On May 22nd, news from the mainland music industry reported the sudden passing of director Ma Yong on May 18th due to an unexpected illness, at the age of 51, shocking many.
As for the specific cause of Ma Yong’s death, official sources have not disclosed it yet. Some speculate it could be related to the Covid-19 virus, but this has not been confirmed.
Public records show that Ma Yong, born in 1974, was a veteran in the entertainment industry for many years, holding multiple roles such as television and web program producer, director, also serving as the Deputy Secretary-General of the Asian Popular Music Association and a member of the China Film Production Association.
Ma Yong’s rich career history includes roles such as manager of the Promotion Department and director of program production at the Beijing “Joy Media” Group, chief planner of variety shows at “Tanglong International Media,” and producer at Viacom Entertainment Corporation’s MTV Global Music Television in China.
Additionally, Ma Yong has served as the Director and producer at Beijing TV Jingshi Media Company, Vice General Manager and producer of the program at Music Dream Factory Media, as well as General Manager of the National Music Industry Base studio, among other positions.
Chinese media reports specifically mentioned Ma Yong’s role as a producer of “Music Dream Factory,” providing a platform for many musical talents to showcase their skills, discovering and nurturing a group of musicians. The article stated that Ma Yong’s passing is a significant loss to the Chinese entertainment industry.
In recent times, as China’s Covid-19 epidemic resurfaces, there have been frequent sudden deaths among mainland elites, including middle-aged individuals born in the 1970s and 1980s, ranging from experts in the technology field, professors, to stars in the art industry, and local government officials.
On May 17th, Nanjing Art Institute announced the passing of Professor and Ph.D. supervisor Yin Wuming, who “suddenly suffered from respiratory and heart failure,” unfortunately passing away on the evening of May 16, at the age of 45. On May 18th, various media outlets including The Paper reported the sudden death of Liu Xi, an associate professor at the School of Law and Humanities Communication Department at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, and a master’s supervisor, who passed away on the early morning of the 16th at the age of 44.
Regarding Liu Xi’s passing, reports mention that it was due to “ineffective medical treatment,” without detailing the specific cause or the treatment process. A close friend of Liu Xi, posting a lengthy tribute on social media, revealed that Liu Xi had suffered greatly from illness before his passing. Many netizens expressed their sorrow, noting, “There seem to be quite a few young people passing away recently!”