No gap between the Grammys and China

No gap between the Grammys and China
Feb 11, 2009 By eChinacities.com


Neil Portnow with pop singer Fergie

When Neil Portnow, the present chairman of the Grammys, took the job he came with a mission - to transform the “lacking in youthful vigor” Grammys into a music awards tour de force. He transformed the simple and low-profile announcement of the awards into a 3-hour-long live gala, urged the speedy completion of the Grammy Museum, and began the first Grammy tour. In August 2008, at the invitation of Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Portnow came to Beijing to watch the opening ceremony of Beijing Olympic Games, an experience which further strengthened his resolve to bring the Grammy Awards to China. The Grammys took place this year on Feb. 9th in Los Angeles; the 51st Grammy Awards ceremony attracted 19 million viewers – 11% more than the previous year’s broadcast.

Portnow recently sat down with the Beijing Evening News to explain his visions of a future in which the Grammys come to China and Chinese artists go to the Grammys.

Hoping the Grammy Tour can go to China
Neil Portnow: In recent years, the Grammys have become closer associated with China and as a result many people in China know about them. But actually, besides the annual awards ceremony, the Grammys also include a lot of other events which the Chinese audience may not be aware of. We partner with schools for music education programs and do performances for charities, amongst other things. In September 2008, construction on the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles was completed. This is what we’re doing in America, if we get the chance we hope to also bring these kinds of things to China for the Chinese audiences to enjoy.


Rendering of the Grammy Museum

In 2008, we sponsored for the first time a tour so that the Grammy prize-winners of that year can meet the listeners. The tour has been very successful in America. Right now we’re also researching the possibility of bringing this tour to China. If that happens, Chinese artists will be invited to perform alongside the Grammy prize-winners which will be very conducive to the exchange of music and culture between China and America. However, we also know that organizing such a tour in China will not be easy and we hope to work with venues in negotiating multiple forms of collaboration, for example, exhibitions.

Chinese musicians can also participate in the Grammys
NP: Among the 51st Grammy finalists, composer Tan Dun, designer Xiao Qingyang, guzheng player Li Wei, pianist Chen Kelan and lutist Wu Man are all Chinese. Previously, Chinese artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang, and Song Zuying have all won prizes or nominations. This is the good part. At the same time, we can see the Chinese artists being nominated for a Grammy are all in the instrumental categories and not the pop ones. American listeners, myself included, seldom know of Chinese musicians. The biggest problem is language. Of course, French and German musicians are seldom known among American listeners either. From the musical perspective this is not a good thing.


Chinese composer and Grammy winner Tan Dun

However, with the development of technology, especially the internet, the gap between Chinese musicians and the Grammys has already disappeared. In the past, one of the nomination standards for the Grammy was that your album must be sold in American record stores. This was extremely difficult for Chinese musicians because the opportunities were so few. But now there is an iTunes online platform through which Chinese musicians can sell music to American listeners, this way they can meet the basic standard for Grammy nomination. I believe this change is worthy of the attention of Chinese musicians and companies.

 

Chinese cannot lose its tradition
NP: I have only been in China for a short time, but in every aspect I’ve observed Chinese musicians still adore the European and American styles and technologies. Chinese youth also listen to a wide range of European and American music, especially that popularized through the internet. The Grammys also hope to encourage some excellent American producers to come to China for communication and training. Maybe a famous producer can find a young talent and bring them to America to record some English songs and open up the American market. When that person builds a name for themselves in the American market, I believe American listeners will be interested in their Chinese songs.


Jennifer Hudson performs at the 51st Grammy Awards Ceremony

The Beijing Olympic Games was a good opportunity for Chinese music. Through the repeated broadcasting of Chinese music during the Olympic Games, the seeds were planted for Chinese music for listeners from all over the world. However, I have to add a point - Chinese musicians should find a balance, learning from the West isn’t bad, but it the 5000-year traditional culture of China is not well protected and utilized it will be lost and that would be a shame.

Pictures from the 51st Grammy Awards
Undergroud, famous, Chinese, foreign – see what’s playing near you:
Beijing | Shanghai | Guangzhou/Shenzhen
Looking to buy or sell an instrument? Beijing | Shanghai | Guangzhou | Shenzhen
Music lessons? Beijing | Shanghai | Guangzhou | Shenzhen

Warning:The use of any news and articles published on eChinacities.com without written permission from eChinacities.com constitutes copyright infringement, and legal action can be taken.

0 Comments

All comments are subject to moderation by eChinacities.com staff. Because we wish to encourage healthy and productive dialogue we ask that all comments remain polite, free of profanity or name calling, and relevant to the original post and subsequent discussion. Comments will not be deleted because of the viewpoints they express, only if the mode of expression itself is inappropriate.