Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming is facing renewed scrutiny, not for his acting career, but for the underwhelming performance of his talent agency, which manages 16 artists yet has failed to produce a single breakout star.
17 Years, 16 Artists, Zero Breakout
For nearly two decades, Huang Xiaoming has operated his agency, Dongyang Yixing, leveraging his strong industry connections and resources. Despite signing 16 artists, none have achieved significant fame or commercial success. Ironically, Huang Xiaoming himself remains the company’s only widely recognized star, overshadowing all of his signed talents.
Several artists under the agency once showed potential but failed to sustain momentum:
- Clara Lee gained attention as the “No.1 Asian beauty” and went viral for her red dress scene in Some Like It Hot. However, after joining the agency, she was reduced to minor, almost invisible roles, such as a nameless extra in The Wandering Earth 2. A later comedy film she led reportedly earned only 75,000 yuan, an extremely low figure.
- Sun Yan impressed audiences in The Knockout with his portrayal of Tang Xiaohu, earning praise as an underrated talent. Yet after the drama’s popularity faded, he also disappeared from the spotlight.
- Yue Jiayi, personally promoted by Huang Xiaoming, appeared in 8 dramas over 4 years, 3 alongside her boss. Despite this push, she remains largely unknown, with minimal social media presence and little public recognition.
Outdated Management Model Criticized
According to Chinese media, the issue does not lie in the artists’ talent or effort, but rather in the agency’s outdated and inconsistent management system.
Key criticisms include:
- Subjective talent selection based on Huang Xiaoming’s personal judgment rather than structured evaluation
- Poor casting decisions, with actors placed in roles that do not match their strengths
- Lack of clear career planning, leaving artists without a defined direction
Even more critically, the company reportedly relies on an old model of “waiting for projects,” while modern entertainment platforms now operate with their own casting systems and promotional pipelines.
Weak Promotion in the Digital Era
Another major issue is the lack of post-project promotion. Once filming ends, artists receive little to no support in building their public image. The agency reportedly does not invest in short-form video content and fails to track or grow social media engagement and also lacks basic fan community development. This approach stands in stark contrast to today’s industry trend, where stars are built both on and off screen.
Despite the agency’s struggles, Huang Xiaoming himself remains highly successful. He has transitioned into a powerful investor, earning around 80 million yuan annually and holding stakes in over 40 companies. His film The Bravest alone grossed approximately 1.7 billion yuan, further cementing his status in the industry. However, this success has also become part of the problem, his overwhelming star power reportedly draws most resources toward himself, leaving little room for others to shine.
Sources: LD
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