Understanding Western Perceptions of Authenticity in Chinese Popular Music

Following the partnerships forged with some of the world’s largest record labels, China's music industry has taken its first step towards global integration by rectifying its domestic copyright laws and reforming the ways in which music is distributed and accessed by the public. However, this change has not made an impact beyond its national borders. Western listeners have limited exposure to Chinese pop music. Western audiences therefore have a limited understanding and knowledge of what makes Chinese pop music unique, which begs the question of what is “authentic” Chinese pop music? Thus, how western music listeners perceive Chinese pop music holds the key to the potential success of exporting Chinese popular music abroad. There is currently no research on how Western audiences perceive the authenticity of Chinese popular music. Since the authenticity of a music genre is subjectively ascribed rather than objectively inscribed (Moore, 2002), this research aims to explore two research questions: 1. How do Westerners perceive the authenticity in Chinese popular music? 2. What shapes Westerners perceptions of the authenticity in Chinese popular music?
This research employed a mixed-methods approach, including a questionnaire survey study of 503 participants and a semi-structured interview study with 20 interviewees. Both survey participants and interviewees were recruited online and are interested in Chinese popular music. The data collected suggests that the use of Chinese language is a significant indicator for Western listeners in identifying the perceived authenticity of Chinese popular music. Online channels (such as online platforms and digital cultural content) provide Western listeners with opportunities for exposure. Offline channels (such as interactions with Chinese people and Chinese cultural events) also play an important role in influencing the understanding of the authenticity of Chinese popular music. In addition, this research suggested that the hybrid nature of Chinese popular music has achieved a balance between the core-periphery paradigm and global postmodernism, as Western listeners become more open to listening to different musical genres. Most Western listeners acknowledge that Chinese popular music inevitably incorporates some Western influences, but identifying common features of Chinese popular music remains central to Western perceptions of its authenticity. Finally, this study also suggests that there are differences between Western audiences’ appreciation of Chinese popular music and their perceptions of its authenticity.