Show Luo (XiaoZhu) and Wang LeeHom Battle Over the Music Charts

Show Luo ZhiXiang (XiaoZhu) and Wang LeeHom Battle Over the Music Charts-- "Saliva War" Ensues
Date: January 5, 2009
News Source: Yahoo! Taiwan, Liberty Times, http://asianfanatics.net/forum/
Translation Credit: tammiest @ http://asianfanatics.net/
* Please credit accordingly if/when posting elsewhere. Thank you!

In a sequel to last year's "saliva war" between Double J (Jay Chou JieLun and Jolin Tsai YiLin)-- a verbal dispute over allegedly "fixed" record sales-- a new case of suspected "fixed" record sales (this time, between Wang LeeHom and Show Luo ZhiXiang) has cropped up. The new year has barely begun!

Wang LeeHom: The Album Sales List Doesn't Have Credibility

Show (XiaoZhu) celebrated the "Champion Sales" of his 潮男正傳/Trendy Man yesterday; when asked how he felt about defeating Wang LeeHom, Show replied, "I only compare with myself!" Unexpectedly, however, LeeHom's record company, Sony released a statement aimed at the record sales "battle." They implied that they suspected Show's agency of buying and fixing the charts.

In their statement, Sony said, "Everyone in the entertainment circle knows that, when artists under a certain famous agency release albums, [the agency] will stop at nothing to fix the charts and come in first. We are most clear that Wang LeeHom's sales volume is actually number one." LeeHom then said, "My boss, 崔震東 Cui ZhenDong, told me that the credibility of any of these album sales list is not enough and that I don't need to pay too much attention to them."

Agent: Show's Album Is Number One-- That's the Truth

Sony's provocative statement forced Show's agency to make a reply: "In all of the substance channels (in other words, not on-line) and in digital cellphone ringtones, etc., in 10 different lists, Show is number one. At each one of his autograph events, he signs over 5000 copies of his album. In the matter of his album being number one, the facts speak for themselves-- they speak louder than words. We will continue to work hard; we won't look for any excuses." Show shares his agency's position; he feels that an album's position on the charts is not important. Instead, it is the quality of the music and the hard work and effort of the artist that merits discussion.

On the whole, Show's lively dance style and LeeHom's emotional, expressive rock both have their own charm and enchantment and, subsequently, their own group of fans. It's not necessary to lose one's temper over the music charts. Yesterday, Show donated over $80,000 NTD to the 家扶中心 Christian Children's Fund; Wang LeeHom continues his love and care for children in need-- this is actually the best example of an "idol."

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Translator's Comments: Before people bash-- LET ME MAKE THIS VERY CLEAR (AGAIN): According to this article, it was SONY that accused "them" of fixing the charts, NOT LeeHom.

Hmm... I don't really know what to say. I was also kind of surprised by the charts-- not so much that Show is first (I know full well that he is really popular), but that there was such a HUGE difference in their sales percentages: Show at 32.32% of sales and LeeHom coming in at only 12.82%. That seems sort of o_O to me.

What IS unfair is that there can even be a suspicion of fixed charts. I can't say that I'm fully persuaded either way (that it was fixed or that it wasn't fixed... I personally think there's a possibility of either), but... it's NOT fair to either Show or LeeHom. IF the charts were fixed, Show himself didn't have anything to do with it. So, true or not, Show himself must feel slightly disappointed/unhappy that people are doubting him in this way. As for LeeHom, it's obviously not fair to him... he worked so hard on this album, participating in every aspect of it... it's truly his baby. It's not fair that a "shadow" of doubt follows HIM over the charts, either. It really sucks that this struggle between record companies and talent agencies has put two good friends into this position

Source: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/Show-Luo-XiaoZhu-and-Wang-LeeHom-Battle-Over-the-Music-Charts-Saliva-War-Ensues-talk615217.html