Mainland Blogger “Wheatfield Farmer” Closes Business After Accusing Mayday of Lip-Syncing
Chinese music blogger “Wheatfield Farmer,” known for accusing Taiwanese pop band Mayday of lip-syncing at a concert in Shanghai, has announced the closure of his business. The blogger, who gained fame for his “Lip-syncing Appraisal Series,” made the announcement in a video update on the Chinese audio and video platform BiliBili.
“Wheatfield Farmer,” a former guitarist who transitioned to producing lip-syncing identification videos in January 2023, accused over 20 singers of lip-syncing before targeting Mayday. In his videos analyzing Mayday’s performance, he claimed to have found evidence of lip-syncing by lead singer Ashin. The accusations sparked controversy and led to an investigation by Shanghai officials.
Despite the attention his videos received, “Wheatfield Farmer” revealed that his total income from the past year was only 39,021 yuan, with half coming from the Mayday videos. He cited concerns about the legal implications of his work, as well as the risk of being misled by tampered audio files submitted by netizens, as reasons for closing his business.
The closure of “Wheatfield Farmer’s” business has left many netizens dissatisfied, with some criticizing his methods and accusing him of spreading false information. The blogger’s decision comes amid pressure from Chinese officials on Mayday to make a political statement declaring Taiwan as part of China.
The incident highlights the blurred lines between entertainment and politics in China, as well as the challenges faced by independent bloggers in a tightly controlled media environment. As “Wheatfield Farmer” closes his business, the future of online music criticism in China remains uncertain.
Editor in charge: Sun Yun