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SCMP Reporter

Musicians are doing what they can to combat declining record sales - some use sexy bikini photo albums for promotion, while others allow songs to be partially streamed online. Karen Mok Man-wai took a major gamble by releasing her full 10-song Putonghua album, hui wei, in digital form through a mobile network on the mainland  in June.
Six months later and the gamble seems to have paid off. The album has had a staggering two million downloads since its official release, and resulted in a concert tour for the 39-year-old singer, tentatively scheduled to reach Hong Kong  next year. 
In addition, Mok will release the album on CD through Universal Music on Tuesday. 
How do you feel about the results  of your first digital album?
I'm so happy with it.  The positive  response means so much to me because it also means that people  accept this new way of releasing  an album.
How have the sales of this digital release compared with those of  your previous releases? 
There is no comparison. Artists these days are happy to sell a few thousand copies of an album, whereas a digital release could mean selling music to millions of people. When I released my first Putonghua album, To Be, in 1997, the music industry looked promising, and singers were selling more than one million copies of their albums, though that was rare and mostly in Taiwan, not Hong Kong. Since then, sales for each of my releases have declined, so I needed to find a new way to survive, and I'm very happy that releasing my album digitally proved to be a good alternative.
What are the advantages of  releasing  an album in digital form?
It brings your music to every corner, even remote areas. Most people have a mobile phone on the mainland these days and China Mobile is the country's largest network, so my music is now available in any place you could name on the mainland. We've  been touring mainland cities, visiting places I had never been to and I was surprised that people who had downloaded my album onto their phones could recite my lyrics word for word.
Were you concerned about piracy? 
It wasn't a major concern. I don't think people who pirate music are being cheap, it's just that they don't have access to the physical CD.  
Why did you choose to release  the album on CD?
Many people requested it, telling me it would be a waste not to release a physical album. I think digital is the way forward, but there are also  buyers who want a CD for their collection. I didn't see why not because it means my music can be heard by more people. 
What impact do you think the digital release of this album will have on  the local music scene? 
I  hope the success of  the album will show local singers it is worth trying new things and I hope  it opens up new channels for their music. 
Will your future releases also  be digital? 
It would be ideal if I could release both physical and digital albums. Some places, such as the mainland, are too big and people are too scattered for a record store to be convenient, so downloading is more practical  and digital releases are ideal. But for small  places such as Hong Kong, people are used to record stores and love collecting CDs, so I think I will do both.
So is your  deal with Universal Music a one-off deal? 
Not exactly.  We are not going to work as partners, but I will still be able to give them my ideas for a new album.  I think we will work together on the next couple of releases. 
Universal approached you 10 years ago, but you chose Rock Records instead. Why?
For me, choosing a record label  is  like choosing  a boyfriend or husband and  I felt  I had a better spark with Rock Records then,  but this time it feels right to work with Universal Music. We are speaking  the same language and  that is important when  making music. 
Speaking of relationships, you have been single since breaking up with Stephen Fung Tak-lun in 2007 after nine years together. How is your relationship with him now?
We bumped into each other at the recent MTV  awards in Shanghai but you know how crazy it  can get back stage - we just had a short chat. We are still very good friends.  
How do you feel about marriage?
Marriage is  not on my list. I've never been the kind of girl to fantasise about my dream wedding or the perfect wedding gown, but I am not opposed to marriage either.  
Would you get married if you met Mr Right? 
I think when two people are  ready  to spend  the rest of their  lives together, that  carrying out a little ritual such as hosting a wedding or signing a marriage certificate to  make it official is not that difficult. But it all depends on the other half too. I  wouldn't force it. 
Do you think Karen Mok is easy  to be with?
I am a human being, and I have flaws. I think some men  would find the focus and energy with which I pursue my career frightening. But performing is what I live for.  Of course, one's life  is incomplete without love, but I believe you don't need to go out and hunt for your true love; that person will find you. When that happens, I will congratulate  that lucky person on finding me. And I know he is somewhere out there. But my top goal is to bring more good shows to people. 
hui wei will be out on Dec 22



Q&A:  Karen Mok