Research Projects

First-Year Master’s Research Project — C-Pop Industry

Between Control and Virality: Platformization and the Limits of Globalization in China’s C-Pop Industry (2015–2025)

This research explores how China’s C-Pop industry has evolved over the past decade at the intersection of state regulation, digital platforms, fandom culture and globalization.

Through literature analysis, case studies and an international audience survey, I examine how platforms such as Tencent Music, NetEase Cloud Music and Douyin have transformed music consumption, fan engagement and the way artists achieve visibility through viral content.

The research also explores the challenges of internationalization, looking at factors such as platform accessibility, language barriers and the existing global infrastructure of K-Pop. Through case studies of Jackson Wang and Huang Zitao, the research examines how C-Pop artists navigate these constraints when reaching international audiences.

The central question is how C-Pop can pursue global visibility while operating within a highly regulated and platform-driven digital ecosystem.