A Chinese amateur music program has expanded its reach globally, culminating in a finals event in Kuala Lumpur where an Indonesian-language adaptation of a Chinese song won the grand prize. The winning track, "Aku Masih Memikirkanmu" by Indonesian singer Kezia Kaithlyn, is an adaptation of the Chinese song "Later I Met Him" and has amassed more than 2 billion global streams. The event was reported by Media OutReach Newswire.
The initiative, titled the "C-Wave Global Music Co-creation Plan · Joy Resonance of Nanyang," is hosted by China's Guangdong Radio and Television and is open worldwide without restrictions on nationality or age. It features three tracks: original creation, adaptation, and AI co-creation. Within 30 days of launch, the project received over 5,000 submissions from around the world, with musicians from more than half of APEC member economies participating. This broad participation underscores the program's appeal and its potential to foster international cultural exchange through music.
The finals drew 300 guests and 68 local media outlets, including Radio Televisyen Malaysia. A Malaysian member of parliament remarked that music can dissolve differences and expressed hope that the event becomes a regular fixture. A local tourism and culture official described the project as building a bridge for Asia-Pacific youth exchange under the framework of APEC's China year. Scholars from multiple countries also recognized Chinese-language music's value in connecting hearts across regions.
The program has generated an enthusiastic response beyond the finals. Experts on international affairs and China studies, the president of the UNESCO Culture Without Borders association, and Chinese-language schools worldwide have followed it closely. Overseas reach has totaled 300 million, with 137 domestic and international platforms simultaneously promoting it. The initiative helps ordinary amateurs reach the international stage, using music as a vehicle for civilizational dialogue and conveying an open and inclusive Chinese culture to the world.
The significance of this announcement lies in its demonstration of how grassroots cultural initiatives can achieve substantial global impact. By enabling amateur musicians to adapt Chinese-language songs into local languages, the program facilitates emotional connections across borders. The 2 billion streams of the winning adaptation indicate a strong appetite for cross-cultural musical content and suggest that such initiatives can amplify cultural exchange in ways that resonate with broad audiences. The involvement of APEC economies further highlights the program's alignment with regional cooperation frameworks, positioning music as a tool for diplomacy and mutual understanding.
For the global music industry, the program's success may encourage similar co-creation models that leverage amateur talent and digital platforms. It also underscores the growing reach of Chinese-language music and its adaptability to diverse markets. As the program continues to expand, its implications for cultural policy and international relations could be profound, offering a model for using creative expression to bridge divides and foster a more interconnected world.
