Zi Yu Rises to the Top: Celebrating Chinese Music’s Global Impact in the 2025 Billboard Chart
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Tencent Music Chart, a division of Tencent Music Entertainment Group, has collaborated with Billboard China to announce the results for the China region of the 2025 Billboard Global No. 1s. This prestigious global distinction, established by Billboard, recognized rising artist Zi Yu as China’s sole representative following two rounds of fan voting. His exceptional performance and strong fan support earned him a coveted spot in Billboard’s global hall of fame.
The Billboard Global No. 1s China Honor Selection spotlighted music from Chinese artists released between November 2024 and October 2025. Initial assessments were based on annual performances across two prominent Tencent Music Chart rankings: the TME Uni Chart, illustrating mainstream popularity, and the TME Wave Chart, highlighting professional quality. The final rankings were determined through fan voting, with Zi Yu’s “Ni Tan,” Shi Ge Qin Tian’s “Jun Zi Liao Ran,” THE 8’s “Cold Love,” Liu Yu’s “Si Jun Zhao Yu Mu,” and Deng Jia Xin’s “Cheng De Shang Zhi De” rounding out the top five.
Zi Yu’s winning song “Ni Tan” poignantly reflects the struggles of overcoming adversity through its heartfelt lyrics and captivating melody. As the sole contender from China for the 2025 Billboard Global No. 1s, he joins an esteemed group of Billboard artists from countries including the U.K., Japan, and South Korea. This recognition ensures Zi Yu and his music will receive extensive exposure through Billboard’s annual special feature and promotional support from TME Chart across both domestic and international platforms.
In recent years, the partnership between Tencent Music Chart and Billboard has strengthened significantly. The introduction of the Billboard Global No. 1s China Honor Selection reflects this growing alliance. In 2023, the TME Uni Chart became the only music chart from mainland China to be included on Billboard’s global website, addressing a notable gap in Billboard’s coverage of Chinese music. This past November, TME Chart announced a strategic partnership with Luminate, the prominent music data provider for Billboard’s charts, marking a milestone as its first comprehensive data partner in mainland China. Consequently, TME’s music consumption data will be integrated into globally recognized chart systems, including the Billboard Global 200.
By merging its domestic data infrastructure with international music platforms, TME Chart aims to create a conduit for Chinese music on the global stage, enabling talented artists to expand their international reach. As Tencent Music Group continues to enhance its relationships with Billboard and other global partners, an increasing number of Chinese artists are expected to make their mark on the worldwide music scene.
