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Yao Chen covers fashion magazine
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'Hey, Jude' Becomes First-Ever Beatles Song to Be Licensed for Use in China
The Beatles ask came in through the Beijing office of publishing company Sony/ATV and was funneled to Esther Friedman, senior vp film and TV music, who thought, "It was perfect for The Beatles," she says.
"The studio, Beijing Enlight Media, is one of the largest media groups in China, and the director is of significance." Plus, she adds, with the film aimed at a younger demographic with its story of high school friends grappling with the complexities of first loves, it can help introduce The Beatles' music to a new audience. "That always plays into the decision," she adds. "It was a compelling reason to say yes to this one."
Approving Beatles synchs is no small task. Sony/ATV has a "Beatles Board," an ad hoc group of company executives who discuss the flood of requests for the Fab Four's music. Master usages are seldom allowed (one notable exception was for an episode of Mad Men). "We're always sensitive to the setting and how the song will be used, and we wouldn't grant anything not in keeping with The Beatles and what they stand for," says Friedman. The usage did not require the approval of those who wrote "Hey Jude," Paul McCartney and the late John Lennon (through his widow, Yoko Ono).
According to executive vp international Guy Henderson, the film/TV licensing business in China -- where Sony/ATV operates two offices, the other in Shanghai -- has doubled since 2011 to "a few dozen synchs" every year. A key reason for the expansion? China's exploding middle class, which a fall 2015 report by Credit Suisse named the biggest in the world. That population boom has spurred increases in advertising, including for such high-ticket items as luxury cars. To wit: Sony/ATV has licensed nine songs for Chinese car commercials, including Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind,"The Who's "My Generation" and Queen's "I Was Born to Love You." Says Henderson: "The most [common] requests are for pop music or iconic songs, such as 'Happy Together,''Over the Rainbow,''We Are the Champions' and 'We Will Rock You.'"
With licensing for both film and TV on the upswing -- as well as exposure to Anglo repertoire through legitimate streaming services -- Henderson expects China to be a significant revenue producer for Sony/ATV in the future. Currently, China is well behind the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, but Henderson predicts that "in time, it will become our biggest territory behind the U.K. and the U.S."
Source: Billboard by Melinda Newman
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Yang Zi poses for photo shoot
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Ma Sichun at fashion event
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Hu Jing poses for fashion shots
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Star Tracks in May
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Ivy Chen poses for fashion magazine
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Carnegie Hall celebrates anniversary with top musicians
The season-long anniversary reached its pinnacle with a classical music star filled concert on Thursday evening -- exactly 125 years to the day that the Hall first opened its doors in 1891.
"For music lovers, Carnegie is a palace, it is sacred," says Lang Lang, a Chinese musician who is arguably the most crowd-pleasing classical pianist, and was among the performers that night.
The concert opened with the U.S. national anthem, followed by Handel's Zadok the Priest, a fresh account of a Biblical story which was written, and is now used, as a coronation anthem.
The notes of violin and cello flew onto the stage, grasping the attention of the audience. The piece was pushed to the crescendo with the vocal part joining in, and the combination of different musical instruments resonating in the Stern Auditorium.
At the anniversary, Lang Lang, who delivered three piano pieces this night, co-staged with Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who is also among the top musicians in the world, for the first time.
Their choice is the Swan from the Carnival of the Animals, where Yo-Yo Ma played cello, Lang Lang and Emanuel Ax the piano duet. The elegance of swan was unfolded with the enchanting cello melody and the company of piano notes.
"My first Carnegie performance was in April 2001, when I was 18, it was just like yesterday," recalled Lang Lang.
"Carnegie is a place filled with music souls, like the great violinist Stern used to say, when you are playing at Carnegie, all the great musicians, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, are listening," he said.
Having performed in Carnegie Hall for about 50 times, Lang said each and every performance here feels like a completely new experience.
The concert reached its climax when the musicians presented the audience with some Broadway classics, and some rather broad stroke -- adaptation of Jazz and pop songs into "Carnegie style."
Take "Here Comes the Sun", written by George Harrison that was first released on the Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road, for example. When James Taylor was plucking the strings of his guitar while humming the lyrics, a little swinging and swaying was seen among the audience.
"It is fabulous," said Mark Weinstein, a spectator at the concert, "Carnegie Hall has hosted an array of so many people from different backgrounds, and they covered beautifully tonight."
As the most famous home for classical music, Carnegie Hall is now regarded as representing artistic excellence.
"It is irreplaceable," says Lang Lang, "not only because of its acoustic quality, it has also become a cultural symbol."
Source: Xinhua
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Stills from ‘Sword Master’
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Sun Li keeping fit
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Street shots of Wang Ziwen
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Zhou Xun barefoot in the desert
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Lin Yun covers fashion magazine
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Posters from ‘les interpretes’
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Black and white photos of Li Bingbing
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Lou Jiayue poses for fashion shots
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Street shots of Wang Ou
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Dee Hsu poses for photo shoot
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Yao Chen covers ‘Elle’ fashion magazine
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William Chan's Movie and Concert Both Due in August
To date, William Chan has released six albums and one EP. His singles, like Wu Yan Shou Hou, translated as Silent Waiting, are quite a hit online.
Also in the same month, a film, "I Love That Little Crazy Thing", in which 30-year old William Chan plays the leading role of Jiang Yang, is also scheduled to be released.
"I Love That Little Crazy Thing", or Na Jian Feng Kuang De Xiao Shi Jiao Ai Qing (那件疯狂的小事叫爱情), is a romantic comedy that tells a story of a young man who does film editing, but dreams to become a film director.
The young man, Jiang Yang, experiences the worst period of his life, which pushed him on a crazy journey.
William Chan will costar with Jessica Jung and Nicholas Tse in this film.
Source: CRI
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