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🇹🇼 Taiwan /Culture & Society

Virtual Idol Show 'VPOP ASIA' Premieres, Judges Include Golden Melody Winner Xiao Huang-chi

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • A new virtual idol music competition show, "VPOP ASIA," has premiered, featuring 15 virtual trainees reinterpreting 126 classic Chinese songs.
  • The program is a collaboration between HTC VIVE ORIGINALS and Warner Music, aiming to promote Taiwan's virtual music industry internationally.
  • Judges, including Golden Melody Award winner Xiao Huang-chi, will evaluate the trainees' performances, with Warner Music exclusively distributing the songs globally.

Taiwan's virtual music industry is making an international push with the launch of "VPOP ASIA," a major virtual idol music competition. The show, produced by Liu Ssu-ming and Chen Chen-chuan, features 15 virtual trainees who will perform re-imagined versions of 126 classic Chinese songs. These renditions will be arranged with electronic and futuristic pop music styles, injecting new life into the beloved hits.

The program is a strategic collaboration between HTC VIVE ORIGINALS and Warner Music. Starting July 24, Warner Music will exclusively release the songs on major global music streaming platforms, signaling a clear ambition for Taiwan's virtual music scene to gain international traction. The show combines virtual technology with live-action elements, hosted by Lulu Huang Lu Tzu-yin, and supported by 29 judges and a live band.

I listen to these voices very impartially. Although their images are virtual, their voices have direct penetrating power. Each singer has their own style and moves me with emotion. I hope good songs and singers in the show can stand out with their virtual images.

— Xiao Huang-chiThe Golden Melody Award winner explained his approach to judging the virtual trainees.

Golden Melody Award winner Xiao Huang-chi, who recently married and won his fifth Taiwanese Golden Melody Award for Best Taiwanese Male Singer, is among the judges. He emphasized the virtual trainees' vocal talent, stating, "Although their images are virtual, their voices have direct penetrating power. Each singer has their own style and moves me with emotion." He hopes good songs and singers can stand out through their virtual personas.

Fellow judge Dai Ai-ling expressed her desire to be depicted as a "handsome general, skilled in both combat and academics" if she were a virtual idol. Xiao Huang-chi, on the other hand, wants to embody a "martial arts master who acts chivalrously." Musician ØZI humorously wished for a virtual ability that would temporarily disable listeners' phones, encouraging complete immersion in the live performance.

I hope my ability can be that listeners' phones temporarily stop working while watching the performance.

— ØZIThe musician shared his humorous wish for a virtual idol ability.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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