Abstract
This article reviews the performance of ethnic minority singers and singer-songwrit- ers in both English-language and locally-devised talent show programmes in China from 2012 to 2017, asking how these musicians manipulate their multi-layered identities in order to balance their identity articulations, audience expectations and political pressures. Based on five years of watching the most widespread TV music talent show in China, the author provides comparative examples as to how ethnic minority singers and singer-songwriters create and negotiate ethnic-national, pan-ethnic and political identities. The most distinctive of these successfully open up new spaces for debate about identity, personhood, tradition and power in contemporary China. Data is drawn from the analysis of the music in question and from the decisions of pro-gramme judges, and also from the avid commentaries made by show viewers online during and after each round is broadcast.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 57-82 |
| Number of pages | 26 |
| Journal | World of Music |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |