Wang Liping is pictured at the launch of the anthology [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Zheng Bonong, a consultant for the project and former editor-in-chief of Journal of Literature and Art, sees the value of the anthology because he thinks lyric writers are worth more attention and higher status in the cultural field.

According to Wang, the team has already finished compiling the second part of the project, and a seven-volume chronological anthology of modern Chinese songs, including both the lyrics and the music notations, will be published later this year.