Real Huang, who earns S$1.17 million a year in royalties, to move family to Singapore

Real Huang (阿沁), a former member of Taiwanese band F.I.R. who made his debut 20 years ago, has gradually shifted his career focus towards music education in recent years. The talented musician has also invested nearly NT$10 million (about S$400,000) to establish music schools Little Future in Taipei and Singapore to nurture young talent.

In an interview with China Times News on 31 October, he revealed that he plans to move to Singapore.

Huang has devoted himself to promoting and innovating in music education in recent years. Last October, he announced that he was officially stepping away from his singing career to become a full-time father and music teacher. Having previously invested in a teaching space in Taipei, he will next shift his focus to Singapore as the brand matures and seeks to expand internationally, with a space combining classrooms and a small theatre.

He and his wife, Huahua, have been married for 12 years and have two daughters. He places great importance on being present as his daughters grow up and is planning to move to Singapore with his wife and children, who will attend school there. The move is also part of his long-term planning for their international education and further studies.

With Taiwan and Singapore only about four hours apart by air and in the same time zone, he said he would travel frequently between the two to balance family life with his teaching commitments in both places.

Huang has written numerous hits, including “Our Love” (《我们的爱》), “Crescent Bay” (《月牙弯》), “Compromise” (《妥协》) and “I’m Easy to Fool” (《我很好骗》). He previously revealed that he earns about NT$30 million (S$1.17 million) a year in royalties. He said he has built up a rich catalogue of enduring songs over a music career spanning nearly 25 years. As intellectual property protection and the digital music market have developed, the steady stream of royalties has indeed given him financial peace of mind.

He said: “My personal life is actually very simple. I don’t keep luxury cars. Most of my spending goes on my children’s education and family holidays.” With his income exceeding his expenses, he has achieved financial freedom, giving him more time to spend with his family and pursue his passion for music education.

Having sold his first composition in 2002, Huang will mark the 25th anniversary of his debut next year. He is preparing a special anniversary concert and a new original single, hoping to reconnect through music with the fans who have supported him over the years and pass on his accumulated musical experience to the next generation of talent.

Reflecting on his first year away from the entertainment industry, he said that seeking advice from more experienced peers and making adjustments had gradually taught him to let go. He now confidently entrusts the schools’ operations and administration to his team, allowing him to focus on teaching and composing and feel recharged.

Unlike the irregular hours and packed schedule of his singing career, he can now manage his own time. He gets up early each day to take his two daughters to and from school, finds time to exercise and stay in shape, and can arrange family holidays on Disney cruises. He said happily that he had finally found the perfect balance between his career, interests and family, and was beginning to enjoy a life of stepping back without stopping work.