Just a day after singer Man Wenjun apologized publicly for taking drugs, his record company, Taihe Rye, vowed Tuesday to address the issue of musicians' drug abuse.
"We will definitely warn our artists against taking drugs, and will take concrete measures to stop it from happening," Song Ke, director of Taihe Rye, told Xinhua on the phone Tuesday. He did not elaborate on possible measures.
Song said Man's arrest was the first time in his 10-plus year entertainment career that he has had to deal with a singer's drug problem. He said he will show tolerance and support him.
"We will keep our contract. As a singer, he has contributed a lot to the company in the past five years. As a friend, he has great personal relations with us all... we must support him," Song added.
On May 19, Man was caught taking drugs in a club and tested positive for Ecstasy following urinalysis. He was put under detention and was released June 3.
"I appreciate all your care and criticism. I will learn to be a good person first, then a good singer," he said in a BTV (Beijing Television) legal program which was broadcast Monday.
"I was wrong. I want to apologize to the whole society for the bad influence I have caused," he added.
Man Wenjun, 40, started his singing career in a pub and became a household name in 1996 for his good voice and healthy image. He was also a torch-bearer for the Beijing Olympics.
Many fans accepted his apology. "I love Man, so I trust him. I think he did this just because he was really tired," wrote Chen Ziming on a web forum on www.cninsq.com.
But some didn't buy it. "Don't take his apology seriously. The entertainment industry has so many scandals like this," wrote Hao Han Ye, saying drugs in the music industry was "moral degeneration".
China has had many entertainment stars involved in drug, sex and other scandals in recent years.
The highest-profile case in 2008 involved Hong Kong actor-singer Edison Chen whose leaked Internet photos showed him performing sex acts with several Hong Kong actresses and singers.
"You may be popular with many kids and youth, so your behavior will affect them. I believe this is a memorable lesson for Man, and also for everyone else," said acclaimed anchorman Bai Yansong, as a guest on the TV program.
Song said Taihe Rye arranged no work for Man in the near future.
"It'd be a great time for him to rethink his life and career," he said.
(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2009)
