The music industry raised a furor!
The people from the television industry were shocked by what they were seeing.
"The music industry is at war with the associations!"
"How fierce!"
"It's making my blood course with passion!"
"Good showing, brothers!"
"They really spoke up. There are this many of them coming forward? All of the veterans, singers, rookies, lyricists, and composers in the music industry have come forward?"
"This is an event that will definitely go down in the annals of history!"
"Just what will the final outcome of this battle be?"
"Dunno. Now we see how the authorities react!"
"It's definitely going to be hard to deal with. If it were just one or two people, it might not be so bad. But with this large group that even includes some of China's veteran singers, influential singers from the Political Department's Song and Dance Troupe, and the Heavenly Kings and Queens protesting against the ban on musical pieces, how could they handle it? I think this is going to be difficult to answer since the most important factor is still the SARFT's attitude on the issue. But they haven't issued a response to this yet!"
This was a big event in the music industry!
With the involvement of so many celebrities, the news had spread far and wide!
The netizens were very excited!
"Just one song is enough to cause such huge trouble?"
"I have to give it to The Clown!"
"Which celebrity could this fellow be!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"Supporting our musicians!"
"They have my support too!"
"I must really give a Like to the music industry this time!"
Many people were paying constant attention to the developments as this issue was getting way too serious. If it was not properly handled, it would cause a major shakeup!
Elsewhere.
Bai Li was currently on the phone with someone.
"Hello, Secretary Bai."
"Director Han, I've finally managed to reach you."
"I've been away for a meeting the past few days and just got back today."
"Have you heard yet?"
"Of course I've heard."
"What's going on over on your side? Why did you guys suddenly decide to roll out a ban on musical pieces? Who approved the decision? Who agreed to it?"
"Wasn't the SARFT going to introduce something similar? And weren't the directives going to be announced very soon as well?"
"We have indeed come up with a new white paper listing some music and film work directives, but when did we state it in a way like you? When did we say that we would not allow the broadcast and composition of music pieces that don't generate positivity? Have you even seen our documents? Do you all know what the intent of the white paper is? We simply wanted to standardize some regulations, not call for restraint or a ban without valid reasons! What has it become now? Look at how things have turned out. Many musicians refuse to accept it. Did you guys consider the consequences of your actions? Did you think of the negative impact caused by your mishandling?"
"Secretary Bai, the SARFT has its considerations and we have ours. After all, the scope of our work is different, and besides—"
"Are you sure you still want to go on about this? Fine, let me tell you this then. This matter was entrusted to me by Chief Wu personally. She's still overseas at the moment and can come back on today's flight. If my words are ineffective, fine. But when Chief Wu gets back tonight, maybe I should get her to contact you personally? Would that be better?"
At this, Director Han anxiously said: "How could I make Chief Wu personally call me?" He gave a bitter laugh and said: "Secretary Bai, please don't get me into trouble."
Bai Li said: "The SARFT is very unhappy with how the Beijing Ministry of Culture has handled things this time. It's not that I'm trying to get you into trouble; it's your own people who are messing things up! We only have one request right now, and that is to call for an immediate withdrawal of the guidelines that you all announced earlier, as well as those so-called directives by the relevant associations! When the finalized white paper is published by the SARFT, any new regulations introduced will be done in consideration of the SARFT's directives!"
Director Han said: "That's not really for me to decide."
Bai Li was annoyed. "Alright, I'll get someone who can make the decision on your behalf then!"
An hour later.
An executive from the Ministry of Culture was startled!
This executive was not from the local department of the Ministry of Culture, but a more senior leader above them!
Perhaps it was Bai Li or someone else from the SARFT who had communicated it to him. But it was only then that he realized that the so-called guidelines issued by the local department below was from some hearsay and actually very imprecise due to the fact that the SARFT had not officially passed down their directives yet. But because of the local department's authoritarianism, the other associations had misunderstood and treated the guidelines like an imperial edict by rushing to implement those orders. This resulted in an irreversible situation!
That executive spoke with the SARFT for a very long time.
