Capital Artists
Encyclopedia
Capital Artists is a Hong Kong
–based record label
, and is currently owned by eSun Holdings, a subsidiary of Lai Sun Development
. Founded in 1971, Capital Artists signed some of the biggest names in the Cantopop
industry, including the late Roman Tam
, Anita Mui
, and Leslie Cheung
, among others. During its prime in the 1970s and 1980s, Capital had dozens of artists under contract and was one of the biggest labels in Hong Kong.
In early 1996, Capital Artists was purchased by SCMP Group
. In 2001, after four years of poor sales, Capital Artists ceased music production and dismissed most of its staff, staying in business solely to collect copyright revenue and issue compilations. In late 2008, it was purchased by eSun Holdings.
The Capital Artists logo is a lower-case "c" merged into a lower-case, slightly larger, "a".
: 陳淑芬) and Chan Lau-chyun (Chinese
: 陳柳泉) in charge of the events. In 1975, a records division was established.
Throughout the 1970s, Capital Artists focused primarily on producing music for television dramas. In 1982, however, Capital Artists shifted their focus to the Hong Kong–based television network TVB, and began taking part in TVB's newly created New Talent Singing Awards
(Chinese
: 香港新秀歌唱大賽), or NTSA (renamed NTSA International Finals (全球華人新秀歌唱大賽) in 1997 and TVB8 International Chinese NTSA (TVB8全球華人新秀歌唱大賽) in 2005). The winner of the contest was guaranteed a recording contract with the record label.
Capital Artists has claimed many music superstars, and for a time, it was one of the top five record labels in Hong Kong, along with BMG, PolyGram
(later sold to Universal Music Group
), Warner Bros. Records
, and EMI
.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
–based record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
, and is currently owned by eSun Holdings, a subsidiary of Lai Sun Development
Lai Sun Development
Lai Sun Development is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange established in 1987 by the textiles magnate Lim Por-yen. His company, Lai Sun Garment, was founded in 1947, is also listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange...
. Founded in 1971, Capital Artists signed some of the biggest names in the Cantopop
Cantopop
Cantopop is a colloquialism for "Cantonese popular music". It is sometimes referred to as HK-pop, short for "Hong Kong popular music". It is categorized as a subgenre of Chinese popular music within C-pop...
industry, including the late Roman Tam
Roman Tam
Roman Tam, known by the stage name Lo Man , nickname Law Kee , was a renowned Hong Kong Cantopop singer. He is regarded as the "Godfather of Cantopop".-Career:...
, Anita Mui
Anita Mui
Anita Mui Yim-fong was a popular Hong Kong singer and actress. During her prime years she made major contributions to the cantopop music scene, while receiving numerous awards and honours. She remained an idol throughout most of her career, and was generally regarded as a cantopop diva...
, and Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung
Leslie Cheung Kwok-Wing , nicknamed elder brother , was a film actor and musician from Hong Kong. Cheung was considered as "one of the founding fathers of Cantopop", and "combining a hugely successful film and music career".In 2000, Cheung was named Asian Biggest Superstar by China Central...
, among others. During its prime in the 1970s and 1980s, Capital had dozens of artists under contract and was one of the biggest labels in Hong Kong.
In early 1996, Capital Artists was purchased by SCMP Group
SCMP Group
The SCMP Group is a publishing group in Hong Kong. SCMP publishes:* South China Morning Post - a daily English-language newspaper in Hong Kong* Hong Kong edition of Cosmopolitan, CosmoGirl and Harpar's Bazaar* Automobile...
. In 2001, after four years of poor sales, Capital Artists ceased music production and dismissed most of its staff, staying in business solely to collect copyright revenue and issue compilations. In late 2008, it was purchased by eSun Holdings.
The Capital Artists logo is a lower-case "c" merged into a lower-case, slightly larger, "a".
History
In 1972, Capital Artists began hosting concerts and placed music producers Chan Suk-fan (ChineseChinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 陳淑芬) and Chan Lau-chyun (Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 陳柳泉) in charge of the events. In 1975, a records division was established.
Throughout the 1970s, Capital Artists focused primarily on producing music for television dramas. In 1982, however, Capital Artists shifted their focus to the Hong Kong–based television network TVB, and began taking part in TVB's newly created New Talent Singing Awards
New Talent Singing Awards
New Talent Singing Awards or NTSA for short, later re-organized into New Talent Singing Awards International Finals or NTSA International Finals for short), and most currently re-named TVB8 International Chinese New Talent Singing Championship is an annual singing...
(Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
: 香港新秀歌唱大賽), or NTSA (renamed NTSA International Finals (全球華人新秀歌唱大賽) in 1997 and TVB8 International Chinese NTSA (TVB8全球華人新秀歌唱大賽) in 2005). The winner of the contest was guaranteed a recording contract with the record label.
Capital Artists has claimed many music superstars, and for a time, it was one of the top five record labels in Hong Kong, along with BMG, PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
(later sold to Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
), Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
, and EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
.
Chronology
- 1971 - Capital Artists is officially established. Entertainers include Lydia ShumLydia ShumLydia Shum Din-Ha, also known as Lydia Sum , was a Hong Kong comedienne, MC, and actress known for her portly figure, signature dark rimmed glasses and bouffant hairstyle. She was affectionately known to peers and fans as Fei-fei...
, Angie ChiuAngie ChiuAngie Chiu , born 15 November 1954 in Hong Kong is an actress, and was the third runner up in the 1973 Miss Hong Kong pageant...
, Bill ChanBill ChanShek Sau is a Hong Kong actor working for TVB. His son Sam Chan is also works for TVB as an actor. In 2005, they appeared in a cooking show together for a Father's Day promotion.-Filmography:-External links:*...
, and Louise Lee, among dozens of others. - 1972 - Capital Artists begins operations.
- 1974 - Roman TamRoman TamRoman Tam, known by the stage name Lo Man , nickname Law Kee , was a renowned Hong Kong Cantopop singer. He is regarded as the "Godfather of Cantopop".-Career:...
joins, making many well-known songs over the next twelve years. - 1982 - Capital Artists hosts the first New Talent Singing Awards in cooperation with TVB. Anita Mui wins the competition and signs a contract with Capital. With the talents of Roman Tam and the newly signed Leslie Cheung, Capital Artists becomes a leading record label.
- 1985 - Anita Mui releases her album Bad Girl Anita Mui (壞女孩). It surpasses 8-platinum status (400,000 copies) within the first week of release, and by the next year reaches cumulative sales of over 720,000 copies. It is said to be the best-selling album of all time in Hong Kong music history, even to this day.
- 1986 - Leon LaiLeon LaiLeon Lai is a Hong Kong-based actor and Cantopop singer. The media refer to Aaron Kwok, Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai as the Cantopop Four Heavenly Kings . He uses the stage name "Li Ming" or "Lai Ming" which literally means "dawn."-Biography:...
finishes second runner-up in the fifth NTSA and signs a contract with Capital. Leslie Cheung leaves Capital for Cinepoly RecordsCinepoly RecordsCinepoly Records is a Hong Kong-based record label founded in 1985. It was a subsidiary of PolyGram Records and the film company Cinema City. Ownership of Cinepoly Records switched to Universal Music Group after Universal acquired PolyGram Records in 1998 and albums are now distributed by...
. Cheung and Anita Mui had been the best sellers in Capital Artists' arsenal. Upon Cheung's departure, Capital Artists became heavily reliant on Anita Mui's commercial power. Mui would go on to become Capital Artists' best-selling artist of all time. - 1990 - Leon Lai, after four years without a single album, signs a contract with PolyGram, where he feels he will be more greatly appreciated. His current contract with Capital Artists is later annulled. In 1992, after just two years with PolyGram, Lai becomes one of Cantopop's Four Heavenly Kings.
- 1991 - At the tenth NTSA, Anita Mui is both an adjudicator and the guest performer. She steps on stage to perform her anthem, "Sunset Melody", but turns around and stops the musicians in the background abruptly during the music break. She then proceeds to give a speech, live on TV, imploring Capital Artists to take better care of the singers discovered through the singing competition, as many previous contestants signed to Capital Artists have languished without any releases to their names.
- 1992 - Anita Mui goes into semi-retirement. She announces that she will give up commercial concert appearances and only appear for charity performances. However, she promises to continue releasing new albums.
- 1994 - Anita Mui releases her first new album after resuming her career full-time. Her album, It's Like This (是這樣的), reaches double-platinum upon initial release, with four different tracks topping the charts. The first song, "Where'd My Love Go?" (情歸何處), breaks several records by leaping to #1 on all four of Hong Kong's Chinese pop charts immediately upon release on the airwaves, which is unprecedented. Capital Artists holds a press conference to also announce that Mui's cumulative album sales throughout her career has surpassed 10 million, a record for a female Asian artist at the time. The Capital Artists also produces 5,000 gold-plated commemorative copies of It's Like This to mark the album's success. Later, one company executive will reveal that sales from this album enabled the company to award a bonus of one month's salary to each of its employees.
- 1995 - Anita Mui releases her last album with Capital Artists under her contract at the time. There are rumors that Mui is not happy with the amount of promotions done for this album.
