Mayday, Popular Taiwanese Rock Band Probed for Lip-Synching Allegations in China
Taiwanese rock band Mayday faces investigation by Chinese authorities for allegedly lip-synching at their recent concerts, sparking a major controversy on Chinese social media The band's label denies the accusations, escalating the heated debate
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Chinese authorities are currently investigating Taiwanese rock band Mayday for alleged lip-synching during their recent concerts. The band's label has denied the accusations, sparking controversy on Chinese social media.
Mayday's recent performances in Shanghai have sparked accusations, as the band performed eight times over a 10-day period in mid-November, drawing a crowd of over 360,000 fans. The band, recognized as the "Asian Beatles," has been a prominent figure in the music industry for over two decades, with a massive fan base in China where their shows regularly sell out.
The Shanghai Culture and Tourism Bureau, a government department responsible for commercial performances, expressed concern over the public outcry regarding alleged "lip-synching" at a concert. They have mandated the concert organizer to assist in an investigation, according to state news agency Xinhua. In response, Maydays record company Bin Music issued a statement on Monday evening, dismissing the online accusations as "malicious attacks, rumors and slander," emphasizing the damage caused to the band's reputation.
"Our company is working closely with law enforcement authorities to conduct investigations. We are confident that the authorities will provide a fair outcome to clarify the situation," stated a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo.
CNN has contacted Bin Music for their response.
Live performances often incorporate pre-recorded background vocals and music to enhance the live singing performances of artists, particularly for acts that include energetic choreography.
In China, government regulations prohibit performers from deceiving audiences with lip-synching, and organizers from facilitating lip-synching by performers. Those found in violation of this regulation can be fined up to 100,000 yuan (approximately $14,000). The guidelines on the implementation of these regulations define lip-synching as the use of pre-recorded songs instead of live singing.
Last Thursday, controversy erupted when a music vlogger on Bilibili, one of China's largest video-sharing platforms, uploaded a video. In the video, the vlogger used computer software to analyze the vocals of 12 songs recorded live by a fan at Mayday's concert in Shanghai on November 16. The vlogger alleged that his analysis revealed the band's lead singer, Ashin, lip-synced at least five songs during the three-hour performance. He claimed that the singer's vocals were consistently in tune for those songs but fluctuated significantly in pitch for the others.
The vlogger's accusations went viral on Weibo, quickly becoming the top trending topic with over 300 million views by Sunday. While some Mayday fans expressed disappointment, others came to the band's defense by sharing live performance clips showcasing Ashin's clear and in-tune vocals.
CCTV reported on Monday that video and audio recordings of Maydays concerts in Shanghai had been submitted to local authorities for "scientific evaluation and analysis," and that the results will be announced soon. Mayday performs mostly in Mandarin, with some songs in the Hokkien dialect.
Their music is infectious and uplifting, blending pop and rock influences that are reminiscent of bands like U2 or One Direction. Their song titles, such as "Party Animal," "Cheers" and "Here, After Us," capture the youthful innocence and emotions of their generation. Additionally, the band is renowned for their high-energy performances, often lasting two to three hours.
Since their emergence in the late 1990s, the band has gained a devoted fanbase not only among millennials, but also among gen-Zs who are nearly half their age.
While other Taiwanese artists have faced challenges in China for speaking out about the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as its own territory, Mayday has largely avoided politics and continues to enjoy great popularity among mainland Chinese.
After China lifted its strict zero-Covid policy and travel restrictions, they were among the pioneering Taiwanese musicians to hold large-scale concerts in the country.
Chinese state media reported that nearly 300,000 tickets for six shows in Beijing were sold out within five seconds when Mayday's concerts went on sale in May.
CNNs Martha Zhou and Marian Liu contributed to this report.
