Chinese singer Zhao Pinlin has publicly called for the payment of outstanding recording fees related to the variety show Perfect Singer.
In a Weibo post published on July 9, 2026, he named director Xiong Zhihao, claiming that both his recording fees and a personal loan had remained unpaid for more than a year.
Zhao Pinlin’s post on social media quickly gained public and online attention.
Soon after, several artists, including Zuo Qibo, Lu Yi, Wang Jingwen, Guo Tao, Zheng Renyu, and Wei Hongyu, shared similar experiences, alleging that they were also waiting for overdue payments.
The controversy has brought renewed attention to long-running payment issues surrounding the Perfect Singer production.
As more entertainers spoke out, the topic became one of the most discussed entertainment stories on Chinese social media.
Director Xiong Zhihao had previously revealed in August 2025 that he was facing production debts reportedly exceeding 30 million yuan, saying the financial pressure had become overwhelming.
Meanwhile, his latest variety show, Open for Business, reportedly suspended production after artists and crew members withdrew over unpaid wages.
On July 8, 2026, the production team confirmed that the project had been halted due to funding problems. (Overseasidol.com)