TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The Mandarin-speaking world's premier award show, The Golden Melody Awards (GMAs), feted its 30th anniversary on June 29 in Taipei with Taiwanese superstar Jolin Tsai snatching two trophies.

The festivities also included the sixth edition of the Golden Melody Festival conference, which addressed issues in digital marketing, digital rights management and the sync music business, among others.

The Awards, held at the Taipei Arena, were dominated by Jolin Tsai, who won song of the year for Womxnly, and album of the year for Ugly Beauty. She also put on a stunning performance, joined on stage by about 32 domestic and international dancers. Tsai now has six GMAs, making her one the top winners of all time. Jay Chou is the all-time leader with 15 and Jody Chiang has the most for a woman, with 13.

The four-plus hour extravaganza was nationally broadcast in Taiwan and streamed around the world for Mandarin speakers on the mainland, in greater China and beyond. Performances included a set from legendary Taiwanese female trio S.H.E. and the Japanese act Yuzu.

The GMA conference involved numerous panels, master classes and networking sessions:

-- On the first day, June 26, the panel “Strategies and Integration in Digital Marketing” offered ideas on how to promote an artist using digital tools. Singaporean industry insider, now Director of Market Development (APAC) for CD Baby, Keith Tan, explained how he targeted Facebook ads to Thailand before even reaching out to contacts there to book an act.

-- On June 27 Jeff Bova, Grammy-award winning producer for Celine Dion gave a master class on composing and music production which offered the audience insight into techniques used by the highest level of producers. Sync expert Mark Frieser had a dialog with legendary music supervisor Nora Felder on the supervisor's role and how to get you music noticed for sync.

-- June 28 saw the informative panel “Digital Rights Management in the Modern Age.” Benjamin Ng, regional Asia-Pacific director for CISAC gave an upbeat assessment of the situation in China, noting collection of publishing rights is stepping up and suggesting the authorities are trying to bring China in line with international norms.

In addition to the awards and conference, the GMAs put on two platforms to present up-and-coming Asian and international bands. The showcases were held every night of the conference and standouts included the electro dreampop of Taiwanese duo Astro Bunny, reminiscent of the Cocteau Twins, and Mongolian rapper Ginjin, who has worked with American producers. On the Heat stage, an outside venue in the central Xingyi district, the Singaporean electro duo .gif stole the spotlight with their dark riffs, atmospheric soundscapes and immersive vocals.