Wednesday, November 28, 2018 17 YOUTH CHINA DAILY HONG KONG EDITION JUST CAN’T STOP hen Jiang Bin, a This boom in the genre may producer with remind people of 2005’s iQiyi — one of Super Girls and 2012’s inau­ China’s three gural season of The Voice of biggest W video­streaming plat­ China, arguably the pinnacle forms — decided to make Idol THE MUSIC of the Chinese music­talent Hits, he had little to refer to show on traditional TV. Nev­ from the country’s existing ertheless, it seems clear that online variety shows. The popularity of musical reality shows is once again on the rise, and producers are looking the public appetite for such As a new show, broadcast in to tap into niche markets to ensure the genre’s longevity, Wang Kaihao reports. shows is well and truly whet­ September and conceived to ted once more, and they have enable musicians to hit the been away from our screens record charts, Idol Hits coop­ for too long. erated with Billboard China — “Without ‘being true’, a a music­publication brand reality show will no longer associated with the US music­ have room to exist,” Chen Wei, business trade magazine, Bill­ vice­president of iQiyi, says. board — to both show the “In a time when media is singers’ sparkling moments dominated by the internet, onstage and record their people call for new idols that painstaking behind­the­ have stronger individual scenes stories. characters. “It can be a professional “They are different from platform for musicians to pro­ those stars catering for the mote their new singles,” Jiang orthodox aesthetics of TV,” says. “No matter whether they Chen, who was a producer of are established pop stars, folk The Voice of China, says. musicians or newcomers to “Therefore, we producers the industry, they are given a need to design storylines to fancy stage upon which to enable participants to fully show their talents and interact display their characters. And, with fans.” with web­based shows, we can “Everyone in China who is better adjust our formats devoted to making original according to viewers’ feed­ music has been expecting such back.” a platform,” says Cai Xukun, a It is not only about revival. musician participating in the Online platforms also give show. “Musicians of different some marginalized or even styles have a chance to get underground genres more together. People can also see chances to be heard. how we prepare for our per­ For example, before The formances.” Rap of China, a reality show There used to be some pop­ that aired on iQiyi in 2017, few ular shows on traditional TV people probably would have channels in China with a simi­ imagined how many phrases lar concept, but they have all and slang words hip­hop but disappeared in recent would contribute to people’s years. daily conversations over the “The reasons were compli­ ning the flames of people’s Cai is the band’s leader. course of a summer. The show cated,” Jiang says. “Even music interest. Another internet Maybe as a counterstrike, attracted 3 billion online views videos have become rarer and company, Tencent, released its Tencent released an all­fe­ within three months of its pre­ rarer in China due to low rates Uni Music Chart in October. male counterpart, Produce miere. of return. As such, music fans And Youku, the other stream­ 101, in April. The show not Stylish street dancers also will lose the visual impression ing platform in the Chinese only created a new pop band, have opportunities to display of music that they had in the industry’s leading trio, Rocket Girls 101, but also, their swagger on center stage old days. announced that it will soon somewhat inadvertently, thanks to shows like iQiyi’s “Many Chinese musicians also have its own music­chart made Wang Ju — who wasn’t Hot Blood Dance Crew and also have crossover careers in show. given much hope on the show Youku’s Street Dance of China film, TV, advertising and all By accident or design, because of her supposed earlier this year. kinds of variety shows. That thanks to these streaming plat­ unattractiveness — a cultural “In the future, successful can sometimes distract from forms, 2018 has become a year icon and a feminist heroine reality shows will likely propel their music careers.” of revival for music idols for when she stood up to cyber­ the interests of a niche market Jiang reveals that some various reasons. It has also wit­ bullies and those who criti­ into the public consciousness, musicians were reluctant to nessed an unprecedented bat­ cized her, not for her singing, rather than cater to the wider join the show at first because tle for viewers among the three but for not living up to impos­ public taste in the first place,” of their tight schedules. “How­ biggest operators in the inter­ sible feminine ideals. People Yang Weidong, head of Youku, ever, it’s worthwhile to over­ net arena. connected with her sincerity says. “New aesthetics, new come the early difficulties to For example, Cai became and self­confidence. knowledge and new storytel­ have a successful model,” he nationally known through Earlier this month, Tencent ling skills are all needed to says. “To send a satellite into Idol Producer, which piloted announced it will begin pro­ make a hit.” orbit will cost a lot, but once in January and finally created duction of the program’s sec­ it’s there, it can run itself.” Nine Percent, an all­male Above: Kazakh singer Dimash Kudaibergen is among many musicians participating in the recent ond season, but this time the Contact the writer at Maybe the comeback of the band comprised of the nine variety show Idol Hits, a program on iQiyi. Top: Produce 101 is one of China’s popular online variety competitors will be replaced wangkaihao@ genre will ignite a spark, fan­ winners of the reality show. shows this year, leading a new wave of music idols. PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY by male artists. chinadaily.com.cn interpersonal skills have been enhanced considerably.” Wang Yuan is more than just a pop idol for his fans Moreover, since Wang stresses charity, Zhang also started to offer a hand in chari­ By WANG RU lowers on Sina Weibo. donating money to orphana­ table work. [email protected] At the concert, Wang sang ges in Ethiopia, helping autis­ “I used to be lazy, but seeing more than 20 songs to an tic children and fostering my idol’s effort to engage in Zhai Miaomiao clearly audience of nearly 5,000 trees in Wang’s hometown. charity, I also take part in vol­ remembers the date when she while also speaking about Many fans say they like unteer activities at school,” began to fancy Wang Yuan, a what it meant to enter adult­ Wang for his good looks, posi­ says Zhang. member of the Chinese boy hood. tive attitude and good behav­ “Everybody around me band, TFBoys. “For me, my 18th birthday ior. knows that I am a fan of “It was on April 4, 2015, marks the end of adolescence Li Shanshan, 23, says: “I Wang. So, if I am more kind­ when I noticed him on the and start of independence,” he like his character. He’s cute hearted and help others variety show, Happy Camp. says. and has a high emotional often, they know that Wang is He sang a song while clad in a The theme of the concert quotient.” influencing me.” pink sweater. I thought he was “Born to be free and love Yin Mengyao, 22, says: “He Liu says Wang is her impetus was so cute. I became a fan, without fear”, which comes possesses some of the quali­ to become a better person. searching online for videos of from the lyrics of Wang’s new ties that I hope I can have. “Since my idol is excellent, I him,” says Zhai. song that expresses a resolve He’s vigorous, and always also want to improve myself so Since then, Wang has to step forward with love, gives me a positivity.” that I will feel proud of myself become an indispensable part freedom and no fear of hard­ Zhang Yixin, 18, says: “I when I get a chance to see of Zhai’s life. ship. remember once at a variety him.” So it was not surprising to To many fans, attending show, when he was misunder­ Many fans often buy maga­ see her outside the Chong­ this concert was significant as stood, instead of getting zines featuring Wang’s photo­ qing International Expo Cen­ they were witnessing his tran­ angry, he just smiled, waiting graphs on the cover and other ter where Wang’s 18th­ sition from a teenager to an for a chance to clarify. merchandise related to him. birthday concert, Bornfree, adult. Wang Yuan sings a song at his 18th­birthday concert in his hometown, Chongqing, celebrating his “I couldn’t believe that such Yuan Yiming, a 24­year­old was held in his hometown, Members of the TF fan club entry into adulthood with thousands of fans in the venue and numerous others watching the tele­ a young person could be so fan, refers to their purchasing Chongqing, on Nov 17. could sign up for a draw to get cast of the concert. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY tolerant and keep calm when acts as “a kind of spiritual Wang has been a popular free tickets to the concert. he was misunderstood.” expense”. star ever since he made his Some fans like 21­year­old By joining in activities Li says: “I think it’s a com­ debut with bandmates Wang Gong Yaqi were lucky to get a She stayed on until 9:30 pm another and sang songs to jiang province, to celebrate linked to Wang, she has devel­ mon phenomenon since stars Junkai and Yi Yangqianxi in ticket from the draw.