The pirates are dying: Long live music

China's recorded music industry is thriving as copyright protection strengthens and musical tastes diversify

The alarm clock that pulled Su Wen from her sleep on April 30 signaled the start of a long and eventful day. It was 4:30 am, giving Su just enough time to dress and wash before heading to the main railway station in Jinan, Shandong province.

The 21-year-old Shandong Normal University student caught the first train to Beijing and arrived just before 8 am, then boarded a subway train bound for Wangjing, in Beijing's north, where she would meet friends who would together drive to their destination.