Stage set for growth as music business finds rhythm in China

When Zong Xiaojun went to the United States to study as one of the first Chinese students in Miami University with a major in music business and entertainment industries in 1995, he met his professor, Maurice Oberstein, who was also a record company executive then.

Oberstein told Zong, who back then was his only student from China, that the future of music market lies in China.

Surprised, Zong asked Oberstein why he thought that. His professor responded that in his experience of working as the managing director of PolyGram Music, which at the time was home to Canto-pop stars such as Alan Tam and Hacken Lee, he was impressed by the vibrant music scene and the artists' popularity across Asia.