Singer (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment, Music competition |
| Founded | January 18, 2013 |
| Headquarters | China |
Area served | China |
| Parent | Hunan Television |
Singer (), originally known as I Am a Singer (), is a Chinese music competition series aired on Hunan Television. Based on the South Korean program I Am a Singer, it showcases seasoned professional vocalists competing weekly in front of an audience of 500 members whose votes decide who advances or exits. The inaugural season featured 12 participants, with the contestant count increasing to as many as 22 in subsequent seasons due to adjustments in the format. The show debuted on 18 January 2013.
Following four seasons under the I Am a Singer title, the program was renamed Singer in 2017, while retaining its fundamental competitive structure. The eighth installment, called Singer 2020 or Singer: Year of the Hits (), began filming on 3 January 2020 but experienced several delays before its premiere on 7 February 2020, caused by the COVID-19 outbreak. The final episode aired on 24 April 2020.
On 22 September 2020, executive producer Hong Tao declared the series would conclude after eight seasons, attributing this decision to diminishing audience ratings and intensified rivalry within China's reality television landscape. Nevertheless, on 12 November 2023, Mango TV announced a reversal of this plan, revealing a comeback with a ninth season scheduled to launch on 10 May 2024 following a four-year break.
Competition rules
Each episode of I Am a Singer involves seven (occasionally eight) performers presenting their songs to a studio audience of 500 individuals who select their top three favorites. The order of performances is either drawn by ballot or based on previous outcomes. Beginning with season 7, the introduction of Electronic voting means that audience scores contribute 50% toward the final tally.
The competition unfolds over four or five rounds spanning approximately 10 to 11 weeks, commonly including non-elimination stages called "Qualifiers" and "Knockouts" (rebranded as "Ranking" and "Revelation" rounds starting from Season 9). Votes accumulate throughout these stages, with the lowest-ranked singer facing elimination. Those eliminated may perform in a Returning Performance segment and participate in the Breakout Round for a chance to rejoin. Eliminations can be postponed if a contestant withdraws or receives a bye due to health reasons. New entrants replace those eliminated or withdrawn to sustain the contest’s momentum, with rankings displayed at each episode’s conclusion.
Introduced in Season 3, the "2+1" structure incorporates a "Challenge" round following each Knockout. Here, a new "Challenger" takes the place of an eliminated singer and must secure a position within the top four to remain; failure results in immediate elimination. If successful, existing contestants with lower votes based solely on that round risk elimination. Season 5 replaced Qualifiers with Challenge rounds after the initial Knockout to accommodate two substitute singers. Season 6 altered this setup by requiring challengers first to avoid last place and then rank within the top four, combining Knockout and Challenge votes; failure led to instant elimination. Due to a unique Pre-Challenge Face-off introduced that season, Season 7 returned to the prior Challenge format. Season 8 removed the Challenge round entirely, opting for alternate formats (refer to Twists).
Following the final Knockout is the Breakout round, where previously eliminated singers—excluding those who withdrew—compete for spots in the finals. Initially named "Revival," this round excused remaining contestants who vied for only one semi-final position. Starting from Season 2, original participants entering at week one were exempt from Breakouts; subsequent entrants competed for remaining finalist places to complete a lineup of seven singers (except in Season 5 when finalists expanded to ten). Advancement depended on achieving higher vote totals during Breakouts. Since Season 6, contestants with prior low scores could be eliminated immediately regardless of Breakout results. From Season 7 onward, only full-status competitors are eligible for Breakouts.
The Finals generally include Semi-Finals and live Grand Finals held on separate evenings. Finalists deliver two to three performances—including both duets and solos—with audience voting conducted after each segment. Earlier seasons assigned greater weight to final performances (typically distributed as 30%–30%–40%), whereas later editions determine winners based on cumulative votes or final-round tallies alone.
