Hong Kong, SAR—The dynamic facets of Cantopop and Mandopop talent were honored this week as the highly anticipated Metro Radio Hit Awards 2025 unveiled its roster of recipients, spotlighting established stars and emerging artists across various categories. The annual ceremony served as a critical barometer for commercial success and artistic impact within the Chinese music industry, confirming the ascendance of several key performers, including MC Cheung Tinfu, Terence Lam, and Gin Lee, whose multiple wins underscored their dominance over the past year.
MC Cheung Tinfu secured the prestigious Album of the Year award for Sweet & Sour, further cementing his status as a leading male vocalist. Meanwhile, the coveted Song of the Year was claimed by Gareth T. for his track, “Singing Love Songs with My Back,” a piece recognized for its innovative sound and widespread popularity. The supreme individual honor, Artist of the Year, was bestowed upon Terence Lam, a celebrated singer-songwriter whose pervasive influence spanned performance and composition.
The top prizes in the main vocal categories saw Cheung Tinfu take Male Singer (Gold), followed by Jason Chan Pako in Silver and Chan Kin-on in Bronze. For the female vocalists, Gin Lee secured Female Singer (Gold), with Panther Chan in Silver and Vincy Chan in Bronze. Terence Lam also distinguished himself in the creation categories, winning Singer-Songwriter (Gold).
The next generation of talent was well-represented. Vlogger-turned-musician Fiona Lam earned Female Newcomer (Gold), while Anson Lo of MIRROR secured the Most Popular Male Singer Online award, demonstrating the increasing importance of digital engagement. Gin Lee further secured the title of Most Popular Female Singer Online, highlighting her powerful dual appeal across traditional and digital platforms.
A key indicator of industry direction, the Ten Outstanding Singers accolade recognized a diverse group of impactful artists, including Denice Chan, Jeffrey Ngai, Sophy Wong, Chau Yan Ting, Gareth T., Charmaine Fong, Marcus Chang, Anson H, Kiri T, and Alfred Hui.
The collaborative spirit of the industry was evident in the Mandarin Power Song category, where Chau Yan Ting’s track “On the Field,” featuring Shigga Shay, took the Gold prize. Eason Chan and Nana Ouyang’s “Perfume” and Vincy Chan and Hai Ming Wei’s “The Old Man and the Sea (Reunion Duet)” secured Silver and Bronze, respectively, reflecting cross-regional partnerships.
Composition and production honors recognized the creative architects behind the hits. Nicholas Tse’s “Against the Current” won the Composition title, while Denice Chan earned the Lyricist award for “Actually Pain is Your Imagination.” The technical artistry was recognized through Gordon Flanders’ arrangement of Moon Tang’s “Late at Night,” which won Arrangement, and Jason Chan Pako, alongside Edward Chan, who were celebrated with the Producer award for “It’s Okay Not to Love.”
The ceremony, organized by Metro Broadcast, reaffirmed the vitality and ongoing evolution of Cantopop. The multiple awards across various special categories—including “Z Generation Musical Power” and “Breakthrough Singer”—underscore an industry grappling with rapid shifts in consumption, yet continually producing high-quality musical output. The extensive list of “Explosive Songs,” featuring chart-topping tracks from artists like Gareth T., Vincy Chan, and Dear Jane, provides an essential soundtrack to the past year for millions of listeners across Asia. The results from the 2025 awards offer compelling insight into the artists shaping the future soundscape of Hong Kong music.
