Chinese and international music stars gathered in Beijing on Sept. 25 for the Weibo Music Awards 2024 (WMA 2024), one of China's biggest music events, where awards were presented in 52 categories.

Winners pose for a group photo at the Weibo Music Awards 2024 ceremony held in Beijing, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the WMA Organizing Committee]

Organizers described the event as a musical showcase and interactive carnival, showcasing the power of music. The awards presented spanned a variety of music categories, industries and artists.

"This celebration not only honored individual creative achievements but also highlighted the vitality of the contemporary music ecosystem," the organizers said in a statement.

Notable winners included Jimmy Lin as China's favorite artist of the year and Leo Ku as the most popular singer of the year. Terry Lin, Tengger and Steve Chou received role model singer, outstanding singer and quality singer of the year awards, respectively. Sophia Huang and Zhou Shen were named Chinese mainland favorite female and male singers of the year, respectively.

Pop stars Richie Jen (left) and David Tao receive the music industry achievement of the year award on stage during the Weibo Music Awards 2024 ceremony held in Beijing, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the WMA Organizing Committee]

Richie Jen and David Tao received the music industry achievement award. Sun Nan and Tan Weiwei won exceptional singer and excellent singer of the year, respectively. The ceremony also recognized Lay Zhang as glorious musician of the year, Jason Zhang as versatile musician of the year, and Li Yuchun as influential musician.

Other notable award recipients at the event included the charming female stage performers of the year: Moraynia, Jia, Fei, Curley G and Nicole Jung. Meanwhile, the charming male stage performer of the year award went to Kenji Wu, Nicholas Teo and Zhou Mi.

Liu Yuning, Mao Buyi and Shan Yichun received awards for reputable singer of the year, singer-songwriter of the year, and popular singer of the year, respectively. Chen Chusheng was named singing powerhouse of the year, while Wang Zhengliang and Zhang Yuan took home the singer in the spotlight of the year and golden song singer of the year awards.

Joey Yung, Cyndi Wang and Tia Ray were recognized as hot singers of the year. Wang Sulong and Zhang Bichen were honored as creative singer of the year and pop singer of the year, respectively. Additionally, GAI received the rapper of the year award.

Singer Wang Zhengliang receives the singer in spotlight of the year award on stage during the Weibo Music Awards 2024 ceremony held in Beijing, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Show City Times]

The award event unveiled Jackson Wang as the creative pioneer artist of the year, Kelly Yu as the breakthrough producer of the year, Zheng Yunlong as the hot musical actor of the year, and Ayanga as the musical actor of the year. The breakthrough band award was given to The Last Day of Summer, BOY STORY, The Landlord's Cats and Air League Band. Influential group of the year was awarded to Teens in Times (TNT).

The ceremony also recognized international artists whose music resonated with Chinese audiences. The overseas popular artist of the year award was given to Ryōh(huán)ei Kurosawa and Jake Miller. The overseas hot artist of the year award was given to MIYAVI.

Popular boyband Teens in Times (TNT) receives the influential group of the year award on stage during the Weibo Music Awards 2024 ceremony held in Beijing, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the WMA Organizing Committee]

During the event held at the National Aquatics Center, also known as the Water Cube, new stars received honors and recognition. The event announced the most anticipated group of the year awards for NAME, PSYCHIC FEVER, and R.E.D. The enterprising singer of the year awards went to Li Chenxi, RIKIMARU, AK, SANTA and Daniel Zhou.

Shen Xiaoting, Caelan Moriarty, Chen Zhengyu, step.jad, and Mike Tsang received the most anticipated singer of the year awards. The emerging singer of the year awards were given to Samuel, Wang Heye, Wang Yi from SNH48, Tony Yu and Rachel Zhang. Bo Yuan, Liu Lian, Hashizume Mika, EL (Sha Yiting), and Zhao Lei from X Nine won the breakthrough singer of the year awards.

Weibo, China's prominent social media platform, launched a program earlier this year to provide opportunities for emerging musicians. This music program honored seven new artists, including Capper, Chen Zhuoxuan and ICE Yang Changqing, at the ceremony.

Singer Mike Tsang poses with the most anticipated singer of the year award trophy backstage after the Weibo Music Awards 2024 ceremony held in Beijing, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of Universal Music Group]

The ceremony celebrated outstanding music acts and recognized various industry brands and intellectual properties (IPs), including rival music awards. The musical "The Message" and MiGu Music Awards were named most anticipated performance IPs of the year.

The stage drama "The Magic Hour," Bubbling Boiling Music & Arts Festival, and the QQ Music Awards won most acclaimed performance IPs. Aranya Xiami Music Festival, Strawberry Music Festival, and Tencent Music Entertainment Awards were recognized as the year’s most influential IPs.

The final honor of the ceremony, the golden leaf glory, was particularly noteworthy. This award is the first honor established for behind-the-scenes staff, aimed at paying tribute to music industry personnel who work diligently behind the scenes. This time, the award went to Tang Yan, Jin Shaogang, Yi Jiayang, Chen Zhenchuan, and Xiao Ke. Weibo CEO Wang Gaofei presented the award.

"The significance of the WMA is that it brings together people from our industry. Only unity can lead to progress in an industry, and I hope we can continue to stay united," Xiao Ke said in his speech, which clearly touched and resonated with many present.

Japanese rock singer MIYAVI performs onstage during the Weibo Music Awards 2024 ceremony held in Beijing, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of MIYAVI Studio]

Besides handing out awards, the ceremony featured performances and interactive segments with artists including TNT, Zhou Shen, Jason Zhang, MIYAVI, Terry Lin and Tengger.

Posts with the hashtag #WeiboMusicAwards on Weibo were viewed more than 17.9 billion times, not including other related topics. The excitement sparked anticipation for next year's show and promised comebacks of major stars.

Pop icon Jackson Wang speaks as he receives the creative pioneer artist of the year award on stage during the Weibo Music Awards 2024 ceremony held in Beijing, Sept. 25, 2024. [Photo courtesy of the WMA Organizing Committee]

For example, high-profile icon Jackson Wang said at the event: "I have rested this year and will come back to the music scene next year. Check me out next year; wait and see!"

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