Competition for the 2001 Billboard Chinese Music Awards, the country's most influential pop music event, kicked off on December 13, and now Chinese pop lovers all over the world can cast their votes on the Internet or with the use of their mobile phone.

More than 40 prizes will be awarded, including "Artist of the Year," "Century Award" and "Artistic Achievement Award."

Twenty-six singers selected from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan will compete for the title of "Emerging Artist of the Year." Fifty pop songs, including those by Faye Wong, Tian Zhen and Li Ming, will compete for "Best Song of the Year."

Pop music lovers can cast their votes on the websites of Channel V and China Central Television Station, or send a short message to "3333," which is the number of China Mobile Dream Networks.

China Mobile telephone users can send the message "V" to "3333" and the name list of the candidate singers and their musical works will appear on the telephone screen. Votes can be cast according to the instructions given on the screen.

Mobile phone users who wish to download the nominated songs as the ring for their phone need only send the message "V" to "3333." Singers' photos can also be downloaded.

Voters who send the message "VM" to "3333" can participate in a music knowledge contest and possibly win air tickets and car phones.

Anyone voting for the winners of "Artist of the Year" or "Emerging Singer" receives 3,000 points, and each download earns 100 points.

The 100 people who have accumulated the most points can win air tickets, MP3 players or Siemens car phones.

Voting will take place until January 15 and the awards will be announced by the end of January.

(China Daily December 20, 2001)