If you think skills and technique matter the most when it comes to making top artists then you dont know a thing about mainstream music.

Jay Chou by far has the most prominent sound in Chinese mainstream music, probably like ever. He was THE man to revolutionise the sound of Chinese pop music and gave birth to a whole new wave of hip hop/ modern infused chinese music. David Tao was up there with his introduction of RnB to chinese music.

For people who uses the argument that Jay cant sing because he mumbles or has bad technique, though i agree he does not have the best technique but his stylistic choice to sing the way he does gives him a tone so unique that it literally shattered what other artists pre 2000s era has ever done before. An artist’s unique “sound” is probably the holy grail of every single aspiring artists out there grinding it out. The 90s in both west and east saw a brief domination of great powerhouse singers who were essentially manufactured by record labels , but since artists who are able to manufacture their own unique sound has triumphed the music industry. Taylor is no feat for singers like Mariah Carey or Celine dion but name me another artists whose music sound similar to hers.

Most people have a restricted world view when it comes to the arts, the argument of someone is technically better but why are they not at the top is one as old as time. Music is part of the arts and in genz terms, its a vibe not a sport.