RAAS ### Chapter 27: Joint Resistance (Part 1)
### Chapter 27: Joint Resistance (Part 1)
Music Home started as a website created by a group of music enthusiasts. Over time, it grew in significance and became more than just a place to discuss music. With the continuous influx of online users and countless fans joining, it gradually transformed into a hub for fans to discuss contemporary singers, while the original music enthusiasts began to fade away.
Some singers, seeking fame, often visited Music Home to promote themselves. However, the public has sharp eyes. Truly exceptional songs don’t need promotion to become wildly popular. In contrast, those self-promotion posts often failed to gain widespread support and were met with ridicule from critical fans.
As a result, some singers with fragile egos, unless necessary, refrained from showcasing their songs on Music Home.
After logging onto Music Home, Song Xueqi quickly browsed the forum’s homepage and noticed several fans were already posting about the latest episode of "Music Star." Among these posts, those discussing Li Qing's defeat in the PK match were rapidly gaining attention and generating heated discussions.
“Can someone explain what’s going on with ‘Music Star’ this time? Why does Li Qing face such blatant manipulation every time? Last time, he was suppressed by Zhao Wendi, and now it's Leng Ling? Is the supposedly just and unbiased queen really so unfair? Even I, who knows little about music, can tell that 'Fly Higher' is far superior. Are all the judges at the scene deaf?”
One fan with the ID “NeverGetItRight” angrily wrote in a popular thread, “If a talent show loses its intended fairness, its existence becomes meaningless.”
“Laughing my head off here. When ‘Music Star’ first aired, it boasted about its principles of ‘fairness,’ ‘justice,’ and ‘openness.’ Turns out it’s all a sham. Now that it has high ratings, it’s acting unscrupulously for profit? Can Beijing TV, as the capital’s station, have some dignity and not disgrace our city?”
A fan with the ID “CutThroughVegetables” unleashed a wave of sarcastic remarks: “And according to what I’ve heard, the one who suppressed Li Qing this time wasn’t just anyone but Leng Ling! The queen, Leng Ling! Do you know which company Leng Ling belongs to? Expedition Media! Those familiar with Beijing’s music scene know that Expedition Media is one of the top three media companies here. Impressive, right? High status, right? Otherwise, how could they produce a queen?
But do you know which company Li Qing belongs to now? Some friends might have already looked into this during the last episode. Yes, that’s right. You didn’t misread. Li Qing is also an artist under Expedition Media! And so is Zhao Wendi, who claimed to be Li Qing’s senior in the show!
So, isn’t the truth glaringly obvious?
After the last episode aired, some media reported that Zhao Wendi used his connections and status to suppress Li Qing beforehand. And in this episode, the queen of the same company, without regard for her stature, came specifically to ‘Music Star’ to suppress a new talent from her own company. Can you imagine this happening within the same company? Publicly warming, but secretly stabbing? What a loving media company!
‘Dream Song’ is good, but only good. It doesn’t leave me in awe. Compared to ‘Fly Higher,’ it’s nothing. Especially since ‘Fly Higher’ redefines rock music. Its significance is something ‘Dream Song’ can’t match.”
A user named “BlushingLittleRedRidingHood” also angrily posted: “Like many, I believe there’s a significant grudge among these artists at Expedition Media. Just now, I found out more about contestant No. 5, Xie Sixue. You know which company this contestant, who beat Li Qing, belongs to? Expedition Media! I spit!…”
At the end of their post, “BlushingLittleRedRidingHood” sarcastically commented, “I must say, Expedition Media is playing a grand game of chess!”
Reading these posts, Song Xueqi felt more and more excited. In the end, she wanted to stand up and cheer.
Well done, comrades!
Indeed, great minds think alike!
It wasn’t just her who believed "Fly Higher" was better than "Dream Song."
Song Xueqi eagerly opened the post editor and wrote her thread's title: "Does 'Music Star' Even Need to Exist Anymore?" She then began typing her thoughts:
“I’ve been on Music Home for two years. I usually lurk without posting, but this time, I can't stay silent!
First, a bit about myself. I’m Song, an editor at a well-known entertainment magazine in Beijing. I’ve been following 'Music Star' even before it aired. This is because it’s the first talent show in the country. Beyond work, I watch this groundbreaking show with a lot of affection.
After 'Music Star' aired, I was initially a bit disappointed. Perhaps the show’s fame wasn’t high enough, or maybe people were too reserved to sign up, resulting in uneven contestant quality.
Although similar shows abroad are thriving, ‘Music Star’ is new to the domestic scene. It has its flaws, but I believed in supporting it even if I didn’t like it, mainly to boost its ratings. So, I watched from the first episode to the latest.
Among the contestants, Li Qing stood out. I fondly call him ‘Li Qing Baby.’ Apart from his excellent looks, his voice is pretty good, especially his original song ‘Angel’s Wings,’ which left me mesmerized. Since the episode aired, this song has become a massive hit, even reaching the top ten on the national radio song request chart.
These days, whenever I walk down the street, I often hear this song from record stores, showing its immense popularity. Many know that thanks to Li Qing’s song, Beijing TV’s ratings, which hovered around 15%, shot up by six points, breaking the local TV’s 20% viewership barrier and setting a new record! This means that in Beijing, one in every ten people has watched ‘Music Star’!
I was thrilled when Li Qing’s new song in the competition met my expectations! I read many posts about his new song ‘Fly Higher’ on this forum and found universal praise. This made me very happy, confirming that my judgment wasn’t wrong. This is the public’s choice! It’s the fans’ will!
But what did I witness?
‘Music Star’s’ manipulation, filthy dealings, and suppression!
I could tolerate Zhao Wendi, this recently popular young singer. But now, even the queen, Leng Ling, disregards the public’s wishes, openly lying. Such blatant suppression is intolerable! I believe many feel the same!
Many friends have exposed Xie Sixue’s background. Haha, a newly signed promising artist of Expedition Media, right? Now I understand everything. To promote their promising artist, they’re burying Li Qing Baby, who’s been in the shadows for a year?
I’m furious. Seeing Li Qing Baby’s grievance on stage almost broke my heart. Faced with the combined suppression of the show’s judges and the queen, Li Qing Baby neither argued nor protested but chose silence! Continuous silence! From the moment the PK result was announced, he remained silent until the show ended!
This might be his silent protest!
I hate my powerlessness and detest the darkness of ‘Music Star!’
Since the show ended, I’ve been pondering the point of continuing to watch it. Then I realized, if the show mistreats my favorite Li Qing Baby, why should I keep watching?
It no longer has any meaning. I believe many friends feel the same despair…
Continue to support such a filthy show with high ratings?
Song Xueqi sneered as she typed the final sentence: "Sorry, but I’m not that kind-hearted.”