Depends on the artist. But I know more creative japanese music than western.

I think Asian music is more creative. All western music sounds pretty much the same to me now.

I would like to remember people that the western music market isn't made only of anglophone artists... On the same way eastern music isn't only jpop/kpop.

And even on the most mainstream part of either market there are a lot of pretty creative releases.

Western is more creative and influental

They both have their creative highs and lows. Can't choose just one.

What about bjork?
Utada's stuff is creative too

Both... >_<

Asian. Maybe Japanese, slightly Korean. I could count the amount of chinese songs I've heard on one hand.

Western (mainstream) music tends to all sound the ABSOLUTE SAME and it's ridiculously annoying. It's probably why I hate singers (note: not artists) like Rihanna

Hmmm...I consider this topic to be an "Apples vs. Oranges" debate.

I truly believe that Western music is more creative/influential because not only has Western music (both mainstream and indie) influenced the world with its sound, it set the bar for how music should be made, performed, promoted, etc. From eccentric artists like Bjork to and mainstream artist like Kanye West, (YES! Kanye West is EXTREMELY artistic, every album I heard from him is amazing and there is NOTHING you can say to change my mind!! :D) I feel an erray of emotions I can't get from other Asian artists. However, I feel that Asian music has a set theme for their overall music.

To make it easier, when you think of Asiann music what comes to mind? Maybe something exotic like Arabian music for bellydancing or something from a far eastern mountain with fog and foreign strings with drumming beats? I'm not too good with describing it but I hope you get the gist! And when you think of Eastern music, a lot of fancy and exotic colors, clothing, and pretty looking things come to mind. But with Western music, it's more mixed and somewhat muddled because of the mixing cultures and races.

Now I'm going to lie and say Western music today is as strong as it was 10 years ago (after 2006 MAINSTREAM music went completely downhill) but it still has that influence. And here's my reasons to back up my claim:

1.) The K-Pop Wave/Hallyu wave is heavily influenced ranging from American R&B/Hip-Hop/Electronica/Pop. The only difference is that they just made their music slightly cleaner, wore bright colored outfits, cute "perfect" faces, and their look is more conventional compared to their American counterparts.
Ex. Wonder Girls- Nobody: HUGE hit in 2008. Has African-American influences ranging from the Motown inspired PV, the Dreamgirls from rags to riches theme, Yoobin's voice in general has a tough-image sound etc.
2NE1- Their sound- CL raps like Da Brat, Minzy mainly freestyles to Hip-Hop music, Bom sings like American R&B artists, and Dara sings/raps have a light pop influence
Big Bang- Went from straight, semi-hardcore Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B to Pitbull-esque Pop and electronic music.

2.) Japan during mid 90s-early 00s, was like watching American MTV, VH1, and BET. It felt to me everytime you would see an American artist come out with a new song or video, a Japanese artist would make a copy. I can't think out the top of my head but Namie, Koda Kumi, Utada, and Ayu were the first ones to stick out.

Overall, what I'm trying to say is that I think Western music is more creative because Asian music set the same pattern for decades and if an artist decided to do something different it would more than likely be Western influenced.

@MimiChild
I agree on every account. Maybe I misunderstood you but J-Pop still is heavily influenced by Western pop. Western things in general just seem to be favored over native things.

I won't say I enjoy Western pop though. It doesn't help that English pop lyrics are laughable at best. Once in a while Ayu will pop out some incredible melody that can be heard in songs like 'Will' or stunning arrangements like 'HEAVEN' that are unheard in Western pop.

The only Western song I truly enjoy now is 'My Hands' by Leona Lewis. Beautiful melody and arrangement. Its only problem are the lyrics. (sample: "I wake in the morning, tired of sleeping. I get in the shower and make my bed alone. Put on my make up. Talking to the mirror." Oh? Tell us more.) Other than that, the UK seems to do everything better, I think. However, that's an argument for another thread.

^ Oh I still consider J-Pop to still be influenced by Western music. And I agree with Western Music (even J-Pop/K-Pop to an extent) hasn't amazed me in a while...that's why I'm experimenting with more folkish-hybrids like Sa Dingding and Singersen!

Most mainstream western music does sound alike to me, it's just a matter of finding that
one "unique" artist/band/whatever in the whole bunch (in my case, for example, Lana Del Rey or Coldplay)
When it comes to lyrical creativity definitely asian for me, but both sides have their pros and cons when it comes to music

Asian.

I think western music lacks a lot of creativity, if we're talking about Pop music of course.

honestly, both have some good artists but a lot of bad ones.