The Golden Melody Awards

Lin, Chen-Yu 2026. The Golden Melody Awards. Hsiao, Hsin-Huang Michael, ed. Encyclopedia of Taiwan Studies Online, Leiden, Netherlands: Brill, Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

The Golden Melody Awards (GMA), established in 1990 by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture, are widely regarded as the most prestigious music awards in the Sinophone world. Originally created to promote Taiwan’s popular music industry, the awards have evolved alongside Taiwan’s democratization, cultural diversification, and changing political identity. This article traces the historical development of the GMAs, from their roots in state-led cultural policy and media regulation to their contemporary role as a platform for artistic recognition, industry networking, and socio-political expression. It examines key transformations in eligibility rules, jury systems, and language-based award categories, highlighting how debates surrounding Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and Indigenous languages reflect broader processes of Taiwanization and cultural politics. The article also discusses controversies over minority representation, the awards’ impact on the music industry, and the emergence of politically charged performances at the ceremony. Through the GMA’s institutional history, the article demonstrates how music awards can function not only as entertainment spectacles, but also as sites where questions of identity, language, democracy, and cultural power are negotiated in contemporary Taiwan.

Item Type:	Book Section
Status:	In Press
Schools:	Schools > Journalism, Media and Culture
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) M Music and Books on Music > M Music
Publisher:	Brill
ISBN:	9789004446601
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	21 May 2026
Date of Acceptance:	17 May 2026
Last Modified:	21 May 2026 13:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/187141

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