TAIPEI — Jolin Tsai captured album of the year at Taiwan’s Golden Melody Awards on June 27, taking top honors for her concept record Pleasure and also winning best female Mandarin singer. The 45-year-old Mandopop star—whose music draws on icons such as Madonna and Kylie Minogue, said making the album allowed her to take more creative control after years in the industry.
The Golden Melody Awards, one of the Chinese-speaking world’s most influential music ceremonies, showcases works across Mandarin, Taiwanese (Hokkien), Hakka and indigenous languages. The event highlights Taiwan’s outsized musical influence in East Asia, fueled by creative freedom that contrasts with the censorship many artists face elsewhere in the region.
Sarah Chan won best Hakka singer for Blue Hour Bloom and used her acceptance speech, delivered in Hakka, Mandarin and English, to note the personal and cultural importance of recording in Hakka, saying it renewed family conversations and connections. The ceremony also recognized artists who perform in indigenous tongues, a practice now encouraged by Taiwan’s government after years of suppression.
Tensions with China continue to shape the awards’ lineup: several mainland nominees, including Jude Chiu and Shan Yichun, did not attend, while Hong Kong star Karen Mok returned to the ceremony after a decade to perform and present.