Providing the most up-to-date international music to Hong Kong music fans has always been one of the missions of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK). To further promote foreign pops, RTHK today (2^nd May) invited showbiz celebrities to announce the awards of the “22^nd International Pop Poll Award Presentation” in RTHK’s Studio One,to commend the outstanding performance of English, Japanese and Korean singers and songs in the local music arena last year.

The award-presenters and performing guests include: TAI Keen-man, Acting Deputy Director of Broadcasting, KONG Kwok-ping, Chairman of Hong Kong Record Merchants Association, Angelina LAW, Managing Director of CASH Music Foundation, Ricky FUNG, CEO of IFPI (Hong Kong Group), Eunice LAU, Head of Media Licensing of Hong Kong Recording Industry Alliance Limited, veteran DJ Brian LEUNG, music critic YUEN Chi-chung, international model Lisa S., actress Rose CHAN, singers Fiona SIT, Benji & Lesley, Ella KOON and RubberBand. Besides revealing the awards, Ella KOON, Benji & Lesley and RubberBand also presented the international pop songs with their own styles.

James FUNG Wai-tong, Chairman of the “22^nd International Pop Poll” Organising Committee, said that from 1990 onwards, the presentation had already given applause to over 200 international pop songs, widening the perspectives of both the public and the local music industry with a diversified music culture. This year, the polling was overwhelmingly enthusiastic with nearly 40,000 votes. As for the assessment method, winners of the three “Best Selling Album” awards were chosen according to the statistical information provided by Hong Kong Record Merchants Association Ltd. The other nine international song and singer awards were presented based on public voting by fans as well as assessments by professionals from the field, which constituted 60% and 40% of the total score respectively. The “Super Gold Song” award went to the song scoring the highest number of votes on the “Top Ten International Gold Songs” list.

Looking at the overall results of the Poll, the award-winning singers and songs are with varied styles. What they have in common is their unquestionable popularity. The “Top Male Artist” Gold Prize went to “King of the Pop” Michael Jackson again, while Justin Bieber, who has been labelled as a “teen heartthrob”, was voted as the “Top Male Artist” Silver Prize. Singer-songwriter Bruno Mars had not just captured the “Top Male Artist” Bronze Prize, but also the “Top New Act” Gold Prize. His songs “Just The Way You Are” and “Nothin’ On You” (B.o.B feat.) both seized the “Top Ten International Gold Songs”. Lady Gaga’s popularity remains high. She became the biggest winner capturing both “Top Female Artist” Gold Prize and “The Best Selling English Album”. Her song “Telephone” featuring Beyoncé had also captured the “Top Ten International Gold Songs” as well as the “Super Gold Song”. The Korean girl group Wonder Girls proved their fame by seizing a “Top Ten International Gold Songs” and the “Top Group/Band” Gold Prize. The Japanese singers and songs also witnessed keen competition. “Addicted to Love” by w-inds. captured the “Top Japanese Gold Song” Gold Prize. YUI was again voted “Top Japanese Artist/ Group” Gold Prize and “Top Japanese Gold Song” Silver Prize with the song “Please Stay With Me”. Yamashita Tomohisa, who has grasped great attention and enjoying a boom throughout Asia, was first voted the “Top Japanese Gold Song” Bronze Prize with his solo “One in a million”. He was also voted as the “Top Japanese New Act” Gold Prize and the “Top Japanese Artist/ Group” Silver Prize.

The “22^nd International Pop Poll” Award Presentation was emceed by RTHK Radio 2 DJs Alex Lee, Alyson Hau and Robin Pak. Highlights of the Award Presentation are scheduled for broadcast this coming Saturday, 7^th May from 6pm to 8pm in the programme “International Pop Chart” on RTHK Radio 2 (FM94.8-96.9). The public can also visit RTHK website (http://teenpower1.rthk.org.hk/tptv/) for the archived webcast version of the Award Presentation.

RTHK 22^nd International Pop Poll

1)      Top Ten International Gold Songs  

（No Preference Ranking）

2)     Top New Act                 

3)     Top Japanese Gold Song              

 4)      Top Japanese New Act     最受歡迎日本新人∕組合

5)      Top Japanese Artist/Group     最受歡迎日本歌手∕組合

6)      Best Selling Album Awards      

 7)      Top Group/Band      

8)      Super Gold Song  

 9)     Top Male Artist           

 10) Top Female Artist