They've already conquered the television ratings. Now China's "Super Girls" -- contestants in an "American Idol" style singing contest -- have set a record for the fastest-selling concert tickets.
All 6,000 floor seats to the Oct. 6 show at Shanghai's main soccer stadium were snapped up on Tuesday's first day of sales, Shanghai's Youth Daily newspaper reported Wednesday.
Half of the 39,000 stadium seats also sold out on Tuesday the first day, the paper said. Tickets cost 50-580 yuan (US$6-72).
That beat the sell-rate of major acts who have performed at the stadium, including Hong Kong star Andy Lau and Taiwanese heart throb Jay Chou, the paper said. Lau took about a month to sell all the floor seats at his most recent Shanghai concert, it said.
"The draw of the Super Girls leaves the pop superstars in their dust," the paper said.
More than 400 million people tuned in for last month's three-hour show finale, after which fans voted for their favorite performers. The broadcast beat the ratings record traditionally held by national broadcaster China Central Television's annual Lunar New Year special.
Fans will choose who they want to see at next month's concert in Shanghai, with the top 10 vote-winners appearing on stage. The show's champion, 21-year-old Li Yuchun, and her two runners-up are almost sure to appear.
The frenzy surrounding the show sent groups of fans carrying posters of their favorite contestants into shopping malls and city streets to lobby for their picks.
A mini industry in "Super Girl" knickknacks has also sprung up, with one store offering tea mugs emblazoned with Li's image for 30 yuan (US$4).
"Crazy about Super Girls"
A book on the stories of the winners and losers of the Super Girls show hit Chinese bookstores and made a maniac buying wave on last Saturday.
The book's chief editor Sun Xiantao said the book, "Crazy about Super Girls," is not aimed at pursuing the brightness and sparkle of the stars, but to bring the super girls' mystique back to their ordinary roots.
Taiwan's most popular group S.H.E., who also rose out of a similar kind of star-making TV show in Taiwan, commented that winning the votes does not guarantee future success.
They advised the winners of the Super Girls to sign with a good record company and to do their own special style of music.
(China Daily/CRI/Agencies September 12, 2005)