- 1995 - In order to boost record sales, Capital reduces all record prices to HKDHong Kong dollarThe Hong Kong dollar is the currency of the jurisdiction. It is the eighth most traded currency in the world. In English, it is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively HK$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
88 (USDUnited States dollarThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
11). - 1996 - Capital Artists is officially purchased by the SCMP GroupSCMP GroupThe SCMP Group is a publishing group in Hong Kong. SCMP publishes:* South China Morning Post - a daily English-language newspaper in Hong Kong* Hong Kong edition of Cosmopolitan, CosmoGirl and Harpar's Bazaar* Automobile...
, and with the exception of the hiring of Ng Sui-wan (吳瑞雲) as general manager, nothing is changed. - 1997 - After a brief hiatus, Anita Mui renews her contract with Capital Artists for an annual price of HKD 20 million (USD 2.6 million). Capital Artists pledges to redouble their promotional efforts for her upcoming album, Illusions (鏡花水月). "Illusions" tops the sales chart.
- 1997 - After losing singers Sammi ChengSammi ChengSammi Cheng Sau-Man is a Hong Kong Cantopop singer and actress. Having enjoyed much success in the Hong Kong music industry, Sammi has been known as a diva and has been one of the most successful female singer in Hong Kong since the 1990s. Her albums have sold more than 25 million copies through...
to Warner Bros. in 1995 and Andy HuiAndy HuiAndy Hui Chi-On is a Hong Kong singer and film actor. Hui was the First Runner-up in the 5th Annual New Talent Singing Awards in 1986. Hui has appeared in about 25 films....
to Go East Entertainment in 1997, each of whom had joined at the start of his or her career, Capital begins a downhill slide. Due to Capital's downsizing, the newly renamed NTSA International Finals replaces Capital with Emperor Entertainment GroupEmperor Entertainment GroupEmperor Entertainment Group is one of the largest entertainment groups in Hong Kong founded by Albert Yeung Sau-Shing in and established in Wan Chai in 1986, along with Music Icon Entertainment Limited and Emperor Motion Picture Group, EEG operates under the major conglomerate Emperor Multimedia...
as co-host. In commemoration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of its start of operations, Capital decorates its albums with a special stamp. - 2000 - Anita Mui releases her last album with Capital Artists, I'm So Happy (also known by its original name, Mui Mui S/S 2000), to fulfill her final contract (which was supposed to expire in 1998 were it not for Capital Artists delaying production and release of her last two albums under contract). Capital Artists indicated that the company would spend HKD 2 million (USD 260,000) to promote this last album but never delivered. Afterwards, Mui, in a magazine interview, discloses that she decided to leave Capital Artists because she was tired of the constant personnel turnover at the company, and she felt new management did not respect her. Mui goes on to form her own music production company, and partners with Go East Entertainment and Music Nation to release her forthcoming albums. With Mui's departure, Capital Artists officially goes on life support as a company.
- 2001 - Stephanie Che publicly expresses disappointment in Capital Artists: during her contract with Capital, she released just one album, 始终想, in 1993. Miriam YeungMiriam YeungMiriam Yeung, RN, is a Hong Kong actress and Cantopop singer. Before entering the entertainment business, she was a registered nurse at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong. She studied at the Holy Family Canossian College Kowloon...
and Patrick TangPatrick TangPatrick Tang is a Hong Kong singer, actor, and TV show host who has been involved in numerous drama and movie productions. He was born 6 May 1974 in Hong Kong. He has three sisters. He started his career with TVB, where he has been from 2000 to the present day.-Television:-Film:-External links:* *...
, both former NTSA contestants, leave Capital Artists in close succession; Yeung signs a contract with Cinepoly, and Tang signs with Go East Entertainment. - October 20, 2001 - Capital Artists dismisses fifteen of its employees, retaining only three. Capital discontinues music production, and remains in operation solely to collect copyright revenue and issue compilations. All contracts are nullified and the singers asked to find representation elsewhere.
- 2003 - One of Capital Artists' remaining employees discloses that continued sales of two compilation albums—Anita Mui's Love Songs (情歌), released in 1998, and an album by Eason Chan—have managed to bring in over HKD 1 million for the company, integral in keeping the company afloat. Notably, Mui's Love Songs continues to outsell other singers' original new releases at the time, five years after its initial release.