Pot Luck
In the eighth episode of Season 1, titled "Pot Luck," viewers participated by voting online to select songs. Each performer submitted a list of three songs they preferred to avoid; if one was chosen, they had the option to pick an alternative. This format was discontinued following Season 2.
Returning Performances
Returning performances featured singers who had been eliminated in the preceding week. Starting from Season 2, participants who withdrew voluntarily before performing were excluded from this opportunity. Due to health and safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, returning performances were not included in Season 8.
Biennial Concert
Between Seasons 2 and 6, a live Biennial Concert was broadcast one week after the finale, showcasing leading singers from the current season alongside select alumni.
Tiebreakers
When elimination rounds resulted in tied lowest combined scores, the elimination was deferred and later resolved based on rankings in the subsequent episode. This scenario occurred only once, during Season 4, when two singers shared seventh place.
Hosting Roles
Beginning in Season 1, Hosting Roles enabled competing singers to act as hosts, with their managers or musical collaborators overseeing duties. Upon elimination, these roles were vacated and reassigned. Hosting Roles were not featured in Season 5 or during the finals.
Singer Voting
From Seasons 3 through 6, contestants predicted which three performers would garner the highest audience votes, earning minor advantages for accurate forecasts. These predictions did not influence final results.
I Am a Singer – Who Will Challenge
In Season 4, this online spin-off provided viewers with the chance to vote for prospective main show contestants.
Pre-audience Voting
Introduced in Season 6 as an evolution of Singer Voting, audiences cast votes midway through performances to identify probable top three singers. Similar to Singer Voting, these votes did not affect final outcomes (except for one instance). The feature was discontinued in Season 7 following improvements to electronic voting systems.
National's Recommended Singer
During Season 7, an online spin-off titled National's Recommended Singer allowed aspiring singers to audition within designated timeframes and perform in events organized by producers. Those who qualified faced a public vote to choose one singer to compete against a Challenger in a Pre-Challenge Face-off (not broadcast). Unlike standard Challengers, this selection process was independent of the main competition; the defeated singer was eliminated and barred from Breakouts, similar to contestants who withdrew.
Surprise Challenge / Revelation Round
Season 8 introduced the Surprise Challenge format, where three new singers (two subject to final elimination) joined current contestants. During performances, a Challenger could trigger an immediate face-off by pulling a lever and singing after a selected contestant. Audience votes determined the Challenger’s success, revealed at the episode’s conclusion. Successful Challengers gained eligibility for Breakouts, while the lowest-ranked existing singer faced elimination. Unlike regular Challenges, unsuccessful Challengers did not automatically enter the competition. Comparable twists were applied during Breakouts and Grand Finals for intermediate eliminations.
Season 9 featured a variation called the Revelation round based on the Surprise Challenge; successful Challengers immediately became official contestants, with up to two eliminations weekly depending on challenge results.
Attack Round
Debuting in Season 9 following the Revelation round, the Attack Round introduces a new competitor who directly challenges an existing contestant confident in their ability to win the face-off. The current lineup conducts a confidential vote to determine the challenger, with judges stepping in to break any ties. In a manner similar to the Surprise Challenge and Challenge Rounds, if the attacking singer prevails, the contestant with the lowest ranking may be at risk of elimination.
