China's DIY 'Alt-Idol' Bands Redefine Pop After Government Crackdown
Over the past decade, idol culture has transformed East Asia into a global pop music powerhouse, with South Korean groups like BTS and Blackpink achieving international fame through meticulously crafted performances and marketing. However, China, with a population vastly larger than Japan and South Korea combined, has struggled to produce similarly renowned acts. This disparity deepened in 2021 when the Chinese government cracked down on 'toxic' fandom, banning idol-development shows that had gained massive audiences.
Emily Liu, who runs the idol newsletter Active Faults, explains, 'It was an excuse to regulate the internet.' The ban, coupled with an unofficial prohibition on Korean pop performances in mainland China due to geopolitical tensions, severely damaged mainstream Chinese idol groups such as IXFORM and Into1, leading to disbandments and career shifts into acting or livestreaming.
The Rise of Grassroots Alternatives
In response, an underground 'alt-idol' culture has emerged, championing freedom and experimentation. Zhao Beichen, founder of the alt-idol group Transparent Classroom and Parallel Girls, compares this movement to the arrival of alt-rock in the US during the 1980s. Unlike corporate-formed idols, these groups prioritise sincerity and artistic expression over rigid standards around appearance and choreography.
'People are exhausted by Blackpink and BTS and all these household names,' says Liu. 'People want something new, especially in China.' Silver, a member of Transparent Classroom, reflects on her childhood: 'When I was little, there was no one like me on television in China.' With short-cropped hair—a rarity in the idol world—she represents the diversity these groups embrace.
Experimental Sounds and Local Scenes
While mainstream pop has been decimated, the number of alt-idol groups is expanding. Based outside major hubs like Shanghai and Beijing, groups such as Transparent Classroom from Changsha and 7Sins from Guangzhou are fostering localised scenes. They retain classic idol elements like choreographed dancing and synchronised costumes but experiment sonically with genres ranging from gothic rock to jangle-pop and jazz.
Kumiko from 7Sins notes, 'When we debuted in 2022, Guangzhou basically had no underground idol groups. Now, there are idol events held in different live houses every weekend.' These venues provide a platform outside the regulated internet, allowing closer fan connections. A Beijing-based fan of Transparent Classroom describes watching them in Changsha as feeling 'like I've returned to my spiritual home town.'
Challenges and Passion-Driven Efforts
The lack of commercial support means alt-idol work is rarely full-time; members often balance music with jobs like teaching or graduate studies. This fragility is evident in 7Sins' recent announcement of disbandment in June due to lineup concerns. Kumiko explains, 'Changes in membership have a big impact on our image because, unlike company-formed groups, our group is built on close-knit bonds between members.'
Despite uncertainties, including potential shifts in the industry as Korean pop culture may thaw, the scene thrives on passion. Silver emphasises, 'My career is music. Even though I have to spend most of my time making money as a teacher, I am thinking about music all the time.' She adds, 'Even if no one was watching, I would be dancing all day. To be able to have audiences watching you sing and dance—that's a privilege.'
The existence of China's alt-idol groups underscores the resilience of cultural expression. As Liu metaphorically states, 'You can block the river, but the water will find a way through.'
