Since the 1980s, when discussing the most famous record companies in Hong Kong—those that commanded the largest market share—the "Big Four" immediately came to mind: PolyGram, Warner Music, EMI, and TVB’s Jade Solid Gold. These four labels controlled over 70% of Hong Kong’s musical talent. While EMI was not necessarily the strongest among them, it had once been home to superstars like Roman Tam and Danny Chan. Even Andy Lau, at the very beginning of his singing career, had signed with EMI.
However, entering the 1990s, EMI’s status in Hong Kong and the broader Mandopop scene began to wane. First, Danny Chan, who had returned to the label in 1989, jumped ship back to Warner Music. Then, with Roman Tam’s contract expiring this year, EMI found itself without a marquee star. Well, that wasn't entirely true—in 1992, EMI had signed the Singaporean singer Eric Moo, and his release this year, *A Dream of the Red Dust*, had become a massive hit across Southeast Asia, proving they still had one competent general in their ranks.
Still, compared to PolyGram, which boasted Leon Lai and Jacky Cheung, or Warner Music, which now held Andy Lau and Aaron Kwok, EMI clearly lacked a singer who could anchor the label. Zhou Ziheng, who had held his own against Jacky Cheung and Wakin Chau in the Mandarin market last year, had undoubtedly caught the attention of this declining giant.
Chapter 96