When the chorus to Jay Chou’s Tornado plays, everyone sings along, even in 2024.

Jay Chou. Jolin Tsai. JJ Lin. These giants of Mandopop, or Mandarin pop music, debuted more than twenty years ago. One album after another, their music dominated charts and became the go-to songs at karaoke. These artists remain influential today.

However, no recent Chinese, Taiwanese, or Mandarin-speaking artist seems to match the popularity or impact of these 2000s stars. No artist or songs from the past five years has united a generation or shaped the cultural identity and music taste of countless fans. Why is the Chinese music of 2024 not as good as 2004?

There are three main reasons. They are:

People access music differently now

In the 2000s, major labels like Universal Music and Warner Music released music. Most Mandopop artists followed a structured process: shooting music videos, releasing albums, promoting their songs, and touring. With full support from their labels, many artists grew popular.

Now, with the rise of music streaming platforms, artists can release songs independently. They don’t have to sign deals with big companies or follow the usual channels for promoting their work. While this opens up more opportunities for artists, it also means fans are less likely to discover new singers or bands.

Today fewer songs leave a lasting impact. Some still see massive success when they go viral on TikTok, but the success is often short-lived. Once a trend has passed, both the artist and their art fade from the public ear. The rise of new music platforms have fragmented the industry and fanbases.

Nostalgia

People connect with great music.

When songs from the 2000s play, they bring back memories of childhood and teenage years. People who are now married with families remember how those songs comforted them through the breakups of their youth. Or they can recall using their pocket money to buy tickets to a concert for their favorite band with their best friends, singing along to Jolin Tsai with their light sticks.

Today, Mandopop doesn’t carry the same emotional weight. While kids still make cute dance videos with trendy TikTok music, those songs usually don’t elicit deep emotions or connect with personal experiences; they just have catchy melodies.

With so many artists and platforms, people no longer bond over songs collectively like before. Nothing beats the nostalgic pull of old favorites.

Political changes hold back music development

Twenty years ago, Taiwan and China had a more amicable relationship. Taiwanese artists could tour overseas and hold concerts without fearing political backlash. They didn’t have to tweet and celebrate China’s National Day in fear that, if they didn’t, a surge of “fans” would rush to their social media pages and question their patriotism. However, the current relationship between Taiwan and China discourages Taiwanese artists from freely pursuing their careers in China.

In the past decade, the Chinese government has punished people for free expression. This is evident in the music industry. In 2015, the Chinese Ministry of Culture blacklisted 120 songs that they deemed inappropriate, threatening severe penalties for platforms that used them. Songs with provocative titles, like “No Money No Friend,” and “One Night Stand” were banned for allegedly promoting violence and immoral behavior, which in turn “undermine national unity”. Now, artists have to show support for the Chinese government and worry about censorship when making new music.

In contrast, South Korea has actively invested in their music industry. As one of the strategies to bring the country out of its financial crisis in the 1990s, the Korean government established a department devoted to promoting Korean culture. They built massive concert auditoriums and provided financial incentives for K-Pop businesses. Thanks to heavy national investment, K-Pop has gained listeners worldwide over the last thirty years. Music from popular bands like BTS and Blackpink topped both Korean and international charts.

China’s music scene, however, has not received the same attention. Worse, they face increased political repression and censorship. Since China has the largest population in Asia, these oppressive policies hinder the creation of innovative, high-quality music across the entire Mandopop industry.

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Mandopop stars in the 2000s made full length albums that defined an era. The melodies are catchier. The lyrics resonate with people better. Everyone bonded over these songs. But with stricter cultural control and diversified music platforms, the Chinese music industry failed to maintain, and has yet to return to, its former glory.

Call me old-fashioned, but Chinese music from the 2000s was better.