Shen Lihui, founder of Modern Sky. [Photo provided to China Daily]

"We need music in any circumstances. We want to keep people lighthearted, either they enjoy music outdoor or are confined to their apartments," says Shen. "We are proud that Modern Sky has made it. We've been offering people, especially the young generation, creative and good music."

Soon, he got his answer about the mission of his company: "ode to life". It was announced during the recent public event held by Modern Sky in Beijing, reviewing what the company did in 2020 and revealing its plans in 2021.

"We had a rude awakening to the reality of the coronavirus pandemic when our shows scheduled to be held early this year were canceled. Just in four days, we decided and organized the first online program," recalls Zhang Chongshuo, vice-president of Modern Sky. Soon, the company came out with plans to stage online shows by selling tickets, which guaranteed that musicians could have an income during the crisis.

"We tried to figure out how to make the best of it. The good thing is that fans loved the online programs, either singer-songwriters performing from their bedrooms or bands playing intimate acoustic version of their hits. The artists seemed to build up a special connection with their fans during the viral outbreak," says Zhang. "It inspired us to reconsider about what we do with music and what the company will do."

The growth of Modern Sky coincided with the blossom of the country's live house venues and bands, says Shen. One of the company's major products, the Strawberry Music Festival, which was born in 2010 in Beijing, has been held in 29 Chinese cities, and attracted over 6 million people. Most, 86 percent, of them are people born after 1990.

Shen announced that the theme for 2021 Strawberry Music Festival is "Re", which refers to the recovery and restart of the world after the coronavirus pandemic.