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Jessie J’s triumphant comeback on China’s “Singer” stageOne week after confirming she is cancer‑free, British pop star Jessie J (real name Jessica Cornish) took the stage of the Chinese singing competition Singer in Changsha, delivering a rousing rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” and debuting her new single “California” with locally‑adapted lyrics. Performance highlights and fan reception in ChangshaThe singer posted on Weibo, noting the nostalgic feeling of being celebrated by over 821,600 followers. Fans praised her, with one commenting that “no one in the world can sing better” in China. She also navigated new TV rules by covering her tattoos. Monetary stakes: revenue and market size figuresChina’s population: 1.4 billion people.“Singer” episodes can attract > 20 billion views per broadcast.The Chinese recorded‑music market rose from the 7th to the 4th largest globally, overtaking Germany.In 2024, Kanye West’s surprise Hainan show generated 373 million yuan (£41.2 million) in tourism revenue. Why Western artists are eyeing China’s lucrative music marketPost‑Covid, the domestic industry has raised its bar, making it harder for foreign acts to break through without localized effort. According to Alex Taggart, founder of Isle Of, Chinese listeners prioritize melody and vocal prowess, favoring ballads and Mandarin‑language performances. Government crackdowns on illegal streaming have strengthened copyright earnings, further incentivizing international talent. Future outlook for foreign acts in post‑Covid ChinaArtists will likely increase Mandarin collaborations, as seen with Westlife’s Mandarin cover and Charli XCX’s remix with Howie Lee. Compliance with censorship and visual‑appearance rules (e.g., tattoo bans) will remain essential. As China seeks foreign stars to boost its flagging economy, the market promises high‑visibility platforms but demands cultural adaptation and strategic planning.

The Life and Legacy of Kanya King Kanya King, the entrepreneur and tireless champion of Black British music who founded the Mobo awards, has died aged 57 from colon cancer. The news was announced by the Mobo Organisation, which said she died on Wednesday “after a courageous and characteristically determined battle” with her illness. The Impact of Mobo Awards “The music world has lost one of its most fearless champions,” the statement continues. “What Kanya created was never simply an awards ceremony. It was an act of cultural justice. Mobo did not just celebrate Black music; it legitimised it, amplified it, and demonstrated its commercial and creative power to a world that had too often chosen not to see it.” Tributes from the Music Industry Idris Elba was among those paying tribute to her, writing: “You inspired me. Your dedication is unmatched.” Born to a Ghanaian father and Irish mother in Kilburn, north London, King was working as a TV researcher when she set about filling a gap in the marketplace: an awards ceremony that would celebrate the Black British musicians who were sometimes overlooked by other industry events. The Evolution of Mobo Awards She remortgaged her house to raise the money for the first Mobo awards, held in 1996, eventually turning it into an arena-filling event that has celebrated artists such as Stormzy, Dave and Olivia Dean in recent years. The Mobos were sometimes criticised for spotlighting white artists such as Ed Sheeran and Jessie J, while jazz and rock artists complained that there were no awards to accommodate their styles. A Lasting Legacy In a 2020 interview with the Guardian, King described her work as a “labour of love”. “I’ve put my life and soul into this fight over the years, while being told that, you know, inequality is fine and there’s no problem,” she said. “I’ve been fighting for a long time to try to break down barriers … it’s been challenging and isolating.” She was awarded a CBE in 2018 for her contributions to music and culture.