[1] Early pioneers of the genre include Wong Hong Mok, Liang Wern Fook, Dawn Gan, Eric Moo and Billy Koh.
They were responsible for the discovery of many successful Singapore artistes in the Asia Chinese-Pop music scene, including Kit Chan, A-Do and JJ Lin.
Lee brothers Weisong and Sisong, pioneers of xinyao, had also penned popular songs for other Asian pop heavyweights such as Jam Hsiao and Jacky Cheung.
The Taiwanese folk genre sought an authentic native Taiwan identity exemplified by songs such as "Grandma's Penghu Bay" (外婆的澎湖灣).
The first group registered at Clementi Community Centre in 1983 was Merlion (魚尾獅小組), which comprised Simon Low, Kee Chee Chuan,[5] and Koh Mui Hoe.
[10] On July 30, 1985, national newspaper The Straits Times announced that 100 young songwriters would present their own compositions in a two-day concert over 6 and 7 September at the World Trade Centre auditorium.
The Straits Times reported: 'The musical standard... may not have been something to shout about, but the young musicians' talents and their strong urge to create their own songs were good enough to win the day'.
[13] By 1986, groups such as Zebra Crossing, Lucky 13, Equator, Kite, tide, Partners, City, Oasis, Wireless, Compass and other names were active in the xinyao community.
We [People's Association] want to create more opportunities for enthusiasts to perform, meet and grow through activities like concerts, competitions and music camps.'
Lily Kong focuses on xinyao as a construction by the youth of Singapore, by examining the phenomenon via the lens of society and culture.
Kong argues also that the early xinyao groups consisted of teenagers from junior colleges that were largely isolated, that were writing songs without knowledge that there were others with similar interests.
Kong also addresses the decline of the movement, stating that while Xinyao Festival '85 had taken on the style of a school concert ceremony, by 1989 the award presenation had 'become televised and "very glitzy and hyped-up" so as to "inspire more part-time songwriters and singers to go full time, and pave the way for more recording opportunities".'.
[27] One of the very crucial and deciding factors that pushed xinyao towards its level of popularity was the increased exposure in radio stations as well as television.
In 2018, a Singaporean reality-competition series organised by Mediacorp, titled SPOP Sing!, targets local students from Singapore in search of finding a homegrown musical talent as well as promoting local music culture of both mandopop and xinyao, as well as paying tribute to modern singers that rose to fame, such as Sing!
During his Chinese National Day Rally speech in 2014, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong started off by singing to a popular xinyao tune, Small Stream that Flows Forever (細水長流) by Liang Wern Fook.