What does a Number 1 song in China actually mean in 2026, and how is it different from a U.S. radio “Number 1”? Nashville songwriter and producer Mark Siegel breaks down his real-world experience landing a Billboard China chart-topper with Lay Zhang (EXO), including how China’s music economy is still heavily download and sales-based, how platforms like QQ Music and NetEase function, and why “units sold” can move at a pace that feels impossible in the U.S. We get into the truth about mechanical royalties overseas, why collection can be confusing without the right subpublisher, and what Mark learned working with a UMG-affiliated admin team to protect his songwriter copyright and publishing. This conversation goes deeper than headlines. Mark explains how K-pop, C-pop, and M-pop fan culture fuels massive first-week sales, how an English version can outperform a translated version, and what it feels like to watch 80,000 people in an arena sing a song that started as a piano-vocal demo in a hotel room. We also talk about the business model behind modern songwriting careers, why the “middle class” of music has collapsed, and how creators can build sustainable income through multiple lanes like production, artist development, sync licensing, and high-paying film trailers. If you are a songwriter, producer, independent artist, music business student, or creator trying to understand global music markets, royalty collection, publishing administration, and how to think beyond Nashville radio, this episode is a masterclass. It is also a reminder that the most powerful wins are not always plaques. Sometimes it is the moment your song becomes bigger than you. Keywords: Mark Siegel, Lay Zhang, EXO, K-pop songwriter, C-pop, M-pop, Billboard China, QQ Music, NetEase, mechanical royalties, publishing, subpublishing, UMG, Outestry, sync licensing, film trailers, trailerized remixes, music industry business, songwriter royalties, Nashville songwriting, global music market. Most listeners are not subscribed. If you enjoy conversations like this, subscribing is the biggest free way to support. Connect with us: https://www.tiktok.com/@stephanhogan https://www.instagram.com/stephanhogan https://www.facebook.com/stephanhogan Email: contact@mavericksmediaco.com Filmed in Nashville, TN Produced: Stephan Hogan Mavericks Media Co. Production