Series overview
| Season | Premiere Date | Finale Date | Number of contestants | Number of episodes | Winner | Runner-up | Third place | Other Finalists | Comments | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18 January 2013 | 12 April 2013 | 12 | 13 | Yu Quan | Terry Lin | Not Disclosed | Huang Qishan Winnie Hsin Julia Peng Aska Yang Zhou Xiao'ou |
Sole season to feature Pot Luck. | |
| 2 | 3 January 2014 | 11 April 2014 | 12 | 14 | Han Lei | G.E.M. | Not Disclosed | Phil Chang Gary Chaw Shila Amzah Jason Zhang Bibi Zhou |
Added Breakout round and Biennial Concert. | |
| 3 | 2 January 2015 | 3 April 2015 | 13 | 14 | Han Hong | Li Jian | The One | A-Lin Tiger Hu Sitar Tan Sun Nan |
Implemented Contestant Hosting, Challenge Rounds, Singer Voting; replaced weighted finals with combined voting. | |
| 4 | 15 January 2016 | 8 April 2016 | 14 | 14 | Coco Lee | Jeff Chang | Hwang Chi Yeul | LaLa Hsu Lao Lang Hacken Lee Joey Yung Elvis Wang |
First season starting with eight singers and launching online spin-off I Am a Singer – Who Will Challenge. | |
| 5 | 21 January 2017 | 22 April 2017 | 16Template:Efn-ua | 14 | Sandy Lam | Dimash Kudaibergen | Lion | Li Jian Terry Lin Diamond Zhang Tia Ray Jason Zhang |
Renamed as Singer; first season to include returning contestants and expanded finalist group. | |
| 6 | 12 January 2018 | 20 April 2018 | 14 | 14 | Jessie J | Hua Chenyu | Wang Feng | Tengger Angela Chang Henry Huo James Li KZ Tandingan |
Featured extended Challenge rounds, Pre-audience Voting, and introduced Breakout eliminations mid-season. | |
| 7 | 11 January 2019 | 12 April 2019 | 17Template:Efn-uaTemplate:Efn-ua | 14 | Liu Huan | Wu Tsing-fong | "Super-Vocal" finalists | "Yang Kun" "Chyi Yu" "Polina Gagarina" "Gong Linna" |
"Introduced electronic voting, online spin-off 'National's Recommended Singer', and semi-final online voting." | |
| '8' | '7 February 2020' | '24 April 2020' | '21Template:Efn-uaTemplate:Efn-ua' | '12' | 'Hua Chenyu' | 'Tia Ray' | 'Jam Hsiao' | 'Jike Junyi Lala Hsu Misia Charlie Zhou' |
'Subtitled Singer: Year of the Hits; second season featuring returning contestants; introduced Surprise Challenge format; first without Return Performances.' | |
| '9' | '10 May 2024' | '2 August 2024' | '23' | '13' | 'Na Ying' | 'Tan Wei Wei' | 'Sun Nan' | 'Faouzia Ouihya Silence Wang Chanté Moore Hailai Ahmu' |
'Third season including returning performers; incorporated Revelation and Attack rounds.' | |
| '10' | '16 May 2025' | '8 August 2025' | '24' | '14' | 'Chen Chusheng' | 'Mickey Guyton' | 'Shan Yichun' | 'Jess Lee Beni Grace Kinstler A-Lin' |
'Fourth season featuring returning artists.' | |
Music Collaborators
During the competition, Singer designates music collaborators or managers to guide participating vocalists on song selection and responsibilities such as emceeing. Once a contestant is eliminated, their associated music collaborator also departs.
The following table presents the music collaborators assigned along with their singers' final standings (temporary assignments are excluded):
Legend:
- Season winner
- Runner-up
- Third place
- Finalist
- Withdrew
- Did not compete
| Music collaborator | Season | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Aray Aydarhan | Dimash Kudaibergen | |||||||||
| Chen Ruo Tong | A-Lin | |||||||||
| Chen Ye Sheng | MisiaTemplate:Efn-ua | Beni | ||||||||
| David | Polina Gagarina | |||||||||
| Du Haitao | Huang Qishan | Wei Wei | ||||||||
| Huang Ya Jing | Alexia Evellyn | |||||||||
| Jeffery G | Shila Amzah | Teresa Carpio | Jessie J | Chyi Yu | Lexie LiuTemplate:Efn-ua | |||||
| Neil Gao | 'Super-Vocal' finalists | |||||||||
| Enti Jin | Zhou ShenTemplate:Efn-ua | |||||||||
| Mandy Jin | Zhao LeiTemplate:Efn-ua | Li Xiaodong | Terry Lin | |||||||