These two organizations carried out a simple but in-depth discussion of the incident.
In the end, that executive from the Ministry of Culture made a call to the local Beijing office that started this trouble and chewed them out!
"It wasn't easy for our country to get such a high-quality domestic variety show produced. Why are you all causing all this trouble for me now! Don't you all want our domestic works to be successful? Don't you hope that our domestic works can wade into the international market? You're even insisting that all music pieces should only spread positivity? Music is a form of art, and the expression of art is very diverse! Why do they all have to generate positive energy? If you don't even have this bit of tolerance or artistry, how can you continue to be part of the business of cultural undertakings?"
"Sir, we…"
"Withdraw all those guidelines pronto!"
"Yes, alright, we understand!"
"If this happens again, I want you to pack up and get out!"
"We're sorry, sir! We misunderstood the policies! We will not repeat this mistake again. It, it was really a misunderstanding this time!"
"Leave such matters to our SARFT colleagues in the future. Did you all have nothing better to do than get involved in this affair?! Aren't you just stirring up trouble!"
In this world, the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture and the SARFT was without a clear boundary. Some responsibilities overlapped, while some were distinct. However, most of the decision-making on policies regarding the entertainment industry still lay with the SARFT.
"I-I understand!"
"I'll say this again: It better not happen another time!"
"Yes, sir! There won't be another time!"
As the executive from the Ministry of Culture was very understanding and had a good relationship with Wu Zeqing, the issue was resolved very quickly. Actually, even if this relationship with Wu Zeqing did not exist, he would still have to handle such matters. It was due to the strategic failure of his staff at the local office and their misunderstanding of the policy resolutions that led to such a strong backlash. The entire music industry was angered as a result, so he had to say something even if he did not wish to interfere. If things went on like that, then it would really spiral out of control and cause a huge mess. He had to handle it no matter what. He couldn't possibly let one bad apple spoil the whole barrel. The Ministry of Culture had always been very open-minded about things and seldom interfered with the SARFT's business!
Before long, the guidelines from earlier were withdrawn!
There was no explanation or clarifications made!
There weren't any signs that this would happen!
They were withdrawn just like that!
The netizens soon took notice.
"Aiya!"
"The directives have been withdrawn!"
"Quick, look at this. The guidelines from earlier are gone!"
"Did they accidentally delete them?"
"It's impossible that they'd accidentally delete them!"
"Then does this set the tone?"
"It's set! It's definitely been set!"
"Wow, there's an exec from the Ministry of Culture who gave a Like to 'The Internationale'!"
"Another exec from the Minister of Culture liked it!"
"Damn, you're right!"
Everyone was shocked to find out that The Clown's "The Internationale" had received several Likes from a few executives of the Ministry of Culture's upper management on their Weibo verified accounts.
One of the executives even left a comment. "Hur hur, this is a great song with great lyrics. I was reminded of things from long ago and felt a little touched. I'm really fond of those memories from that time."
The SARFT also issued a statement not long afterwards to appease the musicians. It clarified that the guidelines from before were not introduced by them and that their designated standards would only restrict some song titles and other works that were too vulgar and implied death. There was no intention of a large-scale blanket ban on music pieces and films! In reality, it wasn't that the SARFT or the Ministry of Culture's upper management were seeking to compromise on those measures. From the start, they didn't intend to introduce them at all. It was all blindly caused by those below them!
They set the tone!
The netizens were stunned!
The musicians cheered at once!
And just a few minutes later, Zhang Ye's "A Letter to Home" and "The King Sent Me on Mountain Patrol" returned to the Top Chinese Music Chart and continued to rule the rankings!
Unsurprisingly, the #1 spot went to "The Internationale"!
"The Internationale" seemed to have steamrolled straight to #1 on the Top Chinese Music Chart's daily chart and even to #1 on the monthly chart!
Yes, #1 on the monthly chart!
In just a single day!
It charged its way right up to first place on the monthly chart in just a single day!
This was an extremely rare occurrence in the history of the Top Chinese Music Chart!
But The Clown managed to do it!
This song did it!