Li Ronghao’s Tour Surge, New Video Release, and NFC Album Glitch Spotlight Quality‑Control Challenges in China’s Pop Scene
Singer‑songwriter Li Ronghao, one of China’s most streamed pop acts, has spent the past few weeks juggling a packed performance calendar, a new music video rollout, and a high‑profile technical mishap that has sparked a wider conversation about quality control in the modern music business.
13 September 2025
Fans in Xiamen woke up to the news that Li’s “Black Horse” world tour would roll into the city tomorrow, September 13, marking the latest stop on a circuit that has already taken him from Beijing’s stadiums to a soaring “Free Soul” tour leg in Malaysia earlier this year. The Malaysian dates, announced through local ticketing platform Ticket2U, were greeted with sold‑out crowds and highlighted Li’s collaborations with fellow artists Liu Ruoying, Sun Yanzi and Zhang Yixing. Yet not every date has gone smoothly; a concert slated for April 12, 2025 at the Hebei Olympic Sports Center was postponed for safety reasons, a decision confirmed by venue officials in early April.
Amid the touring grind, Li is also preparing to release a new single and accompanying music video. A source close to his label indicated that the visual component will drop within weeks, adding fresh material to the promotional cycle for his latest album, “Ear” (耳朵). The anticipation has been palpable on Chinese social media, where fans routinely trend his name during live streams and celebrate his spontaneous moments—such as the recent, tongue‑in‑cheek episode when he ran out of mobile data on‑air, prompting an outpouring of amused memes.
It was, however, a less amusing incident that thrust Li into the headlines in March. Fans who purchased the physical edition of his new album discovered that the NFC cards embedded in the packaging linked not to Li’s exclusive content, but to the work of a different artist entirely. The error quickly escalated on Weibo, with users demanding answers and accusing the platform NetEase Cloud Music of negligence. Li himself took to the same platform to question the streaming service, calling attention to the “technical error” that undermined the listening experience his fans expected.
Within 24 hours, NetEase issued a formal apology, attributing the mishap to a supplier oversight by the production house Jingdian Wuda. The company promised remedial measures, including a recall of faulty copies and tighter vetting of future NFC integrations. Industry observers see the episode as a cautionary tale for an era where physical albums increasingly rely on digital enhancements. “When you blend tactile media with near‑instant streaming, any slip in quality control directly affects consumer trust,” said a music‑technology analyst who asked to remain anonymous. The incident underscores the growing need for robust supply‑chain oversight, especially as Chinese labels experiment with NFC, QR codes and other bridge technologies.
Li’s public criticism of NetEase also highlighted the evolving power dynamic between artists and platforms. By calling out the service on a public forum, Li demonstrated that high‑profile musicians can leverage their fan base to demand higher standards, potentially reshaping contract clauses around technical support and product integrity.
Beyond the music‑tech drama, the month has been peppered with lighter, personality‑driven moments. In a gesture that has become a tradition among Chinese pop stars, Li sent a midnight birthday greeting to fellow singer‑actress Rainie Yang on July 10, marking the eleventh year he has marked her special day. The exchange, shared on both artists’ social feeds, reinforced a picture of camaraderie that fans cherish.
April brought another milestone: Li’s likeness was immortalized in wax at Madame Tussauds Shanghai, an honor he celebrated by posting a photo alongside Zhang Yixing’s figure. The waxwork, unveiled on April 23, signals Li’s ascension from chart‑topping musician to cultural icon, a status echoed by the steady stream of fan‑generated content that keeps his name trending.
Overall, public sentiment towards Li Ronghao remains overwhelmingly positive. While some listeners have voiced mild disappointment over the perceived “commercialization” of his recent releases, the prevailing narrative celebrates his energetic performances, heartfelt collaborations, and genuine interaction with fans. In an industry where the line between digital convenience and physical authenticity continually shifts, Li’s recent experiences—both triumphant and contentious—offer a microcosm of the challenges and opportunities facing Chinese pop music today.
