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| January 2000 The days without cover versions Since the late ‘80s, Hong Kong has heard many cover versions – songs with Chinese lyrics written to melodies of other songs. The melodies used for cover versions are mainly Japanese and Western ones. In most cases, the arrangements of these cover versions are strikingly similar to those of the originals. Although these cover versions have been popular, some music critics have said that the popularity of cover versions has affected the development of the local music scene, as few local composers are hired to write songs. In the Ultimate Charts Awards Presentation Ceremony organized by CR2 and held on 1 January 1995, CR2 would broadcast only original songs and no more cover versions would be heard on the channel. However, originals, in CR2’s definition, were not restricted to songs by local composers. Rather, they could be songs written by composers from other countries. As long as the melody had not been used for before, it was considered to be an original song. The CR2 policy was widely considered radical at that times as the policy might have affected the whole music industry in Hong Kong. Because the three local radio broadcasters in Hong Kong – namely Commercial Radio, Radio Television Hong Kong and Metro Broadcast – all have their own preferences on what discs to spin, the hosts of each station have weekly meetings to decide a suggested broadcast list for their disc jockeys. However, it is not compulsory for the disc jockeys to follow the guidelines. Under the policy of Commercial Radio, the songs in CR2’s broadcasting guidelines should be free of cover versions. Therefore, record companies have to send in original songs to CR2, or the station will refuse to broadcast them. However, it is common practice for record companies to send that same songs to three radio stations. This is because the audience will be more familiar with the plugged song if every station is broadcasting it. This makes it more effective in boosting a singer or an album. As a result, record companies have tended to send only originals to all stations even though the other two radio stations would broadcast cover versions. However, the policy was terminated on 1 January 1999. Some said they do not care about the termination as the policy did not help much in improving the unhealthy environment of the music industry anyway. But others said this will cause doomsday for Hong Kong composers because cover versions will dominate the market again. |
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