandas will join existing residents Ying Ying and Le Le, who are currently caring for their newborn twins.
(7) Donnie Yen Strikes a Chord: Piano Tales and Star Power at the Silk Road Film Festival
(Photo Credit: On.cc)
At the opening of the 11th Silk Road International Film Festival in Xi’an, Donnie Yen shared a nostalgic memory from his martial arts training days, in which he revealed that he used to play the piano at a hotel in Xi’an for hotel guests every day in exchange for free buffet meals. As an ambassador for the festival which celebrates the talents of artists in the cinema and cultural scenes, Yen expressed a desire to showcase his musical talents again, alongside his martial arts skills, and confirmed plans for a promotional tour of his new film which is currently in post-production.
The event also featured actress Samantha Ko, who took on the role of guest host at the festival. She collaborated with a professional presenter from CCTV and added glamour by changing outfits twice throughout the festival. Another standout was actress Nazha, who attended in a striking low-cut dress while promoting her film “Safe Passage”. She revealed that her name means “beautiful flower” in Uyghur, which earned her the affectionate nickname “Flower Sister” from her director.
News Source:https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20240923/bkn-20240923000149420-0923_00862_001.html
(8) Chinese Actress Fan Bingbing Spotted at Hong Kong Jewellery Exhibition
(Photo Credit: Weibo of Fan Bingbing / On.cc)
Chinese actress Fan Bingbing is currently in the spotlight for her luxurious lifestyle in Hong Kong, where she is reportedly to have recently rented a high-end apartment on The Peak for HK$650,000 per month. Her presence in the city has drawn considerable media attention, which demonstrated not only her star power but also her extravagant lifestyle.
Recently on 19 September, Fan was spotted at a jewellery showcase at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai, where despite her efforts to go incognito and blend in by wearing a long skirt, cap, and face mask, she was quickly recognized by fans. Despite her disguise, Fan Bingbing’s signature bracelet made her easily identifiable. Accompanied by her mother, Fan appeared to have shown a keen interest in luxury jewellery, as she was seen trying on several exquisite pieces during her outing. This blend of celebrity allure and everyday moments continues to captivate her fans and the media alike.
News Source:https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/chinese-actress-fan-bingbing-spotted-at-hong-kong-jewellery-exhibition/
(9) Dilraba Dilmurat Quietly Renews Contract, The Queen Stays on Her Throne!
(Photo Credit: Guang Ming Daily)
Actress and singer Dilraba Dilmurat has officially renewed her contract with Jiaxing Media (“JM”), despite earlier reports of her dissatisfaction with the agency. In recent months, Dilraba had voiced concerns about JM’s internal policies, particularly a requirement for her to introduce new talents to the company, leading to speculation about her possible exit.
However, after extensive discussions and negotiations, Dilraba has decided to remain with JM. The company has confirmed the contract renewal, noting that further details will be shared in official announcements. In a show of support for the agency following the renewal, Dilraba took to social media to toast JM’s 10th anniversary. Her heartfelt tribute hints at her eagerness and confidence to embrace new opportunities as she embarks on the next chapter of her journey with JM.
(10) Daniel Wu’s Mixed-Race Daughter Shines as a Mandarin Maven After 10 Years of Chinese Lessons
(Photo Credit: Official Instagram of Daniel Wu)
Daniel Wu, the charming actor born in the United States, has spent considerable time developing his career in Hong Kong, but he admits his Chinese language skills have not been very strong. In a recent interview, he reflected on his upbringing and education, revealing that he received an American education and even traveled to Beijing in 1994 for martial arts training, where he became friends with Wu Jing. Meanwhile, his parents emphasized the importance of learning Chinese, instilling in him a sense of his Chinese identity, which is reflected in his name, “Yanzhu.”
Despite his parents arranging for him to have weekly Chinese lessons, Wu reflected that he regrets not being diligent enough to maintain this practice. To make up for his own shortcomings, he has ensured that his daughter attends Chinese school, where she has been studying for the past ten years. He humorously remarked that she has become quite the “China expert.” Wu’s commitment to his daughter’s education in Chinese reflects his desire to cultivate a strong cultural identity for her as well as the importance of language and cultural heritage in fostering a sense of belonging and identity, something he feels he missed out on in his own childhood.
News Source: https://hk.on.cc/hk/bkn/cnt/entertainment/20240923/bkn-20240923220133512-0923_00862_001.html
(11) First Hypefest Festival in Hong Kong to Take Place in November
(Photo Credit: Hypebeast)
Hypebeast is launching “Hypefest” in Hong Kong, a cultural festival marked by live music performances, on 9 and 10 November, featuring over 20 brands and creators from both local and global scenes across fashion, music, art, and food. The event will take place at the Central Harbourfront Event Space and include immersive experiences such as live music performances, exclusive product pop-ups, art installations, and a food village.
The festival aims to support emerging brands and local creatives by offering reimagined carnival games where attendees can win exclusive merchandise. Over half of the participating booths will showcase local talent as they seek to foster genuine interactions between creators and attendees. Headlining the live music performances include the Grammy-winning duo JUSTICE, marking their return to Hong Kong since 2015. The lineup will also feature rising stars like N.Y.P.D., DEAN, and Thai rapper MILLI, among others, a showcase of a diverse array of performances throughout the weekend.
News Source: https://traveltomorrow.com/first-hypefest-festival-in-hong-kong-to-take-place-in-november/
(12) Japanese Fashion Icon Nigo Opens his First Overseas Venture in Repulse Bay Village
(Photo Credit: “Curry Up”)
Designer and record producer Tomoaki Nagao, known as Nigo, has opened the first overseas branch of his popular “Curry Up” restaurant in Hong Kong, located in Repulse Bay Village. Originally launched in Tokyo’s Harajuku district in 2010, “Curry Up” was named by Pharrell Williams and inspired by Ghee, a renowned Indian restaurant in Japan where Nigo previously worked as a part-time staff.
The Hong Kong location features a casual interior with unique decor, including a signature wall clock depicting the restaurant’s mascot, Cumin, and a hand-painted logo by artist Naoto Hinai. The menu offers a distinctive blend of Japanese and Indian-style curries, with five options available at varying spice levels, alongside side dishes and traditional Indian beverages like lassi and chai. Visitors can also explore a selection of merchandise featuring Cumin, including baseball caps, a Hong Kong-exclusive t-shirt, stickers, and badges. The new “Curry Up” location promises to deliver a unique dining experience for both locals and tourists.
News Source: https://www.timeout.com/hong-kong/news/popular-japanese-restaurant-chain-curry-up-opens-in-hong-kong-091324
