| This study provided a critical examination of the development of popular music in the context of Taiwan's social, political, economic, and cultural transitions, as well as within the general environment of the mass media, from the 1930s to 1993. It showed that the whole dynamic of popular music has been greatly affected by these forces. Certain representative personalities and items from their repertoires were introduced and discussed, to explain Taiwan's popular music's diverse expressions and ideologies throughout the years. In addition, different forms of music, general characteristics, and essential functions were presented. The study showed that Taiwan's popular music industry has made great progress, becoming a vital part of the youth culture, and an international as well as lucrative enterprise. However, Taiwan consistently has not had strong popular music forms of its own--almost all musical artists and products have been profoundly influenced by foreign music, especially American and Japanese. |
