The highly anticipated 2025 Commercial Radio Ultimate Song Chart Awards is rapidly approaching, and the race for the fan-voted “My Favourite Song” category is intensifying as the second phase of public voting concludes this week, determining the final shortlist for the prestigious Hong Kong music prize.
Commercial Radio announced the imminent deadline for the current round of voting for “My Favourite Song,” which will close midday tomorrow (December 19). This stage will whittle down the remaining contenders to a definitive top five, with the ultimate winner to be decided by live audience vote during the awards ceremony on the evening of January 1, 2026, held at the AsiaWorld-Expo complex.
High-Stakes Shifts in Top Contenders
The competition has seen significant fluctuation in just 24 hours. Commercial Radio initially unveiled an eight-song shortlist, offering a snapshot of current momentum. That list—ranked by song title stroke count—featured collaborations and solo hits from some of Canto-pop’s biggest names, including the duet “By My Side” by Tyson Yoshi and Hins Cheung, Keung To’s “On a Sunny Day,” Anson Lo’s “Lemonade,” and Terence Lam’s “April Stories.” Other initial frontrunners included Gareth.T’s “Singing with My Back,” Edan Lui’s “Sterling Silver Bullet,” Ian Chan’s “Two Chosen by A Hundred Billion Stars,” and MC Cheung’s “The Liar.”
However, rapid shifts in public engagement have already altered the lineup. Within a single day, Commercial Radio released a crucial update revealing a major substitution: the popular collaboration “By My Side,” featuring Tyson Yoshi and Hins Cheung, was temporarily eliminated from the running.
Taking its place in the revised eight-song trajectory report is “Byakuya Hako” (白夜行) by veteran singer Gin Lee (李幸倪). This immediate shake-up underscores the volatility and enthusiasm of the public vote, where momentum can swing quickly leading up to the final nominations.
The Ultimate Canto-Pop Popularity Gauge
These annual awards, often considered the barometer of Canto-pop popularity and artistic achievement, place immense focus on the fan-driven categories. The “My Favourite Song” award uniquely empowers listeners, allowing them to directly elevate their preferred songs from the past year.
The stringent, multi-stage voting process ensures that only the most popular tracks survive. After tomorrow’s deadline, the remaining five songs will likely represent the most dominant radio hits and enduring fan favorites of the year.
The process culminates on the night of the ceremony, offering a dramatic climax where the artists and their teams will discover the definitive audience choice in real time. For fans, this category provides an opportunity to support their idols and shape the narrative of contemporary Canto-pop.
As the industry looks ahead to the grand spectacle on New Year’s Day 2026, all eyes remain fixed on the final five songs expected to be confirmed later this week. The inclusion of Gin Lee’s track highlights diverse support across generational lines of Canto-pop artists, ensuring a fierce and unpredictable final showdown. Music enthusiasts are urged to cast their votes before the deadline to ensure their preferred track makes the critical final shortlist.