- November 2003 - Jacqueline Chan, with a decade of management-level experience in such record labels as EMI, Warner Music, Emperor Entertainment, and BMG, is appointed Publishing Manager at Capital Artists. Prior to her appointment, Chan had worked as Brand Manager at Intercontinental Film Distributors and Shaw BrothersShaw Brothers StudioThe Shaw Brothers Studio , owned by Shaw Brothers Ltd., was the foremost and the largest movie production company of Hong Kong movies.From their distribution base in Singapore where they founded parent company Shaw Organization in 1924, and as a strategic development of their movie distribution...
. - 2004 - According to the SCMP Group's 2004 annual report, Capital Artists makes a net profit of HKD 9.4 million (USD 1.2 million).
- 2004–2005 - Capital Artists releases several albums featuring songs of the late Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui. Among these releases are: Hits for Kidults (成人兒歌); Tribute to Anita Mui (梅 憶錄); Timeless Soundtracks (影視紅聲); and Leslie Cheung: History, His Story (張國榮/History - His Story). The recording of Mui's final concert, Classic Moment Live, becomes the year's best-selling Cantonese album, according to IFPI. Tribute to Anita Mui also makes the Top Ten. Revenue from both Tribute to Anita Mui and History, His Story is donated to two Hong Kong–based organizations, AIDS Concern and Children's Cancer Foundation.
- 2005 - According to the SCMP Group's 2005 annual report, Capital Artists makes a net profit of HKD 1.5 million (USD 193,000). The Hong Kong music industry feels the effects of illegal music downloads and piracy, and many other music labels record deficits.
- April 2006 - Jacqueline Chan, Publishing Manager of Capital Artists since 2003, announces an advertisement campaign promoting previously unreleased audio tracks sung by the late Anita Mui. It is later revealed to be a newly restored version of Anita Mui's "final" concert in 1991–1992 when she temporarily decided to retire from concert performances. The concert was never released in her lifetime, in accordance with her wishes, and previously, only some members of her fan club received a VHS copy of the concert as a memento.
- 2008 - Lai Sun DevelopmentLai Sun DevelopmentLai Sun Development is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange established in 1987 by the textiles magnate Lim Por-yen. His company, Lai Sun Garment, was founded in 1947, is also listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange...
chairman Peter LamPeter LamPeter Lam Kin-ngok , son of industrialist tycoon Lim Por-yen and his second wife, U Po-chu, is the Chairman & CEO of Media Asia Entertainment Group.-2008 Speeding offense:...
announces that he will purchase Capital Artists on behalf of eSun Holdings, a subsidiary of Lai Sun Development, for the price of HKD 88 million (USD 11 million). Some Old Song collections album are released in the entity will be called "東亞+華星", a combination of the names for East Asia Music (東亞唱片) and Capital Artists (華星唱片). In this form, Capital Artists will once again create music.
- December 2008 - Peter Lam puts on a concert in celebration of the recent merger, the East Asia Capital Artists Concert (東亞華星演唱會), at AsiaWorld-ExpoAsiaWorld-ExpoThe AsiaWorld-Expo is one of the two major convention and exhibition facilities in Hong Kong along with Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was opened on 21 December 2005 by Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and it is operated by AsiaWorld-Expo Management Limited...
, one of the major convention centers in Hong Kong. The concert, dedicated to deceased Capital Artists singers Anita Mui, Leslie Cheung, and Roman Tam, features the talents of many singers previously under contract with Capital, as well as some of the biggest names at Amusic. In conjunction with the concert, the new company releases a three-CD, one-DVD compilation of Anita Mui's biggest hits. The compilation box-set, titled Faithfully, sells over 40,000 copies within two weeks. (As a point of reference, Hong Kong's best-selling album for 2008 sold 58,000 copies during the entire year.) The album remains on the Top Ten list for over 11 weeks. IFPI reported later that "Faithfully" and Leslie Cheung's compilation box set both made it to the top 10 in sales for the year. - May 2010 - Capital Artists is relabeled. It is declared that Miriam YeungMiriam YeungMiriam Yeung, RN, is a Hong Kong actress and Cantopop singer. Before entering the entertainment business, she was a registered nurse at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong. She studied at the Holy Family Canossian College Kowloon...
and Wilfred LauWilfred LauWilfred Lau Ho-Lung is a Hong Kong singer and actor. He is also known as "師兄" in the entertainment industry. He was the winner of the 16th annual New Talent Singing Awards International Finals in 1997. Many have made comparisons to his voice to the voice of Eason Chan.Wilfred attended St....
, will be signed to the company after the relabeling. - Jan 2011 - William SoWilliam SoWilliam So Wing Hong is a Hong Kong actor and a cantopop singer. He began his musical career by participating the New Talent Singing Awards in 1985 and won the competition as the first runner up. His performance at that event earned him a record contract with Capital Artists...
will be signed to the company after the relabeling.