Taipei, Taiwan – The 36th Golden Melody Awards (GMA), widely recognized as the “Grammys of the Mandarin pop world,” convened on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the iconic Taipei Arena. Organized by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture (MOC), the prestigious ceremony served as a comprehensive celebration of achievements within the vibrant local pop music industry.
Recognizing a Diverse Field of Talent
The 2025 edition of the Golden Melody Awards saw a robust field of contenders, with a total of 169 works selected to compete across 27 diverse award categories. This extensive selection underscores the breadth and depth of talent contributing to the Mandarin music landscape, from mainstream hits to independent productions.
The nomination phase revealed significant trends and highlights. Sony Music Entertainment Taiwan Ltd. emerged as the leading entity, securing an impressive 11 nominations across various categories, signaling a strong year for the label.
Notably, the collaborative album “AAA” by Taiwanese indie favorites Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean band Hyukoh stood out as the most nominated single work, garnering seven nominations. This high number reflects critical acclaim and industry recognition for the cross-cultural project’s artistic merit and impact.
Honoring Legacies and Contributions
The ceremony paid tribute to figures whose contributions have significantly shaped the Mandopop scene. The coveted special contribution award was jointly presented to composer-producer Weng Xiao-liang (翁孝良) and the late influential Taiwanese singer Ma Chao-chun (馬兆駿). Their recognition highlights decades of dedication and artistic output that have left an indelible mark on the industry.
Another significant accolade, the jury award, was bestowed upon the late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) for his acclaimed album “The Dreamer” (夢想家). This special award, decided by the jury panel, acknowledges works of exceptional artistic vision and execution that merit singular recognition outside the standard competitive categories.
Early Wins Signal Emerging and Established Success
While the full list of winners across all 27 categories would be revealed throughout the night, early announcements provided glimpses into the evening’s triumphs. The award for Best New Artist went to someshiit (山姆), marking a significant milestone in the emerging artist’s career and signaling potential future impact within the industry.
The critically lauded album “AAA” by Sunset Rollercoaster and Hyukoh secured wins in key production and visual categories early in the ceremony. “Antenna”《AAA》, the music video directed by rafhoo, was awarded Best Music Video, recognizing its creative and technical excellence in complementing the musical work. Furthermore, the album “AAA” itself received the award for Best Vocal Album Recording, underscoring its high production quality and sonic craftsmanship.
These early awards for “AAA” reinforce its status as a standout release of the year, earning recognition not only for its musical content but also for the surrounding artistic and technical achievements.
Broadcasting the Celebration
Ensuring wide accessibility for fans across Taiwan and beyond, the 36th Golden Melody Awards ceremony was broadcast live by Taiwan Television Enterprise (TTV). In addition to the traditional television broadcast, the event was also made available for online streaming, reaching digital audiences through platforms like Line Today and Line Music. This multi-platform approach allowed a broader segment of the public to tune in and celebrate the achievements in Mandarin pop music as they happened.
A Testament to the Vibrancy of Mandopop
The 36th Golden Melody Awards at Taipei Arena successfully brought together artists, producers, and industry professionals to honor the past year’s finest work. From the recognition of veteran legends like Weng Xiao-liang and Ma Chao-chun to the celebration of contemporary artists like someshiit and the collaborative success of Sunset Rollercoaster and Hyukoh with “AAA,” the event showcased the dynamic and evolving nature of the Mandarin pop music industry. With 169 nominated works across 27 categories, the awards ceremony reaffirmed its position as the definitive benchmark for excellence in Mandopop, highlighting the creativity and innovation that continues to thrive within Taiwan and across the wider Mandarin-speaking world.
