A song from Chengdu revived a closed-down pub.

After the song "With Me" became a huge hit, it brought not only a number of plays, but also a real surge in red tourism.

The number of visits to the "Red Tourism Sites" section on Dianping increased fivefold in one day.

Ticket reservations for places like Jinggangshan, Yan'an, and Xibaipo have surged.

Many parents brought their children to the revolutionary memorial hall on the weekend.

When interviewed, a person in charge of the scenic spot said: "In the past, most of the visitors were organized by their work units, but now many of them are young people who come on their own. They said that after listening to 'With Me,' they wanted to come and see the places sung about in the song."

Local cultural and tourism bureaus seized the opportunity and launched a series of themed routes for "Following 'With Me' to Check in at Red Landmarks".

With Su Fan's song as background music, related topics on short video platforms have garnered over a billion views.

Some joked, "Su Fan's song has revitalized red tourism across much of China; this village chief has even taken over the tour guide job!"

Just as this red craze was in full swing, a program called "Music Pioneer" quietly topped the trending search lists on various platforms.

The show's popularity was almost an accident.

It has no big-name celebrities, no dramatic script conflicts, and even the stage is as simple as a school auditorium.

But it has one feature that makes it irresistible to viewers.

That is the truth.

All the contestants were amateurs.

There were welders on construction sites, music teachers at the county middle school, food delivery drivers, and retired coal miners.

They don't have a brokerage firm's packaging.

There was no fan club controlling the comments.

I sometimes forget my lines when I'm nervous on stage.

She blushes when she can't reach the high notes.

When eliminated, they'll say, "I'll be back!"

But it is precisely this unadorned authenticity that allows the audience to find a long-lost resonance.

In an interview, the show's director said, "We don't do talent shows, we just document things. Behind every amateur singer is a story related to music, and that's what we film."

This show can be described as having a slow start but a strong finish.

When the show progressed to the first round of the finals, which was the guest performance segment.

Each contestant can invite any guest to sing with them.

Whether the person is a big star or a street performer, the production team welcomes them all as long as they can be invited.

This segment was originally designed by the production team to make the finale more interesting.

But in practice, the taste gradually changed.

Those contestants scouted by entertainment companies were quietly signed long before the semi-finals.

The guest performance segment naturally became a stage for entertainment companies to showcase their resources and promote their own new talents.

The original amateur finals were turned into a celebrity medley.

Viewers commented in the live chat: "Is this 'Music Pioneer' or 'Capital Pioneer'?"

Even so, three contestants still firmly hold the position of favorites to win the championship thanks to their outstanding skills and high popularity.

The first one is Ji Xiaocheng, 25 years old, who plays rock music.

Shen Yi'an from Xinghan Entertainment took a liking to him in the third episode and contacted him privately several times, promising to help him release an album, hold a tour, and perform at music festivals.

Ji Xiaocheng hesitated for a long time, but finally signed the contract.

For the guest performance segment, Shen Yi'an even personally took part.

The second one is Xie Siyu, 23 years old, who sings pop songs.

Huasheng Entertainment quickly signed her after the sixth episode.

For the guest performance segment, Huasheng Entertainment sent He Xiaoxiao as their guest performer.

The third one is not a person, but a band.

It's called the second half of the night.

The band's five members have an average age of 42, with the youngest being 35 and the oldest 52.

They came from the same county and had been singing in nightclubs, wedding venues, and funeral tents for over ten years.

They didn't sign with any companies, not because no one approached them, but because they were rejected.

The problem lies with the lead singer, Cui Zhan.

Several entertainment companies approached us, offering attractive terms.

But there was only one requirement: only Cui Zhan had to be signed, and no other band members.

Cui Zhan resolutely refused.

His refusal naturally led to no entertainment company sending their artists to help them sing.

The guest performers for other contestants have already started promoting their performances, and they're trending on social media one after another.

But then, in the middle of the night, there wasn't a soul in sight.

In the band's rehearsal room, several people sat together, and the ashtray was piled high with cigarette butts.

Bassist Lao Li stubbed out his cigarette and said, "Lao Cui, how about we agree to those companies' terms and sign only you? At least you'll get on the scene, and if you become famous, our band will have face too."

Although the others didn't speak, their eyes conveyed the same meaning.

Cui Zhan replied, "Impossible. When we formed the band, we agreed that there would be five of us, and not a single one could be missing. If I were to abandon you all for the sake of fame, would I, Cui Zhan, even be human? The original intention of participating in this show was not to benefit myself. At worst, I can go back to the way things were before; I won't starve."

"But……"

Before anyone else could say anything, Cui Zhan interrupted, "Stop talking. There's no room for negotiation on this."

Just then, the production team called.

"Teacher Cui, have you finalized your guest performers yet? The other contestants have already started promoting their shows, and our production team also needs to cooperate with their promotion. If you've already made your selections, please let us know as soon as possible."

Cui Zhan was silent for two seconds, then said, "It's not decided yet, give us a little more time."

"Alright, as soon as possible. We can't keep you waiting all the time."

……

The phone call ended, and silence fell over the rehearsal room again.

Fans of the band Late Night have been keeping an eye on their activities.

However, their names were not included in the guest performer lineup officially announced by the program team.

In the comments section, some people started to get anxious.

"Who will be the guest performer for the second half of the night? Why hasn't it been announced yet?"

"Could it be that nobody wants to come? That would be a disaster!"

"I heard many companies wanted to sign Cui Zhan, but on the condition that the other team members be kicked out. Old Cui refused; he's a true friend!"

"Loyalty is one thing, but what about the finals? Without a guest performer, how are we going to get through this round?"

……

Just as everyone was discussing it animatedly, someone in the comments section blurted out, "If you really can't find anyone, just go find Master Su! Doesn't he take on all kinds of jobs?"

This comment quickly spread.

Everyone started making a fuss.

"Yes! Find Su Fan! He's always fishing, neglecting his work. It's time he came out and started doing business!"

"Master Su, I'm in urgent need of help! Five older brothers are waiting for you late at night!"

"Calling Su Fan, we need you for the second half of the night!"

"Master Su, stop fishing! Singing is much more enjoyable than fishing!"

"I strongly suggest Su Fan go and perform as a guest singer, to teach those bigwigs a lesson in what true 'dimensional reduction attack' really means!"

"If we can get Su Fan to come in the middle of the night, there's no need for the final match; we can just send the championship trophy to the reservoir!"

